Western Sydney Wanderers
4
Match Complete
Macarthur
0
| R. Najjarine |  | 88' | ||
| 85' |  | M. Millar | ||
| B. Borrello | | 77' | ||
| B. Borrello | | 70' | ||
| T. Mrcela | | 60' | ||
| Y. N'Gbakoto | | 56' | ||
| 24' | | J. Aspropotamitis | ||
| M. A. G. Filho | | 21' | ||
| O. Bozanic | | 18' | ||
| Y. N'Gbakoto | | 16' |
| 16 | Shots | 12 | ||
| 7 | On Target | 0 | ||
| 15 | Fouls | 15 | ||
| 3 | Corners | 6 | ||
| 0 | Offsides | 0 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 4 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
Third and fourth on the A-League Men’s ladder clash to kick off the new year when the Western Sydney Wanderers host Macarthur FC at CommBank Stadium in Sydney. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5pm (AEDT).
Despite patchy form and just eight goals for the season thus far, Western Sydney remain entrenched in the top six and with a chance to go second with a win against the Bulls this afternoon.
The visitors could do the same with three points, a scenario that sets up the most intriguing of match-ups in what are perfect conditions for football.
The Wanderers have not tasted victory in the league since November 12, grabbing points against Brisbane and Wellington while losing to Western United in Round 8. Goals have proven hard to come by and coach Marko Rudan knows his team must improve in that department if it is to hang around in the top six for an extended period of time.
Macarthur has seen its season take off since the World Cup break. Wins against Sydney FC and Perth have propelled them inside the top six and they now loom as a real threat with Ulises Davila fit and firing and Craig Noone and Daniel De Silva playing important roles in their attacking shape.
A somewhat leaky defence will be an area of focus for coach Dwight Yorke, yet the Bulls have the weapons to put any side to the sword on their day and the Wanderers’ defence will be tested on the first day of 2023.
The team news is significant heading into this clash, with the Wanderers welcoming back Milos Ninkovic and Kusini Yengi in huge inclusions for the home side. The Bulls lose De Silva, as he joins a concerning injury list that also includes Aleksander Susnjar and Lachlan Rose.
Those outs place immense pressure on the remaining attacking Bulls, yet with names like Davila, Daniel Arzani, Bachana Arabuli and Al Hassan Toure at his disposal, the manager does have an embarrassment of riches.
Prediction
The unavailable players will weaken the Bulls, yet the bench still looks strong and despite the home-field advantage in favour of Western Sydney, Macarthur will move into second on the ladder with a strong performance this afternoon.
Western Sydney 1 Macarthur FC 2
Game information
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 5pm (AEDT)
Streaming: Paramount +
Betting: Wanderers $1.85, draw $3.75, Macarthur $3.85 – odds via PlayUp
Squads
Western Sydney Wanderers
1.Daniel MARGUSH (GK), 2.Gabriel CLEUR, 3.Adama TRAORE, 5.Tomislav MRCELA, 6.Marcelo (C), 7.Ramy NAJJARINE, 8.Oliver BOZANIC, 9.Kusini YENGI, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Sulejman KRPIC, 12.Ruon TONGYIK, 17.Romain AMALFITANO, 19.Daniel WILMERING, 20.Lawrence THOMAS, 23.Yeni NGBAKOTO, 26.Brandon BORRELLO, 28.Calem NIEUWENHOF, 31.Aidan SIMMONS, 32.Nathanel BLAIR, 36.Alessandro LOPANE
Macarthur FC
Filip KURTO (gk), Jake McGING, Tomi USKOK, Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, Ivan VUJICA, Kearyn BACCUS, Ulises DAVILA, Daniel ARZANI, Al Hassan TOURE, Nick SUMAN (gk), Matt MILLAR, Charles M’MOMBWA, Jake HOLLMAN, Anthony CARTER, Jed DREW, Craig NOONE, Jerry SKOTADIS, Bachana ARABULI
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Good question. A very poor performance. Davila tried his heart out and lacked support. Rose, Susnjar and De Silva are significant losses. They'll bounce back.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Thanks Stuart - good call. Good performance from Wanderers, but where were Bulls today?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Thanks for being on board for the match, it was a treat to bring it to you on the Roar. Today was a day for the Wanderers and Dwight Yorke will look to reset for Round 11. Final Score Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
FULL-TIME Western Sydney go second on the ladder, the Bulls head to the drawing board and the red and black are believing again. Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
FULL-TIME The Wanderers have belted the Bulls at CommBank Stadium in a wonderful performance in front of their home fans. Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90+5 Western Sydney win the free and that should be enough at CommBank Stadium. Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90+5 Arzani with two very poor balls into the box which are cleared with ease. Now one final thrust from the visitors. Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90+4 Arzani is fouled after the Bulls break following the Western Sydney ball into the box. Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90+3 Arzani still unable to create on the left as the Wanderers take over soon after. Davila still battling hard in midfield. Krpic wins a free after Uskok grabbed his shirt. Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90+2 Lovely work from the Wanderers as they play out well from the back and then win the free in the midfield. Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90+1 Five minutes will be added. Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Bulls will be going home with some missing bits :laughing: :laughing:
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90' Hollman wins the free for the visitors and then Arzani dove for the free but did not draw it. Western Sydney play out. Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90' It is getting ugly now for the Bulls. Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
89' Najjarine thumps it home....GOAL WANDERERS!!!!!! Western Sydney……………..4 Macarthur FC………………..0
88'
Stuart Thomas
Expert
88' Najjarine will take the spot kick. Western Sydney……………..3 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
88' VAR will check yet it does seem quite obvious. Western Sydney……………..3 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
88' Cleur is brought down in the box......PENALTY WANDERERS!!!!! Western Sydney……………..3 Macarthur FC………………..0
Stuart Thomas
Expert
87' Mrcela with a golden chance to score from a free header in front of goal. It sails over the bar. Western Sydney……………..3 Macarthur FC………………..0