Golden Boot Contender Salvages Late Equaliser for Wanderers in Thrilling 4-Goal Showdown During Stellar Season

Hey Tony Popovic, are you paying attention? Nicolas Milanovic has once again showcased his talent, netting an 89th-minute equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw for Western Sydney Wanderers against Wellington Phoenix in the Isuzu UTE A-League.

Wellington seemed poised to end their seven-match winless drought after Francisco ‘Chico’ Geraldes scored his inaugural A-Leagues goal with just 20 minutes to play on Saturday.

Yet, it was Wanderers’ standout Milanovic who came to the rescue at Sky Stadium, firing in his career-best 10th goal of the season to help keep third-placed Western Sydney’s unbeaten streak alive at seven matches.

Milanovic now trails Western United’s Noah Botic by a single goal in the Golden Boot race.

In a match where both teams exchanged strikes in the first half, Corbin Piper’s header in the 21st minute opened the scoring before former Phoenix forward Bozhidar Kraev levelled the score upon his return to Wellington.

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Currently, Wellington sits 11th on the ladder, a daunting 12 points off the top six, while Western Sydney finds itself in third place, three points behind Western United and nine adrift of league leaders Auckland FC, although they could potentially slip to fifth by the end of the weekend.

The Phoenix included their All Whites stars Tim Payne and Kosta Barbarouses, who recently played pivotal roles in helping New Zealand reach their first FIFA Men’s World Cup since 2010. Western Sydney also featured international talents Brandon Borrello and Bozhidar Kraev in their starting XI.

The first half at Sky Stadium was action-packed, with the home side striking first to energise their supporters.

After Wellington goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi made a superb save to deny Nicolas Milanovic in the ninth minute, Piper capitalised with a header from a precise corner by Hideki Ishige, beating Wanderers keeper Lawrence Thomas, who was momentarily blinded by the sun.

The home team’s lead was short-lived; after two fruitful seasons with the Phoenix, Bulgaria’s Kraev returned to equalise against his former club, finishing off a well-worked move and celebrating modestly.

Geraldes nearly doubled Wellington’s advantage six minutes into the second half, sending a long-range effort that had Thomas scrambling, but the Wanderers’ keeper managed to keep it out with both hands.

Finally breaking through, Geraldes scored 20 minutes from time, deftly finishing a pass from Barbarouses to put the Phoenix ahead.

Searching for a late equaliser, Kraev created a chance for Milanovic, but the Wanderers forward was unable to direct his shot on target as he collided with Oluwayemi.

Milanovic soon had another opportunity in the dying minutes, and this time the 23-year-old made no mistake, decisively finding the back of the net past Oluwayemi.