Wanderers find their way

SPANISH striker Oriel Riera ended his A-League goal drought and took pressure off coach and compatriot Josep Gombau with a starring role in Western Sydney Wanderers’ 2-1 home win over fading Melbourne City.

Rierea scored the equaliser and set up the winner for Mark Bridge in a matchtilting two-minute period in the first half of last night’s ALeague game at ANZ Stadium.

It was a first home win and only a second victory in seven games at the helm for Wanderers coach Gombau.

The win lifted Wanderers two places to seventh, but it was a third straight loss for fourth-placed City.

The visitors had plenty of second-half possession, but created few clear chances.

Luke Brattan’s fierce freekick just before the end was well saved by Vedran Janjetovic, who earlier saved a Ross McCormack penalty.

Wanderers suffered an early setback when influential Spanish playmaker Alvaro Cejudo limped out of the game in the ninth minute.

Returning striker McCormack finished well at the far post from a Nathaniel Atkinson cross to notch his eighth of the season and give City a 25th-minute lead.

The goal sparked the Wanderers into action.

Riera levelled in the 30th minute when he controlled a deflected cross from fullback Raul Llorente and turned and drilled a fierce shot past City keeper Dean Bouzanis.

Riera turned provider two minutes later when his pass was finished with aplomb by Mark Bridge. City missed a chance to level in the 39th minute, when McCormack missed a penalty as Janjetovic dived to his left to push away the spot kick awarded after Robbie Cornthwaite fouled Scott Jamieson.