Western Sydney Wanders are through to the grand finals as the fairytale continues. They will verse Central Coast Mariners after an emphatic semi-final win over Brisbane Roar at Paramatta Stadium.
Dino Kresinger’s opener and a sublime finish from Shinji Ono dashed the Roar’s hopes of a grand-final return.
The Roar dominated possession with their fabled keep-ball style but the defending champions came undone to the Wanderers’ efficient counter-attacks in front of a boisterous home support.
Youssuf Hersi was at the centre of all the Wanderers’ incisive moves, and he helped set up the opening goal early in the first half. Hersi found Mark Bridge on the left flank before the forward drilled a low cross for Kresinger to calmly backheel the ball home for just his second goal of the season.
But, for Hersi, it all came undone after the player received not one but two yellow cards and was sent off.
The night’s crowning moment came in the second stanza when star Shinji Ono found himself outside the box before lobbing a sensational shot from the left, sending the ball sailing over Michael Theo into the back of the net.
Mark Bridge lauded Ono’s moment of magic, saying it was a special way to progress to the season decider.
“Shinji’s chip at the end, I don’t think there’s many in the league who could score that goal. A great goal, and a great win,” he told Grandstand.
The hosts had survived a late penalty shout in the first half when Yianni Perkatis – playing only his second A-League match – looked to bring down Brisbane’s Luke Brattan, who had gotten between his marker and the ball.
Replays showed plenty of contact had been made but pinpointing whether the foul occurred in or outside the box proved inconclusive.
Despite the Roar’s noticeable possession advantage the visitors could only fashion a number of overhit crosses from out wide and, when chances did present themselves from close range, their forwards were found wanting.
Brisbane keeper Theo had kept his side in it with a tremendous double save early in the second period. Bridge worked his way into the box to shoot, before Poljak was denied on the rebound soon after.
The game petered out with Brisbane trying in vain to find a lifeline, but the Wanderers’ backline gave no inch in a professional, disciplined performance.
Western Sydney Wanderers: 2 (D Kresinger 10′, S Ono 70′)
Brisbane Roar: 0
Source: James Maasdorp for ABC.
