Miserable, wet Wanderers sink to humiliating new low

Western Sydney’s A-League season of woe has slumped to a new low after being embarrassed by a ruthless Newcastle.

Roy O'Donovan scores from the penalty spot at ANZ Stadium. Picture: Getty Images.

Soccer: Western Sydney’s A-League season of woe has slumped to a new low after being embarrassed on home soil by a ruthless Newcastle.

Jets striker Roy O’Donovan claimed a brace, while Dimi Petratos, Jason Hoffman and Matthew Ridenton also made it onto the scoresheet last night inside the opening hour.

Recruit Mitchell Duke pulled one back 19 seconds into his Wanderers debut, but that was all the home fans could cheer for in a yet another sorry display. The five goals are the most the Wanderers have conceded this season, and stretches their winless run to seven games. They are one home loss away from equalling the longest winless run on their own turf in A-League history.

It might have been summer, but the wet conditions and lopsided scoreline made it feel like winter for the meagre 7594 fans at ANZ Stadium.

Compounding the defeat was the aggravation of a groin injury to Socceroos representative Josh Risdon, who limped from the field in the second half.

The signs were ominous from the Jets’ 18th-minute opener, when a Brendan Hamill turnover resulted in Petratos curling one into the top corner. From there, it was all one-way traffic, with Hoffman making the most of a Daniel Georgevski shot that ricocheted right back to his teammate’s feet. Wanderers youngster Marc Tokich was unlucky to have given away a penalty just before halftime, when he was ruled to have brought down Ronald Vargas. O’Donovan’s initial shot was saved by Vedran Janjetovic, but again the ball bounced straight back to the Irishman to bury in the net.

Ridenton continued the humiliation not long after the break when he poked into an empty net after Janjetovic failed to parry a Petratos outswinging cross. And while he was unfortunate to hand O’Donovan his first goal, Tokich only had himself to blame for the second when he stuck out a leg on Hoffman.

O’Donovan made no mistake with his second chance from the spot. Duke made a strong first impression on his new fans when he headed from an acute angle moments after coming onto the field.

But that was all the Wanderers’ faithful had to smile about, with the four-goal margin equalling their heaviest defeat of the season.

For the seventh-placed Jets, the three points lifts them to within nine of sixth-placed Wellington with 10 games remaining.

• New Sydney FC signing Reza Ghoochannejhad says his versatility and ability to deliver goals can help the club win a record-equalling fourth A-League title.

The Dutch-born forward arrived in Sydney earlier this week on loan from Cypriot side APOEL in a boost to manager Steve Corica’s attacking options ahead of the run-in to the finals and start of the Sky Blues’ Asian Champions League campaign.

The 31-year-old, who scored 16 goals in 44 games for Iran before retiring from international football in 2018, is in line to face Melbourne City tomorrow.

With 11 games left in the regular A-League season, Sydney are third on the ladder — five points behind leaders Perth Glory.

“I can’t wait to start, I’m here to win the A-League and we’re trying to do the best we can and get the best results in Asian Champions League,” he said.

“Both are important to us and I’m glad I can be a part of it and hope to help the team as much as I can.

“I’m going to play my heart out on the pitch and give everything for this club.”

Ghoochannejhad will be a useful addition to Corica’s squad, given his versatility across the frontline. And the forward is relishing the opportunity to link with the A-League’s joint topscorer Adam Le Fondre.

“I have played in several positions throughout my career,” he said.

AAP