We count down the best matches of the 2013/14 season starting off with our Round 16 match against Perth Glory.
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 16: Western Sydney Wanderers 3-1 Perth Glory
We begin our count-down of the best Red and Black matches of the season with Round 16-s Australia Day clash against Perth Glory at Wanderland.
Heading into the match recent results had been mixed for the Wanderers and with Central Coast Mariners mounting pressure from third place, a win against the growingly confident Perth outfit was crucial for Western Sydney-s season.
Having never lost to Perth Glory it was not solely second place on the line but losing a historical dominance that was so strong would only add fire to the media-s claim of a ‘form slump-.
With this in mind Wanderers came out of the blocks firing. Inspired by a Shinji Ono master class in the first half, the Red and Black completely dominated possession and after 28 minutes of constant pressure the opener came.
Through excellent build-up from Matthew Spiranovic, who was playing in midfield, Mark Bridge delivered a first time cross that left Brendon Santalab with a tap-in for his fourth Hyundai A-League goal of the season.
The Wanderers relentless pressure again proved too much for Glory just seven minutes later with Aaron Mooy finding himself once more on the score sheet against the West Australians.
Mooy stepped up to the plate with a free-kick outside the box which took a big deflection to sail past a wrong footed Danny Vukovic and into the back of the net.
What looked to have become a formality suddenly turned tense early in the second half with Shane Smeltz making the most of a rare Glory attack to pull the score line back to 2-1.
Having given up leads twice in their previous four matches there was trepidation around the ground that there might be a repeat performance but all doubts were firmly put to bed when the boys finished the match in style.
The attack flowed down every part of the field, linking seamlessly from Ante Covic in goal right through to the forwards.
After half a dozen desperate saves in Perth-s goals Mark Bridge was eventually rewarded for his determination and tireless play with a 71st minute penalty, sealing the result.
The game finished 3-1 and stood as one of the Wanderers best performances of the season thanks to outstanding games from Bridge, Shinji Ono and the temporarily relocated Matt Spiranovic.
