The Western Sydney Wanderers Foxtel National Youth League team suffered their second loss of the season as they went down to Brisbane Roar.
The Western Sydney Wanderers Foxtel National Youth League team suffered their second loss of the season as they went down to Brisbane Roar.
Continuing with their high press play early on, the Wanderers tried to force the Roar into a mistake and earned early chances with to Jake McGing and Mark Cindric but smart goal keeping from Denver Crickmore kept the scores at 0-0.
Despite the Wanderers early pressure, the Roar went ahead on 23 minutes as Patrick Theodore slipped passed the defence and shot toward goal. Thomas Manos reacted well in the Wanderers goal but his save fell straight at the feet of Shannon Brady who put the ball into the open net.
It didn-t take long for the Wanderers attempted reply when McGing dribbled straight through the Roar midfield and shot toward the top right corner. The Roar once again had Crickmore to thank as he saved well and recovered to save a follow-up shot from Joshua Sotirio who hit low off the rebound.
The Wanderers were to rue the missed opportunities as in a flash it was 2-0 to the Roar.
Jai Ingham received the ball on the edge of the area and shot toward the top corner. His powerful effort gave Manos no chance as the visitors extended their lead.
Sotirio almost halved the deficit minutes later dancing through the Roar defence but his left footed effort sailed just wide.
Just after half time the Wanderers almost got the goal their performance deserved. Daniel Alessi rose highest to head from a corner to head the ball goalwards but, as seemed to be the story of the afternoon, the goal was saved at the last moment as a Roar defender cleared it off the line.
Captain McGing was a constant menace for the Roar defence and he supplied the most impressive play of the match when he juggled the ball over two defenders to break into the box. Unfortunately his shot went wide of the goal.
The Wanderers barrage on the Roar goal continued with a long range effort by Alusine Fofanah almost caught Crickmore off guard but the visitor-s keeper was again their hero, tracking back and tipping the ball over the bar.
The Roar sealed an almost unbelievable smash and grab victory in the 84th minute when Jai Ingham got his brace as he headed across goal to the far post to finish off a counter attack.
It was a cruel blow for the Wanderers who had launched attack upon attack on the Roar goal during the match only to see their efforts thwarted time and again.
Shane D-Cunha finally broke through for the Wanderers when he scored an injury time goal. A header from a short corner was well saved by Crickmore but D-Cunha was there to tap the ball home and end the match on a positive note.
