50 SPORT FRIDAY MARCH 14 2014 Wanderers show courage to record historic first ACL victory

WESTERN Wander- tap in by striker Mark Bridge 2-0 away to group leader Ulsan keeper Ante Covic, showed Antony Golec each making opponent in difficult condi- ers coach Tony Popovic has secured maximum points. Hyundai in the other day two great defensive discipline and their club debut, the new-look tions, the pitch was very heavy. lauded his much-changed It ended a club record of match. resolve. Wanderers vindicated Popov- “We had a lot of players team for their courage follow- three straight losses and left Korean club Ulsan top the Guizhou had plenty of terri- ic’s selection policy. playing that have not had ing the club’s historic first the Wanderers with three table by three points from tory and possession and had “It was a very difficult many minutes so far this year, Asian Champions League win. points from their first two ACL Western Sydney and Kawasa- far more shots, but rarely test- game,” Popovic said. so it was a fantastic perform- The Wanderers recorded games, after losing their first ki, who meet at Parramatta ed young goalkeeper Jerrad “A historic moment for our ance and result for our football one of the great results in their fixture at home. Stadium next Wednesday. Tyson, who had to make just a club. It’s our first time in the club.” short history with a 1-0 away The win lifted the Wander- A Wanderers side missing a couple of saves. Asian Champions League and Bridge pounced to score victory over ’s Guizhou ers into joint second in their number of key players left at Showing eight changes our first victory, so a very after the goalkeeper pushed Renhe early yesterday. group with Japanese club home, including marquee mid- from their last game and with proud moment. out a Mullen header from a A 10th minute close-range Kawasaki Frontale, who lost fielder Shinji Ono and goal- defenders Daniel Mullen and “We played a very good Shannon Cole corner. Barcelona Ruthless in late run to trump Roar out Man City LIONEL Messi and Dani Alves scored second-half goals as Barcelona beat 10-man Manchester City 2-1 yesterday to reach the Champions to batter League quarter-finals for the seventh straight season. Barcelona advanced with a 4-1 victory on aggregate over two legs in which referees’ de- cisions – and non-decisions – the Blues played a big part. City defender Joleon Les- cott replaced Martin Demiche- have destroyed back of a momentous 3-1 derby lis, who was sent off in the first Sydney in the sides’ previous win over Western Sydney. leg, and had just as much two encounters this season The addition of centre-back trouble keeping up with Messi and with Roar coach Mike Sasa Ognenovski has also throughout the game at the Mulvey calling on his charges vastly improved Sydney’s Camp Nou. to be even more ruthless to- leaky defence. But Lescott was unlucky as morrow the Sky Blues should “We’ve got a good record Cesc Fabregas’ pass bobbled be quaking in their boots. against them this season but through his legs in the 67th Sydney got thumped 5-2 in I’m pretty wary of them at the minute to emerge on to the run their round 12 clash with the moment because they’ve tight- of Messi, who flicked the ball Roar in December having suf- ened up a little bit at the back, over goalkeeper Joe Hart with fered a 4-0 drubbing away to plus they’ve got the bit be- a sublime touch. them 10 weeks earlier. tween their teeth,” Mulvey As in its 2-0 defeat in the Brisbane’s most potent at- said. first leg, City finished with 10 tacking weapon Besart Berisha “They’ve won three of their players after Pablo Zabaleta wasn’t even responsible for last four, Frank’s turned them was booked for a second time any of the nine goals, having around and they’re going in the 78th for protesting after left the field injured in the first well.” Sydney’s victory last Gerard Pique barged into sub- clash and being sidelined for week lifted them to fourth on stitute Edin Dzeko inside the the second injured. the ladder while frontrunners area without a penalty being The Albanian striker was Roar extended their lead at the awarded. back to his goalscoring best top to 10 points. Vincent Kompany scored a last week, netting a brace to The Roar can wrap up the consolation goal for City in the ensure his side’s 2-1 win over Premiers’ Plate with a win to- 89th minute before Dani Alves Adelaide and Mulvey expects morrow should other results struck in stoppage time for the the barrage to continue at go their way. Spanish champions. Allianz Stadium tomorrow. But with only five games re- In the night’s other match, “I’m looking for us to be a maining before the finals the Paris Saint-Germain advanced bit more ruthless,” he said. pressure is squarely on Sydney, to the quarter-finals for the “We had the opportunity who are desperate to continue second straight season after last week to score a couple their late charge. coming from behind for a 2-1 more goals in the game and we Farina is hoping another win over Bayer Leverkusen didn’t. So I’m looking for that high-stakes game will lift his and a 6-1 victory on aggregate. ruthlessness over the next few side. Both teams rebounded with weeks. “A win like that in those cir- strong performances after “Bes returned to the goal cumstances and in that atmos- limping into the match on the scoring charts last week and phere is always moral boosting back of domestic losses. I’m expecting him to score a and confidence boosting,” he “We had some pretty big few goals between now and the said. setbacks, especially in the way end of the season. “It helps but I don’t think it we were playing – but today we “So Sydney will have their prepares you for when you got back to playing the way we hands full trying to contain cross the white line. know, the Barca people love.” him.” “For them there’s no real Messi said. Mulvey isn’t expecting it to pressure, they’re sitting com- “Even though the goal came all go the Roar’s way however, fortably on top, but for us that in the second half, I don’t think with the Sky Blues high on pressure seems to bring the Thomas Broich is among a host of Brisbane Roar players capable of causing Sydney FC grief once we were ever in danger of an confidence coming off the best out in us.” again when the teams square off tonight at Allianz Stadium upset.” Aussie girls finish in style First World Cup tickets selling fast THE Matildas thumped Italy extended the Strikers van Egmond and MORE than two-thirds of the ond-round match-ups in the come, first-serve basis, and the 5-2 yesterday to finish the lead after the break with sub- finished the World Cup matches have been June 12-July 13 tournament. four highest-demand matches Cyprus Women’s Cup in stitute rounding tournament as ’s joint sold out less than three hours Only about 15 matches in- of the 64 did not offer tickets – seventh place. out the scoring with her 79th highest scorers, each netting after FIFA opened new ticket volving teams with less of a the opener in Sao Paulo, the The Australians took a 3-0 minute strike. three goals. sales yesterday. World Cup tradition remained final at the Maracana in Rio de half-time lead with Italy scored two consolation The tournament was won Tickets for all match- available for purchase on Janeiro, and the semi-finals in opening the scoring in the 17th goals late in the game, but by who defeated reign- es were gone in about an hour, FIFA’s website some eight Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte. minute and Emily van never looked like threatening ing holders England 2-0 in the as were the ones for all the hours after the sales started. About 345,000 tickets were Egmond netting a brace. the Matildas’ lead. cup final. quarterfinals and nearly all sec- This phase is on a first- available in this stage.

NTNE01Z01MA - V1