Despite a valiant showing, squad changes and four debuts was too much for the Western Sydney Wanderers to overcome as they lost 4-3 to Mt Druitt in an entertaining PS4 NPL2 match.
A hat-trick to Wanderers striker Kyle Cimenti and debuts to 17-year old Tate Russell, 17-year-old Tacettin Kumsuz, 15-year-old Moudi Najjar and former NYL player Lawrence Hanna were highlights in what was a brave loss for the Wanderers.
With a number of players released from their Hyundai A-League contracts and four players rested for the rest of the season, it was an almost unrecognisable line-up that took to Blacktown Football Park compared to the team that defeated Sydney FC in the Red & Black’s previous match.
Not that you were able to tell early on in the match as the young Wanderers’ team dictated play early against the Rangers with early chances to Tariq Maia and Abdelrahman Kuku but a wonder goal from the away team gave them a 1-0 lead.
The score line was soon doubled as a Mt Druitt attacker burst down the right to set-up his teammate to make it 2-0.
Only minutes later the Rangers scored their third goal in 14 minutes against a shell-shocked Wanderers as the referee awarded Mt Druitt a contentious penalty when their player tripped over his own feet and went to ground.
It was a lesson for the young Wanderers with a very clinical Mt Druitt punishing every mistake that the Red & Black made but they got one back just before half time as Cimenti scored with a great finish.
The second half was a much more assured performance by the Wanderers and while they created chances early they couldn’t convert until awarded a penalty in the 74th minute.
Lachlan Roberts was taken down in the box after a needless challenge from a Mt Druitt defender with Cimenti converting the spot kick for his second goal of match.
From there it looked only a matter of time before the Wanderers equalised as Jordan Morfitis hit the post and a few other chances narrowly missed but the Red & Black were hit with a sucker-punch only minutes from time.
Mt Druitt counter-attacked well to take the score to 4-2 and while Cimenti scored his hat-trick to bring the deficit back to one goal immediately after, Cameron Devlin couldn’t finish the final chance of the match and Mt Druitt ran out 4-3 winners.
Up next for the Western Sydney Wanderers is a trip to Christie Park on Tuesday night for a catch-up game against Spirit FC before taking on Northern Tigers at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday.
Western Sydney Wanderers 3 (Kyle Cimenti 40’ 74’ 88’)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 4
Western Sydney Wanderers: Matthew Symes, Lachlan Roberts, Abdelrahman Kuku, Keanu Baccus, Tate Russell (Moudi Najjar), Cameron Devlin, Charles Abou (Jordan Morfitis), Tariq Maia, Ramy Najjarine, Lawrence Hanna (Tacettin Kumsuz), Kyle Cimenti
Unused subs: Daniel Axford, Lachlan Campbell
Other results
20s: WSW 1-0 Mt Druitt
18s: WSW 2-4 Mt Druitt
16s: WSW 0-1 Blacktown City
15s: WSW 0-2 Blacktown City
14s: WSW 3-2 Blacktown City
13s: WSW 1-3 Blacktown City
