Western Sydney Wanderers made third place theirs to begin the New Year in perfect fashion with a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory. The win sees the Wanderers in pole position to contend with Central Coast and Adelaide for the top spot, but what was there to take from it?

Victory

The fall comes
It was going to come at some point, and it came against a form side. Adding to this is the glut of New Year fixtures and a key figure in Mark Milligan serving a suspension, it was a vulnerable time for a trip to Wanderland. A more concerning point in this game is the lack of depth to get the result needed, the midfield’s inability to adjust after an injury to Gui Finkler was glaring.

Flores
When important players fall, it leaves another to carry the load left and more. With that in mind, Marcos Flores came in for particular attention from fans, and not the positive kind. Not much has changed in Flores the player and the role he played from his Adelaide days. At Victory, the Argentine is always looking for the killer pass and his job is to be the link to attack. So when a midfield is pushed back and nothing is going on forward, what happens? His touch, vision, desire is there but he may only be good as his execution and what is around him.

No energy
Lethargic efforts saw Victory fall 1-0 down by the break, giving Shinji Ono all the time in the world to score his winner just epitomised the performance. The energy needed for the much-vaunted counter-attacking style was in short supply, with Marco Rojas taken out of the picture entirely. Andrew Nabbout efforts were admirable, but he cut an exhausted figure with key minutes left to play.

Finkler’s injury
This hurt early on and Victory didn’t recover, until arguably Spase Dilevski and Leigh Broxham came into holding midfield roles. The worst was thought initially, with rumours of an ACL injury for Finkler, but it now looks an injury to the medial ligament. Recently running the show as the midfield enabler, the absence of Victory’s #7 could be key in deciding where Victory’s season ends.

Midfield pushed back
The donut formation in midfield prevalent in the Mehm Durakovic era made a return on the weekend, only this not so much out of ineptitude but an inability to adjust to an already difficult task. Mateo Poljak made his presence felt in midfield, playing his part in pushing the midfield back. Outplayed is the only word that comes to mind.

 

WSW

Ono’s brace
The tiny Tensai has come into form recently and showed at the perfect time with a classy brace. His first goal was exemplary, a mix of placement and perfect technique getting past Adrian Leijer and Nathan Coe after a turnover in midfield from a long ball. His second was a superb strike with a neat little touch seconds prior to catch the Victory defence napping.

Deserved result
And it came down to pace wide in Yousouff Hersi, midfield bullying from Poljak and Iacopo la Rocca and meticulous planning from Tony Popovic. Having rested key members of his squad for the trip to Perth days before, a fit and rested squad took Victory to the brink. Despite missing Aaron Mooy (suspended), la Rocca and Poljak controlled midfield, with Hersi providing a threat always with his runs. An effort where all 11 players contributed gave the Wanderers a massive win.

Deserved a penalty
Shortly after Dilevski’s equaliser, the Victory midfielder had a hand on Hersi’s back when on goal, denying a clear opportunity for the Wanderers winger. It was a penalty that wasn’t given by the referee or his assistants. What followed, however, sent the fans home happy.

Justice served?
The classy Ono was to score the winner moments after the botched penalty call, perhaps leaving the fans at Parramatta with the sense that justice had been done. Football works in so many enigmatic ways and luck can either go with or against you, with so much play going the Wanderers way, they made their own luck.

Now third
This game had third place and possibly challenging the Mariners and Adelaide's top spots up for grabs, that is now the Wanderers'. It is impossible not to take a shine to the Wanderers right now, with a fervent supporter group at home in a boutique stadium, the passion and planning behind a club created in such short time is the season’s success story.