Western Sydney Wanderers picked up their first point of the NPL 2 season after an entertaining 0-0 draw with St George FC.
In what was a frantic 90 minutes at the Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre, the Red and Black were denied an injury-time winner via a fantastic save from the Saints goalkeeper Jacob Madden.
Western Sydney started the game well, controlling possession and fashioning some good chances early on. The home side didn’t take long to counter, however, disrupting play and peppering the Wanderers goal.
Saints began to gradually take control of proceedings and would have gone 1-0 up if not for a terrific last-ditch tackle from Jarod Carluccio.
There was concern just before half-time when Alex Bonetig came off second best in a collision and had to be taken from the field. With the standard concussion tests being undertaken by medical staff, he was replaced by Joel Bertolissio.
Wanderers started the second half in much the same fashion as the first and probably should have taken the lead in the 48th minute with Kosta Grozos putting a bit too much power on his shot after some great build-up play.
Western Sydney’s chances weren’t helped after Reuben Awartiefe was sent from the field for a late challenge on the goalkeeper.
Both keepers had done enough to earn man of the match honours and it was the home side’s shot-stopper, Madden, who decided the outcome, palming a shot away after a desperate scramble in the box.
Overall a positive result for the Red & Black who will fancy their chances when they host Northern Tigers FC at home next Sunday.
Western Sydney Wanderers 0
St George FC 0
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Jacob WARSHAWSKY (GK), 4. Mohamed AL TAAY, 12. Nectarios TRIANTIS, 15. Alexander BONETIG (16. Joel BERTOLISSIO 41’), 7. Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 22. Dean PELEKANOS, 11. Lachlan CONSTABLE (10. Reuben AWARITEFE 63’) , 21. Isaac HOVAR, 14. Alessandro LOPANE, 23. Kosta GROZOS, 9. Ali AUGLAH
Unused substitutes: 36. Jack GIBSON (GK), 29. Alexander BADOLATO, 24. Peter GROZOS, 2. Lachlan MACDONALD
