Western Sydney off bottom of A-League thanks to Kerem Bulut brace

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:19 am
Kerem Bulut celebrates one of the two goals he scored in a thumping victory.
Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Western Sydney Wanderers climbed off the bottom of the A-League standings on Wednesday with a thumping 4-1 win at the Brisbane Roar.

Nikita Rukavytsya put the struggling visitors ahead with a first-time finish after 20 minutes and, although Jonathan Aspropotamitis' own goal got the hosts level in the 41st minute, Kerem Bulut restored the Warriors' advantage before the interval and they never looked back.

Romeo Castelen extended their advantage with a fine third goal after a great pass from Yojiro Takahagi just before the hour mark, and Bulut's second goal of the game a minute from time sealed the rout.

The result marked Western Sydney's third victory of the season and lifted them up to ninth in the 10-team table -- above the Newcastle Jets on goal difference -- while the Roar remained seventh.