Marko Rudan has hailed his youthful Western Sydney Wanderers side after they overcame a shortage of key players to thwart and frustrate the greatest scorer in A-League history.
The Wanderers claimed a 1-0 win over Melbourne City on Friday to move within two points of the top of the A-league Men ladder and they could finish the weekend in second spot if other results fall their way over the weekend.
Rudan's men could have scored four or five with the chances they created but how they shut out City captain Jamie Maclaren at the other end was the most impressive.
Maclaren, overlooked for the Socceroos squad for the Asian Cup, was subbed off with 20 minutes to go.
But Rudan, whose side have endured an up-and-down start to the season, claimed the win was made all the more satisfying by the fact he was without goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas (international duty), striker Brandon Borrello and Dutch midfielder Jorrit Hendrix.
"When you look at three big players, Lawrence Thomas, Borrello and Hendrix who are out, the young kids just came in," Rudan said.
"They're getting better and understanding tactically what their roles and responsibilities and they're growing in confidence now as well
"We play through them in the first half for fun to be fair, and they're a good side - they're the benchmark when you look at all their resources.
"I won't talk about Maclaren but that's clearly because we stopped the service… tactically they were superb."
Five of Rudan's starting side were under the age of 23, the Wanderers boss flagging after extending his contract in the week that the club's path to silverware lies in developing their own.
Centre-back Alex Bonetig and fullback Aidan Simmons have been mainstays this season.
Classy 18-year-old Alex Badalato provided the assist for a fine goal from Dylan Pierias, while Oscar Priestman looked at home filling in for Hendrix against an experienced City midfield.
"When we brought him (Priestman) to the club, he was naive, a young spring chicken who overdid his touches.
"He's nowhere near the finished article but for a young kid, he's a man in that dressing room and he's serious about his work.
"I don't just throw young kids out because the stats look good.
"It gives them a little bit more confidence to know that against one of the better teams in the competition they're able to be just as good if not better."
