The Western Sydney Wanderers start life without Tony Popovich as they welcome the Perth Glory to Spotless Stadium for the final match of Round 1. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 6pm (AEDT).
In what was a shock to many last week when head coach since the Wanderers inception Tony Popovich handed in his resignation to go join Turkish club Karabukspor. Hayden Foxe has been announced as care-taker coach.
During the off-season the Wanderers had made ten new signings and were looking very impressive during the preseason as they are now in the semi-final of the FFA Cup.
It is the big unknown on how the Wanderers players will come out this week, but they have an extremely strong squad and it’s still expected they will put in a good showing.
On the other side of the ledger, Perth come into this match after a disappointing loss in the FFA cup to Heidelberg.
Kenny Lowe has managed to keep his dynamic front three at the club which saw them have the second best attack in the league last season.
Defensively they were horrible allowing a high amount of goals. Going into this campaign their defence is still a big unknown quality after losing Dino Djulbic and Josh Risdon.
Prediction
It’s a very hard game to work out. The Wanderers have an overall better squad and before Popovich left I would have had them heavy favourites. While Perth were very inconsistent last year and you never quite knew which team was going to turn up.
Draw 1-1.
bobbym
Guest
Another Lowe point in the club's history if they continue to leak at the back can see Chris Coyne being appointed to seasons end.
Post_hoc
Guest
Yea baby
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
Match Report No Popa No Problems The perfect start to the campaign for the Wanderers as they come away with the 3 points against a spirited Perth Glory outfit. Western Sydney dominated the first half and it started off with Jumpei getting in behind the defence but only being denied by Poscoliero who was immense for Perth in defence tonight. Shots were flying in thick and fast and it took a couple of the new signings to break the deadlock as Cejudo who was brilliant in midfield all night finding his fellow Spainard Riera with a beautiful ball as he calmly placed the ball around Reddy. 90 seconds later and the Wanderers were in again as Hamill slid in Jumpei beautifully with a ball behind and he scored brilliantly. The 2nd half started much the same and the game should have been dead and buried as Riera found a heap of space in the ball but somehow skied the ball over. Finally Perth woke up and their midfield maestro Diego Castro was getting alot more of the ball and was finding a heap of space. Janjetovic made back to back good saves to keep their lead in tact as Glory peppered the goals for a good 15minute spell. Until it took a deflected Keogh header into Hamill for Perth to score late on. Glory kept pressing and had multiple corners late on but couldnt find that equalizer. Western Sydney would be ecstatic with how they have come out to play and perform especially their new signings Cejudo,Riera and Bonevacia and will threaten and defence this season. Perth will want to improve on tonights performance and the scoreline should have been much worse. They will need to sign another defender at the minimum. The positive they cant take out is how good Castro looks when he gets on the ball. Just need to see more of it.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Attendance: 12,223
John Cena
Guest
Great goal from heskey
John Cena
Guest
Perth tie It up late
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
FULLTIME Wanderers 2 Glory 1 The Wanderers hold on in an exciting encounter and Wanderers win their first ever round 1 match up.
John Cena
Guest
*Heskey*
John Cena
Guest
He's key is hoping to make an impact
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
92' Wanderers 2 Glory 1 Late corner for Perth but nothing comes of it again.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
91' Wanderers 2 Glory 1 Substitution Bonevacia OFF Santalab ON
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
90' Wanderers 2 Glory 1 Glory with back to back corners back the 2nd one from Castro goes over the goals. 3 minutes of added time
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
87' Wanderers 2 Glory 1 Nervy moment for Janjetovic as he just clears a shot for a corner. Nevilles header is into a Wanderers player.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
84' Wanderers 2 Glory 1 Tense times at Spotless Stadium with Glory pressing hard for an equalizer
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
81' Wanderers 2 Glory 1 GOAL!!! Keogh heads the ball towards the goal and it deflects into the back of the net. GAME ON!
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
79' Wanderers 2 Glory 0 Attendance for tonight is 12,000 and they would be happy with what they have seen so far tonight
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
78' Wanderers 2 Glory 0 Again Bonevacia has a shot from 25yards out and isnt on target
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
75' Wanderers 2 Glory 0 15minutes left and Perth have had the better of the last 5-10minutes without a breakthrough.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
72' Wanderers 2 Glory 0 Double Substitution Herd and Cejudo OFF Lustica Bridge ON
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
71' Wanderers 2 Glory 0 CROSSBAR! Castro picks out Taggart with a wicked free kick but it goes just wide. Glory are coming hard now