.gif "Sack Attack: An A-League Webcomic")
It looked as though the Wanderers would claim a gutsy win if
not for the Brazilian, who stepped up to the mark to dispatch a freekick past
Wanderers 'keeper Ante Covic in the dying stages of the match.
If not for the cracker of a shot Finkler nailed with
the last kick of the game, Victory fans would have been puzzled to see their side
go scoreless despite the glut of chances they had throughout the 90 minutes.
The import has been a substitute specialist for the Victory
this year with all 12 of his appearances coming as a sub. Those days appeared to
be numbered as his recovery from a serious knee injury seems to be completed.
Despite appearing to work his way back into the starting line-up,
manager Kevin Muscat was giving little after the match as to whether Finkler’s
life on the subs bench would come to an end.
“Gui’s come a long way. There was a plan in place for Gui,
we certainly aware of his ability and we are aware of his body.”
“I’m actually quite happy if what he is delivering. He is
coming on, he is having impact on the games and he is changing the outcome of
games. When he is ready to play ninety minute, I will play him.”
It is almost 12 months to the day against the same
opposition that Finkler would rubber stamp his arrival back on the A-League
scene. It was against the Wanderers on the First of January, 2013 that he did
his ACL and prematurely ended his season that he started so promisingly.
With the full time whistle imminent, it was Iacopa La Rocca
that brought down Finkler which gave Victory a glimmer of hope to equalise the
game. To the amazement of the 22,133 in attendance,
Finkler raised his free kick over the wall and curled it into top left corner
of Covic’s goal that left him no chance of saving it.
It wasn’t all rosy for the Brazilian however as his errant
pass set up fellow subsitite Brendan Santalab to give the Wanderers the lead
after 71 minutes of play.
Finkler looked to find Captain Mark Milligan but could only pick
out Taj Minniecon in the opposition colours as he set up Santalab to put
Western Sydney in front with his first kick of the game after being introduced
just moments earlier.
Victory’s inability to convert in front of goal almost
costed them dearly as a combination of bad luck and poor finishing took their
toll.
With Archie Thompson once again missing due to injury
Victory looked limp up front as chance after chance went begging.
Connor Pain was the main culprit of missed opportunities as
he came close to opening the scoring in the first half on more than one
occasion, none more so in the 19th minute as he couldn’t get his
feet right to tap into an open net after being set up by Kosta Barbarouses.
A battle-weary Western Sydney decided to rest players for tonight’s
game as they endure a hectic schedule during the holiday period.
Tomi Juric, Shinji Ono, Aaron Mooy and Mark Bridge were left
out all together as Youseff Hersi started the match on the bench as Manager
Tony Popovic looked share the love amongst the whole squad.
“We’ve got three games in nine days, that’s pretty much what
it is. I’ve got a lot of faith in this squad. I think the whole squad is good
enough to play and I think the players who came in tonight were outstanding.”
There certainly now is no more Finkler can do to prove that
he is back to his best. When brought on this season he has provided goals and assists
on numerous occasions and has proved a handful for tiring opposition defenders.
Finkler has been banging on the door before tonight’s
performance to get back into the starting XI, with that wonder goal he has absolutely
smashed the door off its hinges as his return now seems assured.
Melbourne Victory: 1. Nathan COE (GK), 2. Pablo CONTRERAS, 3. Adama TRA5ORE, 5.
Mark MILLIGAN(C), 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 9. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 11. Connor PAIN, 14.
James TROISI, 15. Mitch NICHOLS, 23. Adrian LEIJER, 25. Jason GERIA
Subs:
20. Lawrence THOMAS(GK), 7. Gui FINKLER, 13. Andrew NABBOUT,
17. James JEGGO, 24. Scott GALLOWAY
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1. Antre COVIC(GK), 3. Adam D’APUZZO, 4. Nikolai
TOPOR-STANLEY(C), 6. Jerome POLENZ, 7. Labinot HALITI, 8. Mateo POLJAK, 12.
Tahj MINNIECON, 13. Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 14. Kwabena APPIAH, 18. Iacopo LA
ROCCA, 23. Jason TRIFIRO
Subs:
20. Jerrad TYSON(GK), 11. Brendan Santalab, 17. Youssouf
HERSI, 22. Dean HEFFERNAN, 31. Alusine FOFANAH