FFA Cup Round of 16: Western Sydney Wanderers beat Sydney United 7-1
The battle of the West in the FFA Cup turned into a pre-season stroll for Western Sydney and a pre-grand final nightmare for Sydney United, who were on the wrong end of a 7-1 hammering.
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Whisper it for now, but the Wanderers might be back in every sense.
With just weeks to go until their return to Parramatta, Western Sydney served notice that they could be a force to be reckoned with, thanks to a splurge of goals in what became a demolition derby at Sydney United.
The battle of the West in the FFA Cup turned into a pre-season stroll for Western Sydney and a pre-grand final nightmare for Sydney United, going out 7-1 and having midfielder Yianni Perkatis sent off.
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Two goals ahead before the game was a quarter of the way through, the Wanderers cut through their opponents at will for much of the first half, and weathered a brief United storm after the break before cutting loose to advance into the quarterfinals.
Not even a brief second half melee could disturb the visitors’ equilibrium, especially when Perkatis was red carded for flailing at several Wanderers players amid anger at a tackle by United’s Luke Vlastelica.
Depleted by a frenetic run of games, maybe United never really stood a chance – especially with the game switched away from their Edensor Park base thanks to weather damage to the artificial pitch.
With an NPL grand final to come on Saturday against APIA Leichhardt, this was bad night to have the stuffing knocked out of you.
A crowd of just over 5000 tried hard to build a home advantage, but with little conviction as their defence was being picked off so easily throughout.
The major bonus for Wanderers coach Markus Babbel, beyond the comfortable progress, was the rampaging form of left back Daniel Georgievski, who scored twice and through whom most of Western Sydney’s forays came.
The former Newcastle Jet had already shot narrowly wide when his low cross reached Bruce Kamau at the far post and was easily turned in on 17 minutes.
Then Georgievski himself scored from close range after Radoslaew Majewski’s low shot was half saved, and on 38 minutes Mohamed Adam followed suit after being found by Kamau.
The movement of his front three, and forward thrusts from his fullbacks, augers well for Babbel, who was able to sit back and enjoy a second half blitz.
United actually reduced the arrears briefly, given a soft penalty converted by leading scorer Patrick Antelmi, but once Perkatis – once a Wanderer – had seen red, the avalanche began.
The fact their fourth came from a United boot, Matthew Bilic spectacularly shooting into his own net, added insult to injury, before Russell Tate volleyed in a classy fifth.
Majewski swept home from distance, and then Georgievski took an evening stroll through the United area before picking his spot for the seventh.
It was Western Sydney’s most goals scored in a game, and sets them up for a quarterfinal tie they will approach with confidence.
The fixtures for the #FFACup quarter-finals are IN! ðŸ†
— FOX Sports Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) August 28, 2019
With an exciting selection of @ALeague and @OfficialNPLAus sides in the mix, we're set for a HUGE round of games. ðŸ˜
FULL DRAW: https://t.co/zWKAP5VSFu pic.twitter.com/6CIfAC7Zar
Originally published as FFA Cup Round of 16: Western Sydney Wanderers beat Sydney United 7-1
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