Western Sydney Wanderers have leapt up to sixth on the Isuzu UTE A-League table after a 4-1 win over Wellington Phoenix at CommBank Stadium on Sunday evening.
Zac Sapsford opened the scoring just 47 seconds after kick-off to set the tone for the Wanderers’ third win in five games; Bozhidar Kraev made it 2-0 in the 10th minute with a goal against his former side before a sensational bicycle kick from Hideki Ishige gave Wellington hope in the second half.
As the Phoenix hunted an equaliser, Western Sydney head coach Alen Stajcic brought Marcus Antonsson off his bench and within two minutes the Swedish striker delivered the Wanderers their third goal in the 66th minute.
As the game ticked into stoppage time there was action at both ends before young midfielder Dylan Scicluna bagged the first goal of his Isuzu UTE A-League career with a bullet strike from outside the box which crashed off the crossbar and dropped over the line, to put the exclamation point on a thrilling Wanderers display.
The Wanderers have now gone three games without defeat and with 11 points on the board, have jumped Macarthur Bulls into the finals series places. For the Phoenix, meanwhile, Saturday’s defeat was a third in succession for Giancarlo Italiano’s side.
BRISBANE BEATEN: Ruben Zadkovich responds to mounting ‘pressure’ and hints at serious injury to key defender
Western Sydney’s fast start was sparked by Sapsford’s opening goal with just 47 seconds on the clock.
The early opportunity was presented to the Wanderers after a slip in defence by Wellington defender Isaac Hughes. Brandon Borrello pounced on the loose ball and picked out Sapsford whose first-time finish put the hosts on top at CommBank Stadium.
With his first-minute goal against the Phoenix, Sapsford increased his goal tally to three this season, in his seventh appearance of 2024-25.
MONDAY TEAM NEWS: Young star closing in on return as as Bulls host Mariners in Campbelltown
Rocked by the early goal, Wellington attempted to settle into the game but Western Sydney did not allow the visitors to do so, pulling two goals clear in the 10th minute via Kraev’s close-range finish.
Borrello notched his second assist of the game at the end of a swift team move sparked by Nicolas Milanovic, who stole possession off Phoenix defender Corban Piper in the final third.
‘MAYBE I DON’T KNOW THE RULES’: Auckland coach reacts to controversial goal and shock result
DERBY DRAW: Melbourne Victory’s post-Kisnorbo era begins with pulsating derby draw
Having assisted both of the Wanderers’ early goals, Borrello came close to scoring himself shortly after the 30-minute mark.
Sharp interplay between Western Sydney’s attackers was once again on full display as Sapsford controlled an early cross into Borrello’s path but the Socceroo’s strike on goal skewed wide of the mark.
Having been dispossessed for Western Sydney’s second goal, Phoenix defender Piper came close to an unexpected goal just three minutes after half-time.
On starting debut against the Wanderers, Piper ventured forward for a Phoenix free-kick and got his head to Hideki Ishige’s delivery – but couldn’t keep the ball down in a major let-off for the hosts.
Down the other end, Milanovic threatened to make it 3-0 and had a pair of chances to do so. His first attempt crashed off the post after a heavy deflection and just minutes later, the young Wanderers forward whipped a curling effort just past of the top-left corner.
After Milanovic’s pair of nearly moments, Ishige produced a moment of quality to bring the Phoenix back into the contest.
Tim Payne’s work down the right led to the chance and after the New Zealand international swung his cross into the box, Ishige did the rest; the ball sat up invitingly for the Phoenix forward after Kazuki Nagasawa’s header on goal, and his bicycle kick from close range rattled the back of the net to give the visitors hope.
But Wellington’s hope was quickly dashed by super-sub Antonsson, who came on for the Wanderers five minutes after Ishige’s strike and restored Western Sydney’s two-goal lead just two minutes later.
Back on top and in control at CommBank Stadium, the Wanderers found a fourth through Scicluna who lashed home his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
