Dario Vidosic was the man of the moment as the NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers got their first win of the season after outplaying Perth Glory for a 1-0 victory.
Starting his first match for the Red & Black, Vidosic was the creative outlet for the team and scored his first goal for the club in first half additional time.
It was just reward for the Wanderers who started the game on the front foot and never really looked troubled.
There were early warning signs for Perth early on with Scott Jamieson advancing into dangerous positions and Jaushua Sotirio hitting the side netting in the opening minutes.
With Marc Warren and Joshua Risdon operating as wing-backs, Perth looked equipped to play on the break but Vidosic was relishing his first start as a Wanderer, combining well with Mitch Nichols to great effect on the edge of the box.
Tony Popovic’s side were certainly the more inventive in the final third during the first half with Nichols and Vidosic continually orchestrating the half’s most fluent attacking forays.
Italian striker Federico Piovaccari looked like a man on a mission and he almost got on the end of a Nichols cross before storming through the midfield himself, with Covic again on hand to deny the Italian with a regulation save.
The Wanderers were finding real joy down the right hand side through Scott Neville, whose cross-cum-shot was deflected onto the bar by Michael Thwaite before another dangerous delivery was forced behind for a corner soon after.
It was to be a telling contribution from Neville with Dario Vidosic firing past Covic on the edge of the box after Marc Warren’s failed clearance.
A half time change for Perth was a proactive move from Kenny Lowe, one that almost yielded an early response when Sidnei dragged a shot just wide after finding space on the edge of the area but the Wanderers soon wrestled back the ascendancy and total control of the game.
A gorgeous spot from Mitch Nichols saw Dimas felled in the area but Nichols was unable to bury the rebound.
Brendon Santalab’s return from injury was met with rapturous applause from the Wanderers faithful and the forward almost made an immediate impact, missing Jamieson’s cross at the back post by inches.
Despite a few late scares the Wanderers held firm to seal a deserved first win of the campaign.
NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Dario Vidosic 45’)
Perth Glory 0
