Western United blew Western Sydney Wanderers away within a blistering 12-minute spell in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, coming from behind to win 3-1 on Saturday night.
A fierce first half brought no goals but when Nicolas Milanovic opened the scoring for the hosts soon after half-time, United had work to do.
And work was exactly what Western United did. Daniel Penha sparked the magic with two assists – first for Matthew Grimaldi and then for Nikita Rukavytsya – either side of a lovely goal of his own, giving United back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Western United Team News
John Aloisi made three changes to his starting XI as James Donachie, Riku Danzaki and Penha all came back in.
Donachie’s inclusion after his suspension meant, in its 20th game of the season, Western United started with its first choice back four from pre-season for the first time in a league game.
Lachie Wales started on the right flank in his 100th Isuzu UTE A-League appearance for Western United, becoming the third player to reach the century for the Club.
First Half
Both teams came out battling from the opening whistle and the vast majority of the first half became about each side trying to stamp their authority on the pitch.
United had a big penalty shout when Wales picked out Danzaki with a cross towards the back post, and the Japanese’s header struck the hand of Wanderers defender Aidan Simmons. There was no penalty decision on the pitch, nor was there in the VAR booth.
Wales was in the thick of the action soon after when he and Thomas Beadling came to blows in the centre of the pitch, sparking an all-in from both sets of players.
Lachlan Brook had one of the only standout moments of the half from a footballing sense when he cut inside from Western Sydney’s right flank and fizzed a low shot just wide of the upright.
Tackles and collisions continued with Ben Garuccio coming off worse for wear, losing a piece of his tooth as fell in the box.
Angus Thurgate was in the wars moments later when he caught an inadvertent boot to the face from Brandon Borrello, resulting in a stream of blood rolling down the bridge of his nose.
Both sides had half chances from set pieces as Garuccio cannoned a direct free-kick into the wall, with neither side ultimately able to break the deadlock.
It was something of a miracle that both sides went into half-time with only one yellow card each, with a fiery first period setting the tone for what was to follow after the break.
Second Half
Amidst the crash and bash of that first 45 minutes, the game was crying out for a piece of individual magic and it got just that – unfortunately for United, off a Wanderers boot.
Coming in off the left and playing a neat one-two pass, Milanovic rifled a first-time shot on his opposite right foot from outside the box, sending the ball into the right-hand post and then into the net.
That goal seemed like it might have stung United’s efforts but it did quite the opposite as Aloisi’s men went up the end and almost immediately found an equaliser.
Penha sent a corner directly onto the post via a deflection from Marcelo before Thurgate was left with his head in his hands when his follow-up effort was cleared off the line by Milanovic.
Garuccio was flying down the left-hand side and very nearly worked his way in the box before being caught up at the last minute, then flashed a ball across the box that neither Michael Ruhs nor Wales could get on the end of.
The left-back’s tireless work would finally be rewarded after his right-footed curler was parried away by Daniel Margush. United regained possession and with a gorgeous, scooped pass over the defence, Penha set up Grimaldi who obliged with a deadly finish between the keeper’s legs and into the bottom corner.
That goal finally broke the dam wall open and there was an inevitability about the Green and Black going on to take the lead.
It took one big chance to be passed by, however, courtesy of another key contribution from Garuccio as he picked out Ruhs with a cross, but the No.9 couldn’t steer his header either side of Margush.
Ruhs then showed his typical determination to nudge the ball forward under pressure and Penha was quickly on the scene, setting himself and burying a shot into the bottom corner before wheeling away in gleeful celebration, teasing another run-in with the advertising hoardings.
The Brazilian helped wrap things up four minutes later when he played Rukavytsya through with an outstanding through ball, giving his striker the simple task of strolling into the box and finishing one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
United saw out the remainder of the game with minimal fuss, clinching a superb victory to make it three games unbeaten in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
