Western Sydney Wanderers jumped from eighth up to third on the Isuzu UTE A-League table after a 4-0 trouncing of Central Coast Mariners on Saturday afternoon.
The Wanderers travelled to Industree Group Stadium in search of a victory to enhance their finals credentials and Alen Stajcic’s side produced in style, refusing to give the two-time reigning Isuzu UTE A-League champions a sniff in a comfortable win on the road.
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Zac Sapsford put the visitors on top after just six minutes and a superbly-worked Jack Clisby goal doubled the advantage before the quarter-hour mark.
Nicolas Milanovic made it 3-0 five minutes before half-time before a Marcus Antonsson penalty – initially missed but retaken after Mariners keeper Adam Pavlesic stepped off his line before making the save – put the Wanderers four goals clear in Gosford.
The 4-0 win sent Western Sydney up to third but Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City, Western United and Sydney FC all have at least one game in hand over the Wanderers and are within three points of Stajcic’s side.
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Sapsford got the Wanderers on top early thanks to a remarkable goal kick from defender Anthony Pantazopoulos that took one bounce on its way toward the edge of the Mariners’ defensive penalty area.
Pavlesic came off his line to deal with the danger but the Mariners keeper fluffed his attempted header. the ball continued on its way toward goal where Sapsford arrived to tap the ball into a vacant net.
Seven minutes later the Wanderers made it 2-0 and it was a rare goal from defender Clisby that doubled the advantage.
Clisby stole possession off Mariners midfielder Mikael Doka high up the field and the loose ball fell to Sapsford, whose inventive backheel pierced the Mariners’ defensive line and picked out Clisby for a classy finish to a creative Wanderers move.
Up 2-0 and flying, the Wanderers continued to attack and on the half-hour mark, were denied a penalty when Brian Kaltak took down Bozhidar Kraev in the box.
At half-time, Network 10 pitchside reporter Niav Owens revealed Wanderers coach Stajcic had labelled the incident as “the clearest penalty we’ve had all season” in a conversation with the fourth official on the touchline.
Denied an opportunity at a third goal after the penalty no-call, the Wanderers did manage to make it 3-0 before the break when Dean Pelekanos’ strike from outside the box clipped the heel of Milanovic and, fortuitously for the Wanderers striker, looped over the head of Pavlesic and into the back of the net.
The Wanderers added their fourth and final goal to the scoresheet in the 72nd minute when Antonsson converted from the penalty spot.
The Swedish striker won the spot kick after taking the ball around Pavlesic before going down under contact from the Mariners keeper.
Pavlesic saved Antonsson’s initial penalty attempt but after a VAR review, referee Adam Kersey ordered a retake due to Pavlesic coming off his line before the penalty was taken.
Antonsson stepped up again and on the second time of asking, beat Pavlesic to find the bottom-left corner and seal a 4-0 win for the Wanderers.
