Western Sydney Wanderers squeezed out a narrow victory from their first ever A-League game in Hobart, defeating nominal home team Western United 1-0.
In blustery conditions at North Hobart Oval, the match unfolded with a proforma first half-hour, both teams compact, cautious and seeking to build their own rhythm. The Wanderers had to do an early reorganisation after losing defender Alex Bonetig to injury just minutes in, replacing the youngster with Tom Beadling.
With just 11 goals in 12 games before today, Western United are the lowest scoring team in the league and their lack of confidence in taking chances was amply demonstrated in the 28th minute. Noah Botic’s cut-back after Daniel Penha’s incisive through ball fell to the feet of Michael Ruhs who despite being unmarked managed to fluff if airily over the crossbar from just 6 metres out. The miss came after the young striker had already failed to convert a one-on-one with goalkeeper Daniel Margush.
Just seven minutes later Lachlan Brook of Western Sydney Wanderers obligingly demonstrated how it should be done. A low cross from Nicholas Milanovic, a serial tormenter of the United defence on their right flank, was delightfully laid off by lead striker Marcus Antonsson.
A swaggering Brook stepped up and – as John Jensen famously said about his sweet hit that gave Denmark the lead in the 1992 European Championship final – ‘just smacked it in the arse’.
The ball sizzled into the bottom left corner of Western keeper Thomas Heward-Belle’s net to give the Sydneysiders the lead.
Half-time ticked around with Western holding just 38 per cent of possession to the Wanderers’ 62, and the game continued in roughly the same pattern after the break, although WU playmaker Penha was more tightly marked and struggled to make further impact.
WU coach John Aloisi was the first to go to the bench, bringing on Remy Najjarine to replace the often-isolate Ruhs and James York for the injured Steven Lustica.
As periodic squalls rolled down from a resplendent kunanyi (Mt Wellington), WSW created their own stormy weather with a sending off in the 66th minute. Right-back Aidan Simmons marred what has been a breakout season for the 20-year-old with a straight red card for an ugly and heavy challenge on his opposing number Kane Vidmar.
Simmons sends Vidmar flying …
… with a predictable outcome.
But WSW gaffer Mark Rudan marshalled his troops well and the side defended deep and furiously for almost the entire last quarter of the game. Captain Marcelo also demonstrated his leadership, looking entirely comfortable defending a succession of high balls.
As the overload translated into territorial advantage, Western United still lacked a cutting edge when they needed it most. WSW goalkeeper Daniel Margush was flawless in his positioning and reading of the game, crucially denying short-range efforts from Botic and raiding full-back Ben Garuccio.
The Victorian club, despite lifting the A-League trophy just 20 months again, remain anchored to the bottom of the table for the 2023-24 season. Indeed, they were left to rue another game where despite being far from disgraced, they were also far from winning.
“It was a game that we should have been up early on, we had clear, clear chances, again, one on ones, open goals, and we’re not taking it,” said Aloisi after the game. “That’s the story of our season really.”
The former Socceroo said that a positive from the match was that with eight players unavailable, many younger squad members had stepped up and shown their quality against one of the best teams in the league.
Rudan meanwhile was very pleased with how his defence had managed the last phase of the game with 10 men.
“They were very good in their structure, very narrow, trying to force teams out wide and make sure we stay with runners and we protect the penalty area,” he said.
“The last you know, 30 minutes was a grind, you know, and you get three points. You pick up and you go home and you continue to go forward. But once we have all bodies available and we’re fit and ready we’re going to give it a really good crack I feel.”
Western United will be back in the Tasmanian capital next Saturday with a double header featuring both the men’s and women’s A-League teams, playing against Sydney United and Central Coast Mariners at the same venue.
“I thought we dealt with the wind better than what they dealt with,” noted Aloisi. “And we were able to deal with the situation and the conditions pretty well. So hopefully that holds us in good stead for next week.”
With no suitable rectangular stadium in Tasmania, and the current government more interested in spaffing a billion dollars on yet another oval stadium, next week’s matches will again be played on a soccer pitched marked out a long way from fans in the middle of an oval.
