Western Sydney Wanderers reveal sessions that led to brilliant set piece goal

IT has been hailed as one of the finest set pieces in A-League history, and the architect of Western Sydney’s brilliant free kick promises there are more to come.

IT has been hailed as one of the finest setpieces in the history of the A-League, and now the architect of Western Sydney’s brilliant freekick promises there are more to come.

Brendon Santalab’s goal for Western Sydney at Perth on Saturday followed a sublime one-touch routine in which Dario Vidosic’s low corner to the near post was turned back to the corner of the box by Mitch Nicholls, then crossed low by Scott Jamieson for Santalab to sweep home.

Santalab was quick to praise assistant coach Andres Carrasco, and now the former Barcelona academy coach promises a fresh routine every week — and remarkably, he says the goal at Perth was practised only two days out from the game.

“We know the opposition watch our set plays and want to control them so we are looking for something different every game,” Carrasco said.

“This was our first time trying a move like this, and yes I was happy to see it come off so well.

“The last day of training [before the game] was quite hard, and I wanted something simple — it had to be something different that the opponent would not expect, and we could only practice it maybe two or three times. Every time we must try to find something else, depending on who the opponent is.”

Carrasco has been a key figure in the overhaul of Western Sydney’s football and the implementation of a proactive, possession-based style.

He admits he and Tony Popovic have been pleasantly surprised by how quickly it has bedded down, to the extent that the Wanderers are top of the A-League at Christmas.

“Maybe for us it is a good surprise, because the players are picking up the concepts very quickly,” he said.

“But if you see the hard work the players are doing in every session since July, they have come a long way.

“We are happy because it’s not the same as sitting back and defending, that’s easier. When you try to control every facet of the game, and be the main actor, it’s more difficult. But you know, when Popa organised the team, he built the squad with the right players in the right positions to play like this.”

Realistically Western Sydney know that keeping their three Spanish imports — all of them essential to the style, but all on one-year deals — will be a balancing act within the salary cap, but Carrasco said their adaptation to life in Australia has been part of the team’s success.

“We are very happy with them — Andreu had experience of playing in foreign countries, but for Alberto and Dimas it’s the first time,” he said. “So it is good that they found a good atmosphere in the club and the dressing room, the co-operation between the players is making their jobs a lot easier.”

Originally published as Western Sydney Wanderers reveal sessions that led to brilliant set piece goal