Western Sydney Wanderers’ Asian Champions League title defence has suffered a massive blow, with a 2-1 home loss to Japan’s Kashima Antlers in heavy rain at Parramatta on Tuesday.
After taking a first-half lead through Nikita Rukavytsya, Wanderers conceded two second-half goals, the second coming in stoppage time.
The result pushed Kashima above the Wanderers, who are now last in their four-team group with just one round remaining.
Western Sydney must now win their final match in China against group leader Guangzhou Evergrande and hope for a favourable result in the other final-round fixture.
While the Wanderers had their chances, Kashima deserved a good result for an enterprising performance after falling a goal behind.
The hardy crowd of just over five thousand who braved Sydney’s `storm of the decade’ watched the Wanderers hit the front when Rukavytsya slotted the ball home after defender Naomichi Ueda made a hash of dealing with a through ball from Wanderers Japanese midfielder Takahagi Yojiro.
Wanderers goalkeeper Ante Covic was the busier of the two custodians and he made three first-half saves to preserve his team’s lead.
Home striker Kerem Bulut had a shot pushed over the bar, but it was a rare opportunity for the Wanderers.
Kashima continued to push forward after the break and equalised half way through the second half when Shoma Doi cut inside and drilled the ball home with his left foot.
Gabu Shibsaki went close with a free kick for the visitors before Kanazaki Mu made a perfectly-timed run in the first minute of stoppage time to drill home a left wing cross for the winning goal.
After the 0-0 draw between Guangzhou Evergrande and FC Seoul, only one set of results will enable the Wanderers to advance to the last 16.
They must beat Guangzhou and hope Kashima and FC Seoul draw, as a victory for either would eliminate the Australian team.
Speaking before the end of the Seoul-Guangzhou game, Wanderers coach Tony Popovic said it would be difficult to win in China but his team would go into the game believing they could get that result.
Popovic lamented the Wanderers inability to take more of their first-half chances and was disappointed with their second-half fadeout.
“I was concerned, we didn’t take those chances. The second half, they improved, but we weren’t in the game at all,” Popovic said.
“I’m not really sure they improved so much, but we were poor in the second half and the difference was that they took their chances.”
The Wanderers’ prospects in China won’t be helped as they will be missing three players through suspension.
Popovic’s Kashima counterpart, Toninho Cerezo, attributed his team’s victory to better execution in the second half.
On departing his press conference, he gave a fist pump and emitted a celebratory yell.
Matsu
Guest
Can someone explain to me why the Australian media has to find hundreds of excuses every time a result goes against them? I read comments on The Roar and usually get the impression that people Down Under are reasonably mature and emotionally balanced, yet the press seems to constantly come up with BS and dummy spits like this one: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/tony-popovic-urges-ffa-to-help-a-league-clubs-compete-in-asia/story-fn63e0vj-1227315998094 " . . . the J.League handed Kashima a bye..." OK, first of all thats a blatant LIE. Kashima played their round 6 match 36 hours earlier than other J.League teams, and that barely even was enough to cover the flight time to Sydney. This article whines about "just three days to prepare" yet seems oblivious to the fact that Kashima had less than 48 hours after their plane touched down. Then we get more flogging of the "cashed up" excuse that has been disproven a dozen times or more. FCOL, are you so immature that you have to make excuses EVERY TIME an A-League team loses a match? Seriously -- the media down there has earned Australians a reputation as a bunch of spolied little children who stamp their feet and shake their little fists anytime they have a result go against them. If I was an Aussie I would be embarrassed by this sort of crap -- especially when the excuses they make are not even TRUE.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Simple case of the team playing crap in the second half compounded by Popa replacing the wrong people with the wrong people -clearly Bridge and Cole are Popa's favourites - a blind spot that is proving his undoing
Josh
Guest
I think Aspro needs a few more games to cement his status to the rest of the footballing community. Really happy about Kuzi though, he burst onto the scene at the preseason match in Campbelltown and he's been improving ever since.
yewonk
Guest
I keep thinking they will turn a corner there is two more left then I can accept it. good thing about last night was the hot drinks line was not so long.
yewonk
Guest
No aspro
AZ_RBB
Guest
Young Socceroos are going on tour soon and their 23 man squad has been announced. Very proud to see 6 WSW players in the mix, the most well represented club Daniel ALESSI Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia Daniel ARZANI FFA Centre of Excellence, Australia George BLACKWOOD Sydney FC, Australia Jesse DALEY Brisbane Roar FC, Australia Shayne D'CUNHA Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia Daniel DE SILVA Perth Glory, Australia Thomas DENG Melbourne Victory, Australia Lucas DERRICK Melbourne Victory, Australia Alusine FOFANAH Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia Perry FOTAKOPOULOS FFA Centre of Excellence, Australia Tom GLOVER (gk) Tottenham Hotspur, England Thomas HEWARD-BELLE (gk) Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia Jordan HOLMES (gk) AFC Bournemouth, England Lachlan HUGHES Sutherland Sharks, Australia Anthony KALIK Central Coast Mariners, Australia Steve KUZMANOVSKI Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia Jordan LAMPARD Brisbane Roar FC, , Australia Charles LOKOLI NGOY Sutherland Sharks, Australia Benjamin LYVIDIKOS Brisbane Roar FC, , Australia Liam McGING Sydney United 58, Australia Liam ROSE Central Coast Mariners, Australia Riley WOODCOCK Perth Glory, Australia Liam YOULLEY Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia
Josh
Guest
I was soaked for hours afterwards but i'd do it again in a heartbeat
Souwalker
Guest
Agree. Inept indeed. Cold and wet though........
Souwalker
Guest
Spot on.
AZ_RBB
Guest
The club has brought us a lot of joy over the last couple of years. Happy to suffer a bit in return. Just 2 games left in this 45 game season. What a ride it's been.
Gareth
Guest
Commendable effort there guys. Midweek game in a storm and you still make it to the stadium. I hope the club is paying for your medical bills :P
jamesb
Guest
I think bombing out at the group stage is a blessing in disguise. It will give the club a breather in the off season and have the club fresh and ready to go when season 11 begins. However, they need to recruit or maintain their players a helluva lot better compared to the beginning of season 10.
AZ_RBB
Guest
The only part of me that wasn't under 5 layers was the middle of my face. The pitch held up incredibly well. Last night was another tactically inept performance. I'll leave it at that.
ciudadmarron
Guest
I make it a rule to not do what Mike Baird tells me. I did rug up a bit more than normal though. Feeling fine. I think in their heart of hearts they just want it over AZ. Sincerely hope that's it. Just fatigue. Because the lack of cohesion is pretty awful. But at the same time... popa's subs... Two guys who haven't played in ages in a must win scenario....
AZ_RBB
Guest
Hello pneumonia.