Western Sydney Wanderers heavy defeat to Melbourne City on Saturday night has not only dented the club’s Hyundai A-League Finals Series hopes but continues a worrying trend playing in Victoria.
The 3-0 loss at AAMI Park has stretched the Wanderers’ winless run in Victoria to eight matches, with five of those games ending in defeat.
The Wanderers were clearly second best on Saturday night, failing to register a shot on goal and Bruno Fornaroli and Daniel Arzani stole the show.
SEE ALL THE GOALS AND RE-LIVE THE ACTION HERE
It’s a worrying stat for Josep Gombau, especially as the Wanderers face another trip to the state in Round 25 to take on the in-form Melbourne Victory.
Quite simply, if the Red and Black can’t overturn that trend next weekend, Western Sydney could see their 2017/18 Season finals hopes go up in smoke.
If they are to play finals football, it’s likely they’ll have to make a trip south again with both City and Victory likely to finish in the top-four and earn a home final.
Compounding their struggles in Victoria is that the Wanderers are struggling to find the net in matches in the state.
Disappointing result down in Melbourne #WSW #MCYvWSW pic.twitter.com/HYJMraYYZp
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) March 24, 2018
They have scored just two goals in their last six matches in Victoria, while Saturday night’s match was just the second time in the club’s history they didn’t register a shot on target.
With their finals hopes hanging by a thread, it’s just another issue Gombau has to deal.
OTHER MATCH FACTS
- This was the 14th consecutive clash between Melbourne City and Western Sydney Wanderers where the result has alternated, with City picking up their first win against the Wanderers since January 2017.
- City snapped a four-game winless streak (D1, L3), posting their biggest win since a 5-0 rout of Adelaide United in Round 17 this season.
- The Wanderers finished with a passing accuracy of 81%; three of the last seven games they’ve finished with a passing accuracy of 80% or higher have been against Melbourne City.
- Bruno Fornaroli is the first Melbourne City player to both score a goal and assist another in a single game at home since he himself did so against Wellington in March 2016.
