Lions Tamed In Queensland

Western Sydney Wanderers again travelled up to Queensland to play their Round of 16 Australia Cup clash against Lions FC, finishing with an easy 4-0 win as the Lions failed to produce enough quality to trouble the travellers.

The big news out of the Wanderers starting lineup was the absence of Australian international goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas. There was no word from the club as to the reason. New signing Jordan Holmes ineligible due to being cup tied having played in the Queensland qualifiers with former club Rochdale, it left 21 year old Tristan Vidackovic in the starting role, with Taiga Harper on the bench.

Jesse Cameron came into the squad to make his starting debut with Gabriel Cleur out injureds. Zac Sapsford won out over Marcus Antonsson, Marcus Younis and Aydan Hammond for a starting attacking position alongside Brandon Borrello, Alex Badolato & Nicolas Milanovic. Lions FC's biggest names were former A-League players, the Kiwi international Matthew Ridenton and Josh Brindell-South and the Lions fans would be hoping for some trickery and verve from attacking talent Jack Skinner.

Lions FC had a brilliant chance only 2 minutes into the game with Hassan Ramazani starting a move that turned into a wide cross into a free header inside the penalty area that the striker miscued badly. In the 6th minute the Wanderers broke the Lions high defensive line with a Borrello run in behind that was turned into a chance for Badolato blocked out for a corner.

It took 20 minutes but the Wanderers finally got in front through a sterling solo goal for Milanovic. He won a midfield duel and left the Lions defence running back to their own goal. With the defence giving him a clear sight at goal he took the invitation and aimed up on his left foot, smashing it past the Lions keeper and down into the bottom corner for the first goal of the evening.

A defensive mixup from the Wanderers allowed Andrew Pengelly a shot inside the box but the presence of Borrello put the shot off and it was cleared on the edge of the 6 yard box. Lions kept the pressure on with a number of fouls & set pieces going their way but ultimately failing to capitalise as their technical quality let them down at the key moments. The last big chance of the half was after Vidackovic came out of his goal but failed to properly clear, the ball dropped to Pengelly who saw the keeper out of the box only for his shot to be weak and a mile wide.

Zac Sapsford took advantage of poor defending from the Lions as they got caught dead square by a simple long ball from Milanovic to Sapsford who made no mistake with a chip over the onrushing keeper to double the visitor's lead and perhaps put the game away for the Red & Black.

The 55th minute saw a triple change from the leaders, Marcus Younis for Badolato, Marcus Antonsson for Sapsford and Dylan Scicluna for Oscar Priestman. Lions FC responded with a double change of their own. Borrello should have added a third on the hour mark, as Ramazani's run up field left a gap in behind when he lost the ball, Milanovic beat his marker to break into the box and delivered a cut-back that Borrello smashed into the wrong side of the side netting. Borrelo made way in the 75th minute with Aidan Simmons taking his place.

The Wanderers sealed the game with a left side attack that began all the way back with the keeper Vidackovic, he found Milanovic on halfway, the attacker turned and looked forward to find Jack Clisby with the freedom of the pitch and with no pressure he delivered a perfect cross that put the Lions keeper in no man's land allowing Antonsson to flick the ball into the back of the net from point blank range and a 3-0 lead.

Pengelly had a golden chance to pull Lions back a goal with 10 to play after another defensive mixup at the back for the Wanderers, allowing a quick attack from the Lions that looped off a block into his path but Vidackovic closed down the chance from a tight angle and Pengelly couldn't get past him. The final sub of the game was central defender Anthony Pantazopolous with a like for like switch for Alex Bonetig.

Younis marked his good sub appearance by finishing off the game as a contest with a clean finish after breaking the Lions defensive line again. He torched the defence for pace, sat the keeper on the ground with his footwork and passed the ball home. All in all it was a good result in the pre-season, a comfortable win where Lions failed to produce enough quality to challenge the A-League team and it leaves the Wanderers waiting for the late game of the evening to see if Adelaide United or Perth Olympic await them in the Quarter Finals.