Tara Murray
Western United left it to the dying moments on Sunday to seal its first win of the A-League Men’s season.
After claiming just one point from 15 available, the pressure was starting to build on United as teams prepared for the break for the World Cup.
Facing Wellington Phoenix on Sunday, United had to do it the hard way. They trailed 1-0 at half time and it became 2-0 in the second half.
Jason Tratt scored his first goal for United, to reduce the margin, before United swung the changes.
Captain Alessandro Diamanti and international Aleks Prijovic in his first match of the season, came onto the field and gave the side a big boost.
Prijovic scored to level the scores as injury time was ticking down.
Diamanti would be the hero, scoring from a free kick in the fifth minute of injury time, just before the final whistle to give his side the 3-2 win.
It was a relieved United coach John Aloisi after the game.
“We felt like we struggled a little bit in the first half especially the first 25 minutes to get the ball off Wellington,” he said.
“They were playing really well and we knew they move the ball well as we watched the previous games.
“At half time we explained to them why they were able to do that, explained to them what we could do better with the ball, our second half performance was exceptional, we just dominated from start to finish.
“We conceded a goal in the second half to go 2-0 down but the boys didn’t drop their heads. We spoke about that before the game that if things go against you, just keep working and keep believing and they did.”
Aloisi said the performance showed the character that the team is known for, but had been lacking a little bit at times this season.
He said a performance like this could change their season.
“We haven’t had the results,” he said. “One point out for 15 and to be 2-0 down to show that resilience and that character that believe that football that we played in that second half, that will change our season.
“We now have time to get players back, time to get players fit and up to a level, we can’t wait to get back and play.”
Aloisi was full of praise for his skipper, saying the goal and result was reward for all the hard work he did to get back out there and play after a serious knee injury.
With the break, United is hoping to get four or five players back from injury and suspension for their next game.
He said the group will be full of confidence heading into the break.
“To get that first win and the way that we did it,” he said.
“We know how good we can be, that second half showed what sort of football team we are, gives us a big lift.
“We still need to work hard.”
