Western United survive Wanderers fightback to keep A-League finals in sight

Western United survived a remarkable second-half Western Sydney comeback to strengthen their claims for an A-League finals berth.

Max Burgess of Western United celebrates after scoring against the Wanderers. Picture: Getty Images

Western United survived a remarkable second-half Western Sydney comeback to strengthen their claims for an A-League finals berth with a thrilling 5-3 win at Jubilee Stadium on Friday night.

The game seemed over by the 52nd minute when a sublime piece of skill by Italian import Alessandro Diamanti extended United’s lead to 3-0 after first half goals from Josh Risdon and lethal marksman Besart Berisha.

But playing for their season, the Wanderers finally sprung to life to go down fighting.

Two goals to inspirational skipper Mitch Duke and a cheeky backheel from Tass Mourdoukoutas had the scores level at 3-3 in the 82nd minute.

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But United responded with two more goals of their own through Max Burgess and the mercurial Diamanti, who chipped Wanderers goalkeeper Tristan Prendergast for a second time to seal the three points.

The Wanderers’ loss ended their faint hopes of finishing in the top six. However, United are sitting in seventh spot just two points adrift of sixth-placed Adelaide and having two games in hand on the South Australians.

It was a deserved win with United taking control early, with only the crossbar denying midfielder Steve Lustica a goal against his former club in the fifth minute.

It was another ex-Wanderer in Risdon, who gave United the lead two minutes later when he headed home a Burgess cross.

The impressive Burgess had his own chance soon after, but his shot was well-saved by Wanderers keeper Prendergast.

But Prendergast could do little in the 19th minute as United doubled their lead through Berisha. Making the most of a clever build-up involving Diamanti and Risdon, Berisha guided the ball home from close range to score his 15th goal of the season.

Seven minutes after halftime the brilliance of Diamanti came to the fore. After a short corner into the penalty area he dinked the ball over Prendergast, who got a hand to the shot but couldn’t stop the goal.

But the Wanderers weren’t ready to lie down, with Duke finding the back of the net in the 69th minute. Mourdoukoutas scored with a backheel in the 76th minute and Duke scored again in the 82nd minute to make it 3-3, it was the Wanderers who had the momentum.

But Mourdoukoutas lost possession soon after to gift Burgess United’s fourth goal before Diamanti fittingly provided the icing on the cake in the 87th minute.

NCA Newswire