AFP, Sydney : Western Sydney Wanderers reached their second consecutive Australian A-League grand final with a 2-0 victory over defending champions Central Coast Mariners in Sydney on Saturday. Goals from European imports Youssouf Hersi and Iacopo La Rocca ended the Mariners’ title defence as the Wanderers won a rematch of last season’s grand final. It capped a successful week for Tony Popovic’s Wanderers after they booked their spot in the knockout phase of their first AFC Champions League campaign with a 5-0 victory over Guizhou Renhe on Wednesday. The Wanderers, playing in only their second A-League season, will face the winner of Sunday’s other semi-final between the Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory in the A-League title decider on May 4. The Mariners were backing up after a gruelling travel schedule, only arriving home the day before the Parramatta Stadium knockout game after playing Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the ACL in Japan on Wednesday. The gutsy Mariners were still in the contest before Italian La Rocca scored the killer goal, finishing off a run he initiated from inside his own half. Dutchman Hersi, who is leaving the Wanderers for Perth Glory next season, put the home team ahead in the 31st minute after Mark Bridge had forced a diving save from goalkeeper Liam Reddy.
