Western Sydney Wanderers dent Melbourne's finals hopes

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:24 am

Western Sydney Wanderers' horror A-League home run at ANZ Stadium ended with a decisive 3-0 win over finals contenders Melbourne City.

An Oriel Riera brace and a classy Mitchell Duke finish on Saturday snapped a seven-match losing streak at the venue for Wanderers, whose last win there was back on April 7 last year.

The result keeps City in fifth spot, though they could potentially drop a place by the end of the round and keep the eighth-placed Wanderers' faint finals hopes alive.

The convincing win ensured captain Brendan Hamill celebrated his 100th competitive game for the club in style, but raised more questions about City, who have won just one of their last eight.

Wanderers looked the more dangerous side, with mid-season signings Duke and Kwame Yeboah supplying energy.

City created some decent chances but lacked a cutting edge without in-form striker Jamie Maclaren, who missed the game following a mild concussion suffered late in the week.

Oriol Riera of Western Sydney Wanderers celebrates after scoring during the A-League match against Melbourne City.
Oriol Riera of Western Sydney Wanderers celebrates after scoring during the A-League match against Melbourne City.
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Wanderers had a number of wayward shots before Riera broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 35th minute.

He sent City goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic the wrong way with his spot kick, awarded for Rostyn Griffiths' foul on Yeboah.

Then in the 53rd minute, Duke's perfectly timed run and finish from a superb Raul Llorente pass doubled the Wanderers lead. It was his third goal in as many games.

Six minutes from time Riera put the result beyond doubt with his left-footed shot finding the left corner of City's net following his cut inside after Alexander Baumjohann's clinical through pass.

CIty squandered two good chances to equalise in the early minutes of the second half

Harrison Delbridge headed wide from close range and a Ritchie De Laet shot hit the post with Vedran Janjetovic well beaten.

City's best opportunity in the first half came in the 11th minute when Janjetovic did well to push away a fierce shot from Englishman Shayon Harrison.

There was also a testy end to the first half with Griffiths, City teammate Luke Brattan and Riera all booked in between the 40th minute and the break.