Despite having everything on the line, a disappointing first half that saw three Wanderers goals let the Jets down as they succumbed to defeat away from home even after a late fightback.
The hosts started out the night in the hot seat scoring within the first six minutes through a deflected Steven Ugarkovic effort, and then doubled their lead through Englishmen Jack Rodwell soon after. The poor start to the game was capped by a Ramy Najjarine goal that sent our team into the break behind by three.
To their credit, the Jets came out an improved side in the second half and took to the Wanderers with an altered formation. Jason Hoffman was the first to find the back of the net for the visitors, before Sam Silvera also scored his first goal for the season, and first for the Club, to bring us to within one. Despite a late push for the equaliser, our side weren’t able to find the crucial third game, and as a result, finished with the taste of defeat.
Seven points behind the top six, the Jets are now looking down the barrel of missing the finals once again and will need a win in each of their final four games if they are to feature in the post-season – starting with our match against Central Coast Mariners this Saturday night.
See the full play-by-play review of tonight’s game below:
90′ Six minutes of added time to come.
87′ Wanderers try to catch us on the counter, but Duncan swoops in and ends that attack for the hosts.
85′ A desperate challenge from Thurgate sees him pick up a yellow card.
82′ A chipped Penha pass finds Mauragis and he tries a spectacular volley in the air. But he can’t make a clean connection.
80′ Our side have a spring in their step again and are on the hunt for a goal.
74′ GOAL! WSW 3-2 NEW Silvera scores his first for the Jets and the team are back in this!
67′ GOAL! WSW 3-1 NEW Hoffman scores his first for the season as we get one back!
64′ Silvera and Warland come onto the pitch. Siatravanis and Ingham come off.
63′ OFFSIDE! Rodwell puts another one in the goal, but it’s ruled out for offside.
55′ Penha makes an audacious strike from distance, but his shot fizzles well away from the goal.
52′ Lopane looks to counter attack and fires a shot from range that whistles over the bar.
52′ Penha delivers a free-kick into the box, but it unfortunately doesn’t trouble the Wanderers goal.
46′ Second half begins as Mauragis enters the field.
45+2′ Wanderers look like they’ve found a way past our defensive line, but a tracking Elsey does well to stop it.
45′ OFFSIDE! Wanderers’ Rodwell put the ball in the back of the net following a Najjarine shot, however he was offside.
43′ Another yellow card as Hoffman goes into the book.
41′ Penha again tries to a cheeky ball over the top of the defence, looking for Mikeltadze, but the pass is just a little bit too long and is claimed by the keeper.
40′ Penha delivers a quality free-kick into the danger area, looking for Thurgate, but the Wanderers defence snuff it out.
36′ A yellow card is shown for MIkeltadze
31′ Wanderers try to find themselves down the outside, but a nice sliding challenge by Ingham puts an end to the play.
25′ Early substitute as Boumal comes off for Grozos
22′ Goal WSW 3-0 NEW Najjarine scores
17′ Goal WSW 2-0 NEW Another goal for the hosts as Rodwell nods one in from a corner.
15′ Another dangerous-looking play from Wanderers as Baccus unleashes a shot from outside the box. Luckily his shot is high.
14′ SAVE! WSW look destined to score with a cut across goal to Najjarine, but Duncan steps in and makes a big low save to stop the play and keep us in it.
11′ A foul on Traore sees Wilson go into the book for the first card of the game.
8′ Wanderers take us on down the outside and deliver a dangerous ball, luckily it’s cleared by our defence.
6′ Goal WSW 1-0 NEW Wanderers score the first of the game through Ugarkovic
2′ Wanderers take the first two shots of the game. First is easily collected by Duncan, then moments later, a blocked shot from outside the box.
KICK-OFF: We’re underway at CommBank Stadium!
WEDNESDAY 7:00PM: Kick-off is just around the corner!
WEDNESDAY 6:05PM: Teams have dropped for tonight’s game!
WEDNESDAY 6:05PM: Here is how the Wanderers will be starting tonight: 1. Margush (GK), 13. Russell, 22. Koutroumbis, 15. Mrcela, 3. Traore, 17. Baccus, 8. Ugarkovic, 5. Rodwell, 7. Najjarine, 14. Troisi (c), 36. Lopane. Bench: 2. Gordon, 6. Mourdoukoutas, 10. Hemed, 11. Ogawa, 23. Petratos, 29. Antonis, 20. Meijas (GK)