A last-minute goal from Reuben Awaritefe has sealed a massive 3-2 win for Western Sydney Wanderers over Hakoah Sydney City East.
The Red & Black made it back-to-back wins on a thrilling afternoon at Wanderers Football Park with the lead changing three times.
Goals to Alessandro Lopane, Ali Auglah, and Awaritefe were enough to seal all three points in an, at times, heated afternoon at Wanderers Football Park.
It wasn’t looking positive for Western Sydney early on however as Hakoah took the lead after only five minutes off the back of a swift counter-attack, Luiz Lobo with a neat finish.
The home struggled to create many meaningful opportunities but kept their heads up while seeing off some dangerous attacks from their Eastern Suburbs opponents.
Finally, after 27 minutes Wanderers drew level and it was a calm finish under pressure from Lopane. The dynamic attacker managed to get his shot away moments before being clattered into by a Hakoah defender and it snuck past the goalkeeper at the near post.
Five minutes later and they took the lead via who else but Auglah. The in-form striker notched up his ninth goal of the season with a curling effort from the top of the box that gave the goalkeeper no chance.
He almost had an identical goal after half-time but it clattered off the crossbar. Regardless, Western Sydney were now in control and pushing for a winner.
Instead, it was Hakoah who drew level via Marco Arambasic with a well-worked team goal to make it 2-2 after 67 minutes.
Tempers had been simmering all game and there were a number of physical challenges in the final 20 minutes as both sides desperately searched for a winner.
Two rounds of double substitutions later and it was two of those replacements combining for the winner for Wanderers.
Rhys Youlley, playing his first game of 2021, whipped in a dangerous ball and Awaritefe rose high to head it home before leading the team in a joyous celebration.
A well-earned three points and another 3-2 thriller at Wanderers Football Park after their win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles last month.
Western Sydney Wanderers 3 (Lopane 27’, Auglah 32’, Awaritefe 89′)
Hakoah Sydney City East 2 (Lobo 5’, Arambasic 67’)
Western Sydney Wanderers: 18. Oliver KALAC (GK), 15. Alexander BONETIG, 4. Mohamed AL TAAY (8. Joel BERTOLISSIO), 12. Nectarios TRIANTIS, 7. Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 21. Isaac HOVAR, 11. Lochlan CONSTABLE (5. R. Youlley), 23. Kosta GROZOS, 29. Alexander BADOLATO (10. R. Awaritefe), 14. Alessandro LOPANE (24. Peter GROZOS) , 9. Ali AUGLAH
Unused subs: 20. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 17. George DANIEL
