The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers continued their impressive pre-season form with a solid 1-1 draw against Adelaide United on Sunday afternoon at Centrebet Stadium in Penrith.
The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers continued their impressive pre-season form with a solid 1-1 draw against Adelaide United on Sunday afternoon at Centrebet Stadium in Penrith.
An own goal from Nigel Boogaard and an equaliser from Sergio Cirio ensured a share of the spoils in a match where the Wanderers- high pressing line and swift counter-attacks troubled Adelaide-s game plan.
A big crowd was on hand to witness the game and with active support in good voice the atmosphere created made it hard to believe it was a pre-season match.
It was positive signs early for the Wanderers as a Tahj Minniecon attacking raid bore fruit when his cross into the Adelaide box forced Reds- defender Nigel Boogaard to put the ball into his own net.
Adelaide replied strongly with Ante Covic forced into a fantastic diving save as he tipped a curling Sergio Cirio shot off target.
Wanderers created the best chances of the match on the break and should have been ahead when some Aaron Mooy magic set-up Tomi Juric with the help of Minniecon.
Receiving the ball in tight space, Mooy attracted the attention of a number of defenders before releasing Minniecon who flicked the ball on to find Juric in a one-on-one with Euegene Galekovic.
The Wanderers new signing did well and looked certain to score before a great reaction save from Galekovic saw the ball parried for a corner.
Minniecon was a constant force until being substituted at half time with his continued runs and clever balls, showing time and again why he is one of the most exciting players in the Hyundai A-League when fit.
Adelaide was back on level terms two minutes into the second half when Sergio Cirio somehow got the ball past an outstretched Covic.
The injection of Shinji Ono, Mark Bridge and Youssouf Hersi soon afterwards almost payed immediate dividends with the trio creating a number of chances between them.
Hersi in particular was a danger to Adelaide-s defence and was unfortunate not to have put Wanderers ahead when his low shot to the corner was saved by a diving Paul Izzo.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Boogaard (OG) 7-)
Adelaide United 1 (Cirio 47-)
22 September, 2013
Centrebet Stadium
NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers
1. Ante Covic (20. Jerrad Tyson 60-), 3. Adam D-Apuzzo (11. Jake McGing 75-), 4. Nikolai Topor-Stanley (24. Nicholas Olsen 75-), 5. Michael Beauchamp (14. Martin Lo 60-), 6. Jerome Polenz (22. Dean Heffernan 60-), 7. Labinot Haliti (18. Iacopo La Rocca 46-), 8. Mateo Poljak (2. Shannon Cole 60-), 9. Tomi Juric (13. Mark Cindric 60-), 10. Aaron Mooy (21. Shinji Ono 60-), 12. Tahj Minniecon (19. Mark Bridge 46-), 23. Jason Trifiro (17. Youssouf Hersi 46-)
