By Daniel Tsighe
The Eritrean Striker Golgol Mebrahtu of the Western Sydney Wanders (WSW) won the Asian version of the Champions League. The club of the western part of Sydney won the title in dramatic 2 games after the 1-0 win in the first leg in Sydney with Tony Popic as the goal scorer in the 64th.
In the second leg in Riyadh against Al-Hilal the Australians were met by a big and enthusiastic crowd of over 63,453 fans. It was an exciting match with many chances for the Saudi-Arabian side. At the 86th minute the WSW goalkeeper Ante Covic had an extraordinary save.
He would later become the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Asian Champions League (ACL) 2014. A great honor after all for a goalkeeper. After the final whistle approaches, ugly scenes become part of this fairytale. Al-Hilal-Player Nasser Al-Shamrani spit former Nuernerg-Player (1.Bundesliga) Matthew Spiranovic in the face. Not really an act of sportsmanship.
Western Sydney took the crown of Asia, the expansively funded clubs fueled by the petrodollars of the oil rich sheikhs of the Middle East and the business tycoons of South East Asia, and triumphed.
While their opponents could lavish millions on big names and star players, top line coaches and a battery of assistants, Popovic and his crew have achieved this success on a relative shoe-string, hemmed in by the A-League salary cap and a number of competition rules which prohibit the amount of foreign players a club can sign and even mandate certain numbers of youngsters in the squad.
Golgol Mebrahtu did not take part in the fairytale because his former teammate Andy Garcia injured him in the Sydney derby in March, after 2 minutes in substitution. This win is the biggest achievement in Australia’s football history, although the Western Sydney Wanders were founded only 2 years ago.
Adelaide United were in the ACL final in 2008 but lost heavily to Gamba Osaka from Japan. Western Sydney Wanders will take part in this year’s FIFA Club-World-Cup in December taking place in Morocco with the Galacticos known as Real Madrid.
I hope we will see Golgol Mebrahtu who is recovering from his injury in perfect condition in this year Club-World-Cup!
