The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 2 first grade team have defeated Hills United 3-1 at Lily Homes Stadium on Sunday evening.
The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 2 first grade team have defeated Hills United 3-1 at Lily Homes Stadium on Sunday evening.
The first match of any season is always hard to predict, but given where the two sides finished last season, Hills United would have been confident of continuing their form from last season.
However, it was the Wanderers who came out firing with a goal in the third minute thanks to Jarrod Carluccio. Carluccio made a run down the right-hand side before cutting into the box, where he attempted to find a cross for Mo Adam who was waiting in the area, but it was deflected in for an own-goal.
The next big chance came just two minutes later when Kosta Grozos won the ball in midfield and then unleashed a long-distance effort trying to chip the keeper, who moved back well and tipped the shot over the bar.
Hills United had their best chance of the half in the ninth minute, when Daine Merrin struck a volley against the crossbar.
The Red & Black continued to dominate the possession and chances, with Kosta Grozos getting a golden opportunity to double the lead seven minutes before half-time.
The Wanderers started the second half the same way they started the first – on the front foot.
The lead was doubled in the 64th minute through Kosta Grozos, but all the credit has to go to Ali Auglah, who received the ball on the edge of the box, danced around a few defenders and slipped through an inch-perfect ball for Kosta who neatly and calmly tucked the ball into the bottom-left corner.
Hills United managed to get a goal back in the 89th minute thanks to a penalty, but Mo Adam scored a goal with virtually the last kick off the match, beating the keeper in a one-on-one situation.
The only sour note in the match came via an injury to goalkeeper Nick Suman, who was forced off the field in the 85th minute following a heavy collision with a Hills United attacker. The early prognosis indicates a shoulder injury.
Western Sydney Wanderers 3 (Bradley Robertson OG 3’, Kosta Grozos 64’, Mohamed Adam 90+2’)
Hills United 1 (Daine Merrin 89’)
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1. Nicholas SUMAN (20. Oliver KALAC 85’), 2. Thomas AQUILINA, 4. Mohamed AL TAAY (c), 5. Noah PAGDEN, 7. Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 10. Kosta GROZOS, 11. Lochlan CONSTABLE, 14. Mohamed ADAM, 17. Dean PELEKANOS, 19. Rory JORDAN (24. Peter GROZOS 72’), 21. Ali AUGLAH (9. Dauntae MARINER 77’)
Unused substitutes: 3. Mark NATTA, 16. Yousef SAWALH
