A determined Western Sydney Wanderers side produced a strong performance against Sydney Olympic that nearly secured a major scalp, with the Blues striking late to rescue a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon at Wanderers Park.
The Western Sydney outfit mustered a strong performance in a cagey affair which extended their unbeaten run to four games (two wins and two draws), while in the process.
The first real chance of the game came in the 14th minute when Olympic midfielder Jack Armson delivered a free kick ball into the box that was met by Cyrus Dehmie, though the striker’s header went wide of the left post.
The next opportunity fell in the 34th minute to the Wanderers, who launched a strong attack that led to a first-time shot from Julian Cop that went wide of the target.
Olympic produced the best chance yet in the 43rd minute after a deflected long shot by Teng Kuol was parried by Wanderers keeper Tristan Vidackovic’s legs towards Adam Parkhouse, but the Olympic captain sent his shot over the crossbar.
The hosts responded with a good chance themselves in the 45+1st minute when Edmun Haddad released a shot from the edge of the box that took a deflection on its way to the bottom right, though Olympic shot stopper Jack Gibson was able to knock it out.
The Blues nearly broke the deadlock in the 59th minute after winger Michael Vakis produced a strong dribble into the box, but his effort lacked the proper connection with Vidackovic comfortably saving it at his bottom right.
Western Sydney eventually found the game’s first goal in the 64th minute through forward Awan Lual who, after receiving the ball from Haddad, cut inside and drilled a shot from outside the box into the bottom right.
Olympic responded in the 84th minute, thanks to a lovely cross from the right by Bailey Callaghan which was headed in from tap-in range by Dehmie, forcing each side to split the points.
Source: NPL NSW.
