MELBOURNE, Australia -- Western Sydney Wanderers broke Melbourne Victory's run of 16 regular-season games without defeat and secured their best start to an A-League Men (ALM) campaign since 2019-20 after recording a disciplined 1-0 win at AAMI Park on Saturday.
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After both sides struggled to create much in the way of anything in the first half, the Wanderers made a late breakthrough and took the lead in the 41st minute when central defender Tomislav Mrcela began and finished a move in transition that put his side ahead.
With a precious one-goal lead in hand, the visitors were then able to batten down the hatches and ensure the game was played on their terms; an increasingly frustrated Victory kept at bay by a stout defence throughout the second half.
JUMP TO: Player ratings | Best/worst performers | Highlights and notable moments | Postmatch quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures
Rapid Reaction
1. Rumblin, Bumblin, Stumblin! He could go all the way!
Mrcela is not the kind of player you expect to be getting out on the break and bursting forward with venom. In fact, he's one of the least likely players in the entire ALM to suddenly burst forward like the second coming of Franz Beckenbauer. And yet that's exactly what the Wanderers defender did to open the scoring.
Pinching the ball off Cadete inside his own half, the 32-year-old began to lumber forward and, with Victory's midfield parting in front of him like the Red Sea, he had plenty of time to slide a pass off the outside of his boot and into the path of Brandon Borrello on the right flank.
At this point, one would have forgiven Mrcela for easing up, but the big man kept going and was in a position to receive Borrello's resulting cut-back at the top of the box. And while his first effort bore all the hallmarks of a defender's effort with its tameness, Roderick Miranda's clearance flew straight back to his feet and gave him a second, successful chance to fire home.
There was a certain degree of fortune about it -- both the ricochet and the defender being able to dig the ball out from under his feet and back goalward. But if you don't buy a ticket you can't win the raffle, and Victory didn't exactly cover itself in glory in containing the towering defender as he advanced.
2. Victory fail to fire
Lifted by a vocal, 18,017-strong crowd in their home opener, Victory was handily in control of the game's initial stages and when Luis Nani came agonisingly close to opening the scoring -- putting an open, albeit highly acute, effort into the post and back into play -- one would have been forgiven for thinking it might be a case of not if for the hosts but when. From that point, however, it was all downhill.
Popovic's side would only produce one other shot throughout the opening 45 minutes -- a Nani effort in the 41st minute that was blocked away -- against a Wanderers defence that settled into a game that was increasingly played on their pre-planned terms.
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Seeing much more of the ball than they did in their win over Sydney the previous week, Victory's midfield consistently found themselves unable to work the ball into their attackers in threatening areas as the active side in possession; crashing against a well-organised and dogged Wanderers low-block that sat back with even greater comfort after taking a lead. By the end of the night, Victory would only have one shot on target.
Calem Nieuwenhof's move to yank down D'Agostino as he broke menacingly in transition in the 85th minute might have earned him a yellow card and sent the home fans into a rage, but it was also indicative of a Wanderer performance that was willing to do the dirty work and make sacrifices for the good of the team.
3. Youngsters step up for Wanderers
It was difficult to know what to expect from Nieuwenhof and Kusini Yengi, two of the many new arrivals at Wanderland this season. Crossing over from Sydney and Adelaide respectively, neither of their former clubs was happy to see them depart but, at the same time, with so many other new faces brought in by coach Marko Rudan their path to regular football was clouded. Certainly, it's unlikely that Nieuwenhof would have started his new side's opening two games had Oliver Bozanic been passed to enough to play.
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And yet a week on from being voted player of the game by Wanderer fans after their season-opening win over Perth Glory, Nieuwenhof was again pivotal in his side securing the three points. Demonstrating poise and technicality beyond his 21 years and constantly looking to be positive in action when on the ball and a menace to Victory attacks off it, he put in another player-of-the-match performance in the midfield.
Meanwhile, with Adama Traore staying at home at left-back, which also served to minimise the impact of Victory winger Ben Folami until his 67th-minute withdrawal, Yengi was given licence to roam by Rudan and gave the much smaller-bodied Leigh Broxham fits until he was subbed off. Happy to run with the ball and maximise his large frame to good use -- even if he does go down a bit easy around the area -- he helped to cover another tepid performance from new striker Sulejman Krpic and did his chances of keeping his spot even as Yeni Ngbakoto returns to fitness. His ability to play centrally or out wide looks like a potential x-factor for the red and black.
Player ratings
Melbourne Victory: Izzo 6, Cadate 4, Roderick 6.5, Timotheou 6, Broxham 4, Brillante 6, Marchan 6, Folami 5, Brimmer 5.5, Nani 6, D'Agostino 6
Western Sydney Wanderers: Thomas 6, Traore 7, Marcelo 6.5, Mrcela 7, Cleur 6, Nieuwenhof 8, Amalfitano 6, Ninkovic 6.5, Krpic 4, Yengi 7, Borrello 7
Best and worst performers
BEST: Calem Nieuwenhof
With back-to-back player-of-the-game performances, Nieuwenhof has presented Rudan with a significant headache as Bozanic begins to return to full fitness. The seven-time Socceroo was supposed to be a veteran, midfield general for the Wanderers heading into this season, but can you drop Nieuwenhof on his current form?
WORST: Victory's attack
Despite controlling the ball and easily accounting for the territory battle, Victory was increasingly blunt when it came time to create quality looks on goal: only able to produce one shot on target and 0.88 xG from their nine chances. The Wanderers were only able to muster 0.57 xG with their five shots - but that's all their game plan needed.
Highlights and notable moments
Mrcela's marauding run forward put the Wanderers ahead on the cusp of halftime
WESTERN SYDNEY GET THE OPENER! 🥅
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) October 15, 2022
A marauding Mrcela opens the scoring for the Western Sydney Wanderers - as a huge deflection puts it out of the path of Izzo and into the back of the net#MVCvWSW is live on 10 Bold and Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/IUMdhjQgav
Brimmer's glancing diving header was Victory's best chance of the second half
BIG CHANCE FOR BRIMMER!
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) October 15, 2022
An instant impact from Noah Smith almost brings the equaliser for @gomvfc - as Brimmer heads it just wide!#MVCvWSW is live on 10 Bold and Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/2J2DoOCa6R
Nieuwenhof shut down a late Victory break with this challenge.
Thoughts on that challenge? 🤔 #MVCvWSW pic.twitter.com/CWXEQmTMai
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) October 15, 2022
After the match: What the managers, players said
Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic: "Overall we didn't deserve to win the game, so it's simple. We started very well, the first 20 minutes and then after that, they were physically strong, they were dangerous on the break, and there was a comedy of errors for the goal that we conceded. Overall we huffed and puffed and second half we had a lot of the ball and a lot of entries in the box but we needed that goal to change the course of the game, and change the momentum and it just didn't come."
Western Sydney Wanderers coach Marko Rudan: "I thought we nullified their main threats. I thought we came into the game after that 10-15 minute mark and we showed our quality and put a lot of pressure on them. I thought we deserved that second part of the first half to get something out of it.
"The game plan was executed incredibly well and those last ten minutes when you've got to roll up your sleeves and communicate and stay disciplined. The character shown by the players was fabulous."
Key Stats
Victory's run of 16 regular-season ALM games without a loss is now broken. Their last regular season defeat? Against the Wanderers: 2-0 at Western Sydney Stadium last season.
Western Sydney has now won five of their last seven ALM games against Victory.
Saturday was the first time that the Wanderers have recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since May 2021.
Mrcela's goal was the third ALM goal he has scored in his career and his first for the Wanderers.
Up next
Melbourne Victory: The big games keep coming for Victory and they will now need to pick themselves up off the canvas and host bitter cross-town foes Melbourne City in the 2022-23 campaign's first Melbourne derby next Saturday evening.
Western Sydney Wanderers: With two wins from two, Wanderers will now commence a three-game homestand in round three against Brisbane Roar, with Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners to follow - Rudan warning against complacency against a reeling Roar.