A brilliant defensive effort from a 10-man Western Sydney Wanderers boosted the visitors to a 1-0 victory over the Perth Glory at nib Stadium.
The Wanderers scored the only goal of the game through lacopo La Rocca in the 15th minute and then defended outstandingly throughout the second half after Youssouf Hersi received a red card in the 38th minute.
The Glory completely dominated the second half, creating goal-scoring chance after goal-scoring chance, but could not break though the Wanderers’ defence.
Perth dearly missed star striker Shane Smeltz, who was unavailable due to a pressing family matter.
The Glory continued to pepper the goals, but Western Sydney goalkeeper Ante Covic was impenetrable and made a host of outstanding saves.
With Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Michael Beauchamp and Shannon Cole leading the way in defence as well, the Wanderers did an outstanding job to hold out Perth for the win.
The victory moves Western Sydney into fifth position on the A-League ladder, leapfrogging Melbourne Heart, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.
The visitors silenced the Perth crowd early with a well worked goal in the 15th minute when Aaron Mooy put a good cross into the box that La Rocca did well to head into the top corner.
The Wanderers then had another golden chance in the 34th minute through Mark Bridge, but the game changed soon after when Hersi was given a red card.
The Dutchman lashed out with a kick to Perth’s Michael Jamieson when he was on the ground after a heavy tackle.
That turned possession enormously in the Glory’s favour for the entire second half and coach Ian Ferguson would have been disappointed they didn’t convert from a host of chances.
Steve McGarry hit the side bar with a well struck shot from long range in the 57th minute and had another header opportunity in the 91st, but that also hit the crossbar.
Covic also made superb saves off Nick Ward in the 59th minute and Billy Mehmet in the 64th.
The Glory had one last opportunity in the 94th but Adrian Zahra pushed it high and, fittingly, he was likely offside.
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic was critical of referee Kris Griffiths-Jones’ performance.
“I thought that overall the referee had a poor game and it would have been an injustice in the end if we didn’t get the points because of some poor decisions,” Popovic said.
“It would have been a shame if the players didn’t come away with the win.
“We felt that up until the sending off we totally dominated and probably should have been two up, but the send off obviously changes things slightly.
“After that it was all about character, discipline and real team unity.”
Ferguson was disappointed the Glory couldn’t capitalise on having an extra man in the second half.
“We never had the cutting edge today and we are very disappointed with the result. We had the bulk of play and they made it difficult for us. We had our chances, but just didn’t take them,” Ferguson said.
“We kept the ball well but we struggled to find that little bit of cutting edge or X-factor that could split the defence open.
“Credit to them for coming here and getting the early goal, and then doggishly defending after getting a man sent off.”
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Stupid bloody way to lose the home streak ...
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Maybe they should do less splitting defenses open and consider they had a man advantage and they created the free man in a zone which is away from your opponents goal. Which is why it looks at times these guys are defending like hell when in fact the other team and his coach got the tactics wrong. That is difference between top ones and avg guys. After Hersi got send off he should have reacted as well. They would obviously moved one of their forwards deeper in the whole where the guy that was sent of played. Now you are sitting with 2 CB no one to mark, your are even numbers in midfield, their CB have a 2 on 1 on your forward. For the rest of the game you struggle on and lose and blame the referee ir said you were unlucky. Its not that hard. 2 CB marking no one and they are not a thread to goal so no marking needed. I bet all you guys have the solution. Simple take one off and push him forward in midfield where you will have more nubers and dominate it or as a forward which means they are going to have to pull another midfielder back to stop that hole leaving you again with the better numbers dominating midfield.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Where was I? Trying to get out of a bottle!
Ian
Guest
where's Nathan of Perth? what happened against WSW? a 1-0 loss at home to the newbies..........tell me about it. i thought you said there was organised defence by every team against the Roar apart from our goal scoring against sydney and victory? ;-) i tipped perth.........good thing i didn't have money on it. and a man up?