Wanderland was ablaze with Red and Black as the Western
Sydney Wanderers’ fairytale continued with a clinical dispatching of Brisbane
Roar 2-0. The icing on the cake for the dominant performance was a sublime
piece of skill from Shinji Ono in the second-half picking out the top right
corner over the stranded Theo.
It was the finest chip since Atomic Tomato hit the shelves.
Despite the comfortable win, the Wanderer’s night was
somewhat soured as Youssef Hersi deservedly picked up two yellow cards through
reckless challenges resulting in a dismissal which will cost him a place in
next week’s grand final. At 2-0 in the 78th minute, Hersi, Wanderers
fans and staff would be disappointed that he will take no part in the Finals
decider. Jerome Polenz also left the field in the first half injured.
Other than this, it really was the Wanderers night. In front
of almost 20,000 in Parramatta, the Wanderers took the lead in the 16th
minute as Dino Kresinger turned in Mark Bridge’s low cross through the medium
of backheel. The Wanderers seemed to hold Brisbane at arms length before Shinji
Ono’s fantastic chip from just outside the box in the 72nd minute.
Even with Hersi’s 78th minute dismissal and a
couple of close shaves, the Wanderers comfortably held strong and booked
themselves a spot in the big dance next Sunday. All that awaits is an opponent,
either Central Coast Mariners or Melbourne Victory.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Kresinger 16 , Ono 72) Brisbane
Roar 0
Western Sydney Wanderers: Covic (GK), Cole, Topor-Stanley,
Beauchamp (C), Polenz, Poljak, Ono, Perkatis, Hersi, Bridge, Kresinger
Subs: Saliadarre, Elrich, Trifiro, Appiah Kubi, Haliti
Brisbane: Theo (GK), Stefanutto, North, Donachie, Franjic,
Lustica, Broich (C), Nichols, Brattan, Halloran, Berisha
Subs: Acton (GK) Brown, Murdocca, Nijland, Yeboah