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Top of the pops ... the Wanderers smash fortress Bluetongue to go top of the A-League. Source: Dean Lewins / AAP
Western Sydney Wanderers surged to the top of the A-League ladder after claiming their biggest scalp, knocking the Central Coast off the summit with a 1-0 win on Saturday night.
An 81st-minute goal from Labinot Haliti ensured the Wanderers became the first team to beat the Mariners on home turf this season and put the new boys in first place - a spot the Mariners had occupied for 14 straight weeks.
The win also saw them equal Melbourne Victory's all-time longest winning streak of eight straight triumphs.
The Mariners squandered many chances but their best opportunity came when unlikely penalty-taker in 'keeper Mathew Ryan had his second-half spot-kick saved by Ante Covic.
With both sides boasting equally the best defensive records in the league, it was always going to be hard work getting a goal in a fast and furious encounter played in front of a 18,721-strong crowd.
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Sydney | 23 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 47 |
| 2 | Central Coast | 23 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 45 |
| 3 | Adelaide | 23 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 36 |
| 4 | Victory | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | -2 | 36 |
| 5 | Newcastle | 23 | 8 | 6 | 9 | -6 | 30 |
| 6 | Brisbane | 23 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 28 |
| 7 | Heart | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | -1 | 27 |
| 8 | Sydney | 23 | 8 | 3 | 12 | -10 | 27 |
| 9 | Perth | 23 | 7 | 4 | 12 | -3 | 25 |
| 10 | Wellington | 23 | 5 | 6 | 12 | -18 | 21 |
Neither rain or Cityrail track works were going to stop the more than 6,000 Wanderers faithful making the trip to Gosford - the largest contingent of visiting fans at Bluetongue Stadium.
The Mariners, starting with the same team that dismantled Melbourne Victory 6-2 last week, looked like getting on the scoresheet early when last Saturday's hat-trick hero Michael McGlinchey just shaved the post with a shot less than two minutes in.
Adam D'Apuzzo had a chance to give the visitors the advantage in the 29th minute when he found himself one-on-one with the 'keeper but sent his shot over the crossbar.
Re-live all the drama from the Wanderers' historic win, with video highlights, at our Match Centre.
The Mariners kept firing in the opening stanza with Daniel McBreen and Bernie Ibini getting chances but the Wanderers' stoic defenders Michael Beauchamp and Nikolai Topor-Stanley were always perfectly placed to defuse the efforts.
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The Mariners could have gone ahead when awarded a penalty after Wanderers Croatian import Dino Kresinger brought Patrick Zwaanswijk down in the box.
Gloveman Rayn stepped up to the mark in the 52nd minute with fellow 'keeper Covic saving his shot.
The feeling of being top of the table hasn't really sunk in yet,'' Wanderers coach Tony Popovic said after the victory.
"Winning this game is just really pleasing. It was tough conditions and they are an excellent team.
"We weren't at our best on the ball but we found a way to win.
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"They're undefeated at home, so to come come here and win ... it's just a great day for our football club."
Mariners coach Graham Arnold was left to rue missed opportunities.
"I thought we played very well, football-wise we dominated," Arnold said.
"But if you don't take your chances you cop one up the backside at the other end and that's what happened.
"We had some good chances, they had one and they finished it.
"We've thrown three points away tonight."
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