November 3 – The greatest night in Australian club football history was marred by intimidation on and off the pitch but none of it could dampen the spirits of Western Sydney Wanderers who became the first Australian champions of Asia on Sunday – not bad for a club making their debut continental campaign and which didn’t even exist three years ago.
With a mixture of desperation and luck, Wanderers withstood an onslaught from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, who were denied no fewer than three clear penalties, to prevail 1-0 on aggregate and become AFC Champions League winners after a goalless draw as the hosts wasted a series of chances and goalkeeper Ante Covic pulled off several miraculous stops.
Their reward for a fairytale triumph will be Asia’s representatives at next month’s FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco.
Australia’s Daily Telegraph trumpeted: “From a twinkle in Australian football’s eye to champions of Asia in less than three years. The incredible story of the Western Sydney Wanderers has its finest chapter to date.”
According to Australian reports, the triumph was achieved despite spitting by host players, a headbutt from Al-Hilal’s Nasser Al-Shamrani on Matthew Spiranovic as the match wound to a close, and lasers being shone from the stands.
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