A-League 2015-16: Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 Brisbane Roar, Round 9

A SUPERB late goal from Mitch Nichols ensured Western Sydney won its sixth straight match and surged to the top of the A-League table.

Wanderers Mitch Nichols celebrates scoring a goal during the ALeague game between the Western Sydney Wanderers and the Brisbane Roar at Pirtek Stadium,Parramatta.Picture Gregg Porteous

NOT even a boycott could deny the Wanderers, back on top of the A-League almost 25 months since they last looked down from the summit.

A 2-1 victory over Brisbane, achieved by Mitch Nichols spectacular second-half winner, confirmed the gathering momentum that has lifted Tony Popovic’s side since their 3-1 defeat to these same opponents on the season’s opening day.

If Brisbane had the better of the contest at times, especially in the second half, it was the Wanderers who found the clinical moments. Last season’s travails are a rapidly receding memory.

“The most pleasing thing was that we continued our run,” said Popovic. “At this stage, whether we are first or second wouldn’t really matter, the key was to keep the run going. Today we weren’t at our best — we’ve actually controlled the majority of our games but we didn’t here and we still won.

“We defended really well, we were resilient in the box and put our bodies on the line. And a goal like that is worthy of winning any game.”

Mark Bridge gave the Wanderers the lead. Picture: Gregg Porteous.

Given that victory would have taken either side to the top of the table, it was fitting that an absorbing, intriguing contest unfolded. As early as the fourth minute Jamie Maclaren had turned the Wanderers back four, demanding a sharp and brave parry from Andrew Redmayne.

Dimas headed wide from Romeo Castelen’s freekick, then on 12 minutes a well-crafted Brisbane move opened space for Maclaren to drive a shot just past the top corner. Roar were wresting the initiative, working the ball with style from back to front — and yet it was Western Sydney who showed the poise to take the lead.

Andreu began it on 28 minutes, carrying the ball from his own penalty area with elegance and feeding Castelen on the left. The Dutch winger made inroads into the Brisbane half and as he entered the box the ball was deflected away from him — but only to Bridge at the far post who slid it in to open the scoring.

Castelen and Nichols produced a deft exchange of passes that almost opened Brisbane up again, but on 35 minutes it was the visitors who struck. Thomas Broich was the creator, stabbing a pass into the path of Maclaren, who was a touch fortunate to see his shot flick off Nikolai Topor-Stanley and past Redmayne’s dive for the equaliser.

Bridge had the chance to restore the lead, charging clear as Daniel Bowles misjudged a long ball but denied by the centreback’s lunging tackle to redeem his mistake.

Certainly the flow of the game was helped by a noticeable lack of cheap fouls — maybe not a coincidence, as referee Kris Griffiths-Jones had booked Nichols in the opening moments of the game for a cynical shove to halt a Brisbane move.

A constant menace with his direct running, Maclaren barged aside Topor-Stanley with 73 minutes gone but pulled his shot wide, as the visitors pressed for a second win at Pirtek Stadium inside nine rounds. If the fluency of the first half had frayed a little, there was still a determination to go for the win from both sides.

The match was a battle for top spot. Picture: Gregg Porteous.

Brendon Santalab replaced Bridge as Tony Popovic sought to add renewed vigour to his forward line, but Western Sydney were struggling to get their main threat, Castelen, on the ball. It needed someone to seize the moment — and with 78 minutes gone, it was Nichols who stepped up.

The danger seemed less than serious when the ball was worked inside to the Wanderers No 10, but with a deft touch he had opened his body, in preparation for a swerving, spectacular 20m that rippled into the top corner.

Originally published as A-League 2015-16: Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 Brisbane Roar, Round 9