“I couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the game. I was daydreaming.”
It was the highlight of a rollicking affair, which saw the Wanderers turn in another abject first half before landing a few blows of their own on the hosts after the break.
Ben Garuccio is swamped by his jubilant teammates after stunning the AAMI Park crowd.Credit:Getty
Prijovic opened the scoring in the 27th minute, latching onto a long ball from Tomoki Imai and brilliantly poking it over a stranded Margush from the top of the box.
Garuccio made it two for United with the final action of the first half, but the Wanderers came out firing after the break, with a triple-sub from coach Mark Rudan injecting fresh impetus into his team.
Tomer Hemed pulled one back for them from the penalty spot after Imai was pinged for handball, but wasted additional chances to equalise for the Wanderers, and it seemed like their hopes were killed off by Garuccio’s miracle second goal.
However, to their credit, Western Sydney continued to rally all the way to the final whistle and reduced the deficit again with four minutes to go via substitute Steven Ugarkovic.
The Wanderers’ Phillip Cancar is disconsolate at the full-time whistle.Credit:Getty
The result, their third loss in four games, won’t please Rudan, but he can take some solace from their refusal to lie down, while United turned in another professional performance at AAMI Park to continue their solid campaign under John Aloisi.
In the earlier match, Sydney FC’s undefeated run in the A-League Women came to an end, with Melbourne City winning 2-1 thanks to first-half goals from Rhianna Pollicina and Kaitlyn Torpey.
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But City’s victory was almost overshadowed by an injury to boom Matildas youngster Holly McNamara, who went down in tears late in the second half after appearing to hurt her knee while running, in an innocuous incident.
City is fearing what would be a second ACL injury for McNamara, who overcame her first at age 15 and now, four years later, is emerging as one of the A-League’s best players. Another 12-month spell on the sidelines would be a huge dent to her hopes of appearing at next year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Sydney FC remain top of the table but their lead has been cut to just two points - and second-placed City could overtake them if they win their game in hand.
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