We count down the best matches of the 2013/14 season with the Juric-inspired comeback against Adelaide today’s selection.
With the season done and dusted (save for the small matter of a Champions League Quarter Final) we thought we would take you through the best matches of 2013/14.
Round 4: Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 Adelaide United
Number six in the count-down of the best Red and Black matches of the season is Round 4-s 2-1 come-back victory over Adelaide United at Wanderland.
With the Wanderers having an uneasy start to the season the side faced an early fixture against a re-vamped Adelaide United. The Reds offered a real attacking threat under new coach Josep Gombau, throwing down a challenge to the Wanderers.
Western Sydney started the game on the forward foot with a first minute header from Nikolai Topor-Stanley forcing Eugene Galekovic into a clever save. That initial shot was followed up with several sporadic chances throughout the first half but to no avail with the United keeper proving his quality between the sticks.
Despite entering the tunnel at half time with a 0-0 score line and having the better chances in the opening 45 the men in Red and Black looked uncharacteristically unsettled.
The attacking threat Adelaide had potential for eventually came to fruition with Marcelo Carrusca punishing the Wanderers for hastily giving up possession when he found the back of the net on the 54th minute.
Having gone behind, the crowd truly lifted several levels with one of the loudest, most intimidating atmospheres experienced in Australian football pushing the Wanderers on.
The crowd made the difference and rose even louder when Tomi Juric scored a goal of immense quality against his former side.
Receiving the ball and cutting inside Juric found himself outside the box, striking low and hard. Such was the power and shock-value, Galekovic didn-t realise what was happening until the ball was rippling against the inside of his net.
And with that the Wanderers were level thanks to some individual brilliance and resolve from the Red and Black-s new number 9.
Having inspired everyone inside Wanderland the game took on a completely different tone and Western Sydney began to dominate the match pushing relentlessly for a winner.
Various shots from the Wanderers front line came close to sealing it but Tomi Juric was determined to ensure his status as match hero. In the 80th minute Jerome Polenz delivered a clever cross with Juric springing into action steering home a header and truly announcing himself as a Red and Black player.
Jumping over the advertising hoardings to celebrate with the RBB, Juric sealed himself as a Wanderers hero and introduced himself to the Red and Black faithful as one of the most feared strikers in the league.
The match was the coming of age for Juric in a Wanderers jersey and it was his individual power and resilience that inspired the club-s glorious turn-around.
The match making it into our most memorable of the season thanks to Tomi-Gun but also as it showcased the Wanderers- fighting spirit and incredible support that goes down as one of the classic comeback matches of the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season.
