Finally the REAL football is back after a long 6 month off season.
Western Sydney Wanderers finally make their Hyundai A-League debut in Season 8. Eight years too late in my opinion, but the supporters from West Sydney turned out in force at Parramatta Stadium to support their team.
A surprise omission was new marquee recruit from Western Sydney Shinji Ono playing from the bench. Wet conditions at Parramatta Stadium treated both teams with a tough playing surface.
With the Mariners controlling possession throughout the match through their slick ball to feet passing and using long balls when necessary, where the Wanderers relied on constant pressure to allow counter attacks to be engaged.
This led to the first opportunity was in the 10th minute of the game, when Pedj Bojic nearly got the ball in the back of the net from the right wing when he hit a mistimed cross which went inches outside of the left hand corner of the post.
In the 26th minute, good lead up play from Mark Bridge allowed the Wanderers to counter attack through a good through ball that led to Labinot Haliti to go past the Mariners defence, however his shot outside the box skewed wide off the target.
The 29th minute presented an free kick from 30 yards for Western Sydney allow Aaron Mooy to have a shot on target, his shot showed a lot of power towards the target, but was easy pickings for the Mariners goalkeeper Mat Ryan, which resulted in a slight juggle due to the wet conditions that was managed easily.
Across in 35th minute from Labinot Haliti on the wing should have been cleared away easily for Patrick Zwaanswijk, but his poor clearance nearly conceded an own goal that was just inches above Mariners custodian Matt Ryan right hand post.
Wanderers best chance so far was on the 37th minute, an counter attack from the Wanderers allowed Aaron Mooy to give a nice through ball to Kresinger which he followed through a nice pass to Haliti outside the 18 yard box, which allowed Haliti to be on route on goal, but one too many touches and an poorly timed shot allowed Ryan to save the ball easily with his feet.
The second half starts with a good chance for the Wanderers on the 47th minute, where a mistake at the back from the Mariners gave Bridge an clear opportunity on goal, however his shot went straight at the feet of the Mariners keeper.
An attacking double substitution on the 59th minute from the Wanderers excited with the 10,458 spectators with massive applause through marquee player Shinji Ono and Kwabena Appiah Kubi going on the field for Youssouf Hersi and Labinot Haliti.
As the rain pelted down heavily onto the pitch with spectators trying their best to find covered seating, the 79th minute produced good lead up play through Ibini gave the Mariners a good chance to allow McGinchley to shoot straight at the Wanderers keeper Ante Covic from a tough angle.
The match through to its conclusion had both teams having chances, but really it was a tough game to watch especially with the wet conditions. Mariners controlled possession throughout the match, where the Wanderers created chances through the good player through midfielder Aaron Mooy who was a stand out throughout the match. 1 point to start the Wanderers debut season, an impressive result and a pleasing result for the team from the west.