Western Sydney Wanderers welcomed 2023 with a perfect 4-0 win against Macarthur FC at CommBank Stadium.
The New Years’ Day clash between the Wanderers and Macarthur was a fierce battle from kick-off, with both sides making attempts at the goal early on.
But it was the Wanderers that opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a skillful free-kick from Yeni N’Gbakoto.
Western Sydney kept up the momentum from their first goal, doubling the score just two minutes later when Oliver Bozanic received a cross from Kusini Yengi and launched a strike from the penalty arc.
OLI BOZANIC TAKE A BOW!
Absolutely stunning placement from Oli Bozanic and the @wswanderersfc are in dreamland! 💥
📺#WSWvMAC is live on Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/3UNqEshTJP— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) January 1, 2023
The Wanderers continued to dominate the goal area until the last few minutes of the half when the Bulls made two last attempts to put a goal on the scoreboard.
Craig Noone had his shot blocked in the 45th minute and Ulises Dávila’s strike in the additional six minutes of the half went wide.
Macarthur charged into the second half like a bull out of the gate, horns locked onto the goal box.
After just two minutes back on the field, Dávila met a cross from Craig Noone and fired a fierce strike, but it went wide.
But the Wanderers were also looking to net another goal, and continued on with their aggressive attack strategy.
For the next 20 minutes, both sides managed to bypass defences and create goal opportunities.
Both teams struggled to convert goals until the 70th minute when a series of well-executed passes from the Wanderers led to Brandon Borello meeting an expert cross from Yengi. Borello finished off the play, adding a third goal to the scoreboard.
THREE FOR WESTERN SYDNEY! 🔥
Brandon Borrello finishes off a brilliant end to end goal for the Wanderers – and pulls out a party trick to celebrate#WSWvMAC is live on Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/UIqLYLF5Dn
— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) January 1, 2023
The Bulls didn’t let the widening goal difference deter them and charged on, continuing to break into the goal box and keeping Lawrence Thomas on his toes.
However, their efforts were dampened in the 87th minute when Gabriel Cleur was fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded to Western Sydney.
Ramy Najjarine took the spot-kick and easily converted the penalty into a fourth goal for the Wanderers.
That was the last blow for the Bulls, who were shut out of the goal area for the rest of the match.
The Wanderers start 2023 with another three points and a firm grip on the second rung of the ladder, while Macarthur remain one point out of the top three.
Western Sydney Wanderers 4 (Yeni N’GBAKOTO 16’, Oliver BOZANIC 18’, Brandon BORELLO 70’, Ramy NAJJARINE 88’)
Macarthur FC 0
CommBank Stadium
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
Assistant Referees: Owen Goldrick & Greg Taylor
Fourth Official: Ben Abraham
Western Sydney Wanderers: Lawrence THOMAS (GK), Gabriel CLEUR, Adama TRAORÉ (Daniel WILMERING 83’), Tomislav MRCELA, Marcelo GUEDES (C), Oliver BOZANIC (Ramy NAJJARINE 61’), Kusini YENGI (Sulejman KRPIC 83’), Romain AMALFITANO, Yeni N’GBAKOTO (Ruon TONGYIK 72’), Brandon BORELLO (Zachary SAPSFORD 83’), Calem NIEUWENHOF
Unused subs: Daniel MARGUSH (GK), Alessandro LOPANE
Macarthur FC: Filip KURTO (GK), Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, Tomislav USKOK, Jake HOLLMAN, Bachana ARABULI, Ulises DÁVILA (C), Ivan VUJICA, Craig NOONE (Daniel ARZANI 72’), Charles M’MOMBWA (Anthony CARTER 65’), Al Hassan TOURE (Jed DREW 65’), Matthew MILLAR
Unused subs: Nicholas SUMAN (GK), Jake MCGING, Kearyn BACCUS, Jerry SKOTADIS
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