Western Sydney have continued their astonishing run in the Asian Champions League, booking their place in the decider of their maiden campaign with a 2-0 victory over FC Seoul at Parramatta Stadium on Wednesday.
The achievement marks yet another piece of history in the Wanderers’ short existence as they join Adelaide United as the only two Australian teams to reach the ACL showpiece.
Having knocked out the ACL champions Guangzhou Evergrande in the quarters, the Wanderers have now also sent last year’s runners up FC Seoul packing in the second leg of their semi-final clash to set up a final showdown with Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal.
The Wanderers’ victory, courtesy of a goal in each half from Mateo Poljak and Shannon Cole, also breaks one of the longest streaks in Asian football with a Korean side having featured in the last five ACL finals.
Having held Seoul to a scoreless draw in the first leg earlier this month the Wanderers needed nothing less than a win on Wednesday to progress.
They came out with a clear attacking intent and had the best possible start in front of a near capacity crowd just shy of 19,000.
Poljak scored in the fourth minute when a clearance from FC Seoul keeper Sanghun Yu fell right at his feet, the midfielder’s long-range strike putting the Wanderers in front.
Striker Brendon Santalab, back from suspension, looked like doubling the advantage moments later when he found himself in a one-on-one with the keeper but shot wide.
After playing his key attacking weapons, Colombian Mauricio Molina and Brazilian Everton Santos, off the bench in the first leg, FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-Soo started the duo on Wednesday night.
Molina tested the defence late in the opening half with centre-back Brendan Hamill clearing one of his shots off the line.
With a dangerous away goal looming the Wanderers switched to defensive mode in the second half, sitting deep in their opponent’s half.
The Wanderers finally got the buffer they were desperately searching for in the 64th minute when Labinot Haliti tore down the left wing to whip a superb cross into the box with Cole, who was also back from suspension, heading home for the 2-0 lead.
Despite being 2-0 up, the Wanderers still had no room for error as the visitors continued to threaten.
Kim Ju-Young looked like getting one back for Seoul but sent his header over the cross bar.
The Wanderers defence held strong until the final whistle with goalkeeper Ante Covic barely troubled.
Western Sydney will host the first leg of the final against Al Hilal on October 25 before the return leg in Saudi Arabia on November 1.
MORE ash/sz
Neil
Guest
WSW are the underdogs in the the final and I think this is how they like it. nothing brings out the best in sportsman than being up against what seems to be insurmountable odds. I am a Roar fan who wishes WSW every success in the ACL final and look forward to hearing the chanting on Oct. 25th. from Wanderer's fans who are amongst the best in the world.
CmonJets
Guest
Unfortunately....+1 Sigh
Griffo
Roar Guru
Agree. Stubbins has got his A-League gig, I just hope he isn't underestimating what lies ahead. I don't think he is while also hoping his deputies are going to serve him well. A lot of talk of still experimenting and finding combinations and solutions. I don't believe this is all down to injuries either. Even with massive squad change and injuries, too much 'work in progress' talk for this period of preseason. There is talk of Zenon Caravella being parachuted into midfield. A sure sign of things going south a week out from Round 1. Some good players on the books, some who need to overcome injuries and get confidence in the body. Pepper was a midfielder before being 'convinced' by GvE to become a fullback. Serious issues when Regan is backing up along side. As with past couple of regular seasons, pre-season form has been indifferent. Need some games behind them but I am going to be surprised if Jets make top six this early out :-(
Evan Askew
Guest
Unfortunately for Adelaide their run to the semi final was at a time when football was declining in popularity at both A league level and state league level in that 2008-09 season. And though most people of common sense recognised the great achievement of Adealide the mainstream media did ignore it save for Rebecca Wilson, of whom I will say nothing more. I do remember that people in Adelaide got behind them though and that is what really counts. Hell even when Adelide lost the first leg in Osaka 3-0 and were theoretically out of it, the second leg still sold out.
CmonJets
Guest
I age With You obs. The web casts I watched of the jets preseason were not convincing in the footballing skills department... touch is not great and speed of pass is even less so. I am a fan and will follow no mate what but I need to see more of the basic skills let alone chemistry.
Dean
Guest
The question is not how many viewers world-wide, that almost never matters to broadcasters. What matters is viewers in their own area. How many people in Australia will watch is all that Foxtel care about. It's great exposure for WSW sponsors, but don't expect the media to jump on board, it won't get 20% of the NRL Grand Final viewers and therefore will receive even less than 20% media coverage. It's a great achievement, but media coverage isn't given on merit, it's given on viewers/readers. You only need to look at political coverage to know this is the truth.
Kasey
Guest
After we were made to share our prize money with the other clubs in the A-League..I know right? WTF? I believe the rules have been changed? WSW to keep all of their prize money? well to WSW done on matching AU. I doubt I'll be able to put my club v club hostilities aside for the final though.
Punter
Guest
Robbie Slater!!!!
TomCahill
Guest
Here here!
michael
Guest
Haliti, Bridge, Covic, Toppa, that other left back. Poppa could probably have made Zadko into the best midfielder in the A-League!
AZ_RBB
Guest
I think this is simply a step up from the attention Adelaide received back in 2008, rather than a complete flip in perceptions. But the thing is, even within the Australian football community, there is very little understanding of Asian football. It is still something fairly new and foreign to most people. The next Aus club to go deep into the competition will hopefully receive even greater attention. We're all still learning and that can only be a good thing.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Visy had already paid $250k to sponsor the club's group stage. No idea if that number has increased after our success. I would expect any sponsorship of our 2015 campaign will be significantly higher.
Punter
Guest
I think the media is maturing, but we are a long way from where we should be. We saw this during the WC, most of the media brought the fact that we were a young side with no expectation & didn't just get caught up on the results. I do agree this is huge & should receive much bigger attention.
Punter
Guest
Exactly what I was thinking, I'm sure they can get some decent sponsorship, both long term & short term from this.
Fadida
Guest
It'll come down to Stubbins coaching. Given that half of the WSW team seems to have gone from the Jets wherw they have improved ten-fold, the conclusion is that coaching and organisation makes a huge difference. Bridge and Halitit in particularly are unrecognisable from their Jets self. Jets have plenty to work with. Can Stubbins get Carney, Griffiths, Jeronimo playing to their max? Who am I kidding. A "midfield" of Pepper and Regan? Lack of pace is my biggest concern. We look one-paced (more than last season
Brick tamland of the pants party
Guest
Yes who can forget that article by whats her face, the Wanderers taking home the title will make her look the fool once again.
Franko
Guest
Nice bit of coin for them, wonder what it does in terms of sponsorship?
JohnL
Guest
Congratulations to the club and all the Wanderers fans.
AL
Guest
Got to feel sorry for Adelaide United. WSW is getting nothing but positive and more media time, and so they should. Not as much as theyh should be getting. When AU made the final the main stream media undersold it to the point of ignoring it completely, and one infamous artical calling their path to the final and making the final after their semi final win as a reflection of the failer of the A-league. The Asia cup is massive, we are talking about billions of viewers. I think the mainstream media recognise this and hence ignore it, Otherwise this story would have been front and centre of The Roar and other papers in the Nation. As the ACL dwarfs the NRL and AFL grand finals.
JonJax
Guest
The impact of the Wanderers on Australia's sporting landscape has proven to be seismic. Engaging with Asia (in a region that buys more than 60% of our nations exports), in this manner – all the way to the final- resonates like no other sport can- bar none Bravo Wanderers !