Western Sydney Wanderers suffered a devastating 7-0 defeat at the hands of Melbourne City, marking the heaviest loss in the club's history. Following the match, under-pressure coach Marko Rudan was notably absent from the post-match press conference, with assistant coach Jean-Paul de Marigny stepping in to field questions.
The Wanderers' spokesperson confirmed that Rudan, who remains under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season, is still employed by the club. De Marigny explained Rudan's absence by stating that he was engaged in a team meeting, dismissing concerns about the coach's well-being.
The match saw Melbourne City dominate from the start, securing a commanding 4-0 lead by halftime. The onslaught continued in the second half, with City adding three more goals to their tally. Former Wanderer Terry Antonis delivered a stunning strike from just inside the centre circle, capping off the rout with a memorable goal.
Rudan, who recently returned from a two-match suspension, has overseen three consecutive losses since his comeback, with the Wanderers conceding a total of 14 goals in those matches. The defeat against Melbourne City prompted Rudan to make significant changes at halftime, substituting five players in a rare move for the league.
Melbourne City's dominance was highlighted by a ruthless 13-minute period where they scored four goals, including strikes from Tolgay Arslan, Leo Natel, and Max Caputo. Nuno Reis and Jamie Maclaren added to the tally in the second half, with Maclaren ending a 10-game scoring drought with his goal.
The match concluded with Antonis delivering a final blow to his former team, symbolically gesturing towards the Wanderers bench after his remarkable goal. Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar praised Antonis's performance, acknowledging the challenging season the player had experienced previously.
