Western Sydney Wanderers FC
1
Match Complete
Adelaide United
2
| 85' |  | M. Marrone | ||
| 72' | | M. Jakobsen | ||
| 66' |  | C. Goodwin | ||
| T. Elrich | | 54' | ||
| 53' | | V. Lia | ||
| R. Bonevacia | | 49' | ||
| 8' | | V. Lia |
| 15 | Shots | 17 | ||
| 4 | On Target | 7 | ||
| 16 | Fouls | 10 | ||
| 6 | Corners | 4 | ||
| 1 | Offsides | 1 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
Round 14 is a chance for the Western Sydney Wanderers to dispel their demons after a regrettable few weeks (and season) when they take on Adelaide United at ANZ Stadium this Friday evening at 7:50pm (AEST). Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match.
The last couple of weeks have been diabolical for the Wanderers, who have shot themselves in the foot time and time again.
It’s four losses on the trot now for the Wanderers, who have improved their performances on the pitch, but haven’t improved results on the scoreboard.
A battling 2-1 loss to the Victory, where for long periods they were the better team was followed up by a 3-2 loss to the Phoenix where they gave up 89th minute winner to Roy Krishna.
But the dagger in the hearts of Wanderers fans was their 4-3 loss to Perth last week, conceding three goals in just over 10 minutes to blow a 3-1 lead.
Markus Babbel will decry their lack of luck, but the Wanderers don’t help themselves at times with poor defending and the lack of a clinical striker to finish off their good chances.
The only bright side for the Wanderers out of the last few weeks has been the potential solution to their finishing problem.
Kwame Yeboah announced his return to Australia in his first start against Perth, scoring the opener and setting up the other two.
Yeboah has returned from Germany to get his career back on track, and his early form suggests he has the fight and passion – and ability – that the Wanderers desperately need to lead the line.
Marquee striker Oriol Riera’s huge pay packet is not being matched by a huge goal tally, and he may now have officially lost his place in the starting team to Yeboah.
Adelaide’s recent form has been mixed – two wins, two draws and a loss in the last five – befitting of a team sitting sixth on the table.
More recently they blew the chance to assert themselves on the table by losing 2-1 to Sydney, a grave disappointment after knocking off the Victory the week before.
Craig Goodwin’s sparkling form has continued; six goals and three assists so far this season puts him seventh for both, and his 37 chances created sits him second in the league just behind Dimi Petratos.
But Goodwin is missing supply and support from team mates, with manager Marco Kurz on the record about looking for a striker in this transfer window to put more of those chances away.
Indeed, Adelaide are solid in defence, having conceded the second fewest goals this season, but lack that class in their attacking third that can allow them to compete with the top teams across a season.
Despite their lack of attacking depth and indifferent form Adelaide will be expecting three points in this game.
The matchup in midfield between newly nationalised Aussie Isaias and 20-year-old Olyroo Keanu Baccus will be a particular focus.
If the more defensively minded Baccus can stifle Isaias and his distribution, Adelaide will find it harder to engage Goodwin and their other attacking midfielders, Halloran and Ilso.
Prediction
The Wanderers are in goal scoring form, but sadly they’re also in goal conceding form.
Socceroo fans and A-League neutrals will be eager to see Kwame Yeboah’s form continue, but he alone won’t have enough to get over Adelaide.
Despite lacking elite firepower, Adelaide has enough talent to cut through the porous Wanderers defence.
Excitingly, this shapes to be another high scoring contest.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 – Adelaide United 2
EJ
Roar Pro
we Did have the better chances, however the goal we conceded shouldn’t of happened, it was a free kick but the poor decisions by the reds which led to the free kick given away we’re sloppy from the turn over to actually giving the foul, good free kick from bonevacia tho
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
AND because, marginally, he did take contact.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
PERSONALLY, I would have paid it. Mostly because I thought Cordier was brilliant
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
VAR worked in Adelaide's favour tonight but I think the Reds had the better chances. 7 on target to 4 does suggest they would have been a bit unlucky to lose. Galloway could have scored twice, Goodwin again with this right....
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT. The Wanderers drop points at home after a spirited effort against Adelaide, losing 2-1 in a game where both teams showed up for a contest. Adelaide were efficient and effective throughout this game, exploiting the Wanderers’ structural weaknesses to full effect, while also making it hard for the Wanderers to find real fluency in their forward half. But many will point to VAR as the real antagonist in this game. The video seemed to miss – or ignore – an obvious offside in the lead-up to Craig Goodwin’s winner, and also side with the Adelaide again in a 50/50 shout for a penalty near in the dying minutes where debutant Cordier went down under a tackle from Strain. We seem to say this every week but, again, despite the poor result there were a number of positives for coach Markus Babbel to take out of tonight’s game. First and foremost, he should now have learned not to introduce the back 3 again. In the first half none of the Wanderers defenders seemed to know what to do or who to mark, and the imperious Craig Goodwin and his colleague on the left, Scott Galloway, carved through the Wanderers right hand side with ginzu precision. That space was reduced in the second half when the third central defender was removed and Tate Russell asked to return to his more familiar right fullback spot where he looked much more comfortable. Babbel will also be pleased with the form of the young players on his left side. Matieu Cordier on debut was brilliant, and looks a real player, and Jaushua Sotirio was lively throughout and should have opened the scoring for the Wanderers but smashed his open chance straight at Izzo in the first half. Young goalkeeper Suman was also good, making some good saves: but the hearts of Wanderers fans will have been most lifted by Roly Bonevacia’s equalising free kick goal, which was of the highest class. That free kick could have been witnessed in any league in the world this weekend, and was a rare moment of genuine brilliance for the Wanderers. Adelaide, on the other hand, did all they needed to. Their game plan was simple, but extremely effective – and ultimately superior. Unfortunately the game was soured for both teams by injuries, with both strikers George Blackwood and Kwame Yeboah needing to leave the field, while Mikael Jakobsen may also have picked up a knock. The Wanderers in particular cannot afford to be without Yeboah for too long, especially with Oriol Riera unavailable. MAN OF THE MATCH was Craig Goodwin by a country mile. Goodwin showed in this game that he isn’t just a quick or a great finisher; he’s also extremely clever and worked the space expertly in between Russell and Mourdoukoutas. He scored the winner, made the assist for Lia in the first half, and generally terrorised the Wanderers all night.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
It certainly doesn’t advantage Newcastle this year Have you forgotten the var grand final farce too
EJ
Roar Pro
As a reds fan, that was a lucky win, two calls which could have easily gone the other way for us, good finishes for all three goals, stupid decision to time waste from Jakobsen now he is suspended for an important and hard clash against the Glory.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Lia opened the scoring for Adelaide, before Bonevacia equalised with a brilliant free kick in the second half. The goals ended with Goodwin, who smashed in his chance after a suggestion of offside from Mileusnic in the approach.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
FULL TIME. Adelaide wins this - with some controversy - 2-1.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
We come into the last minute. and Wanderers need a miracle here.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
94' - Bonevacia winds up for a shot at the edge of the box, but slips on his planted foot and puts it WIDE.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
93' - Shouts for handball for the Wanderers. Cordier juggling the ball in the box and suggestions it touches an Adelaide hand. Nothing from the referee and VAR clears it.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
92' - GALLOWAY HITS THE UPRIGHT! A brilliant combination with Goodwin, and Galloway - as he has all night - runs into a mile of space and cuts back on this right to fire at the back post but hits it instead.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Adelaide trying to take the heat out of the game, passing around their back 4 and around the Wanderers press.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
5 EXTRA MINUTES
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90' - Shot BLOCKED by Adelaide this time, as Bonevacia at the back post collects from a CORNER, but he can't find enough space to get a decent shot off.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
88' - SHOT HIGH from Goodwin! It sat up for him at the top of the box, and he had time, but he smashes it OVER THE BAR. That could have been 3-1 and Goodwin will be disappointed with himself.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
88' - SHOT BLOCKED by the Wanderers, Halloran getting the shot off in the box but hits it straight at Hamill's heels, and the ball gets stuck there. That was Plan A for Adelaide: speed in the half space and a cut back for a shot.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
heat out of the game now
85'