The Western Sydney Wanderers have fallen 2-0 to Sydney FC in a dramatic and – at times controversial clash on Saturday night at Sydney Cricket Ground.
Early goals in each half from Adam Le Fondre and skipper Alex Brosque was the difference for the Sky Blues in front of more than 30,000 fans at the SCG.
The Wanderers thought they had pulled a goal back on the hour mark when Roly Bonevacia squeezed a shot past Andrew Redmayne.
But the goal was overturned by the VAR for a foul in the build-up, with Wanderers winger Jaushua Sotirio adjudged to have denied Michael Zullo a chance to get to the ball.
The decision incensed Wanderers boss Markus Babbel, who was shown a red card by referee Chris Beath for his protestations.
It was the major flashpoint in an absorbing Sydney Derby in the first football match at the SCG in over 30 years.
The Sky Blues were in front inside four minutes as Le Fondre was in the right place at the right time to get the ball from Paulo Retre’s deflected shot.
While the Englishman’s first shot was saved, the ball fell back into his path and he slotted it away.
Both Oriol Riera and Bonevacia had great chances to equalise before the break before Brosque added a second goal eight minutes into the second half.
A poor pass from Josh Risdon in the box gifted possession to Milos Ninkovic in the box and he found Brosque who made no mistake with the finish.
It was Brosque’s fourth goal in Sydney Derbies, making him the equal leading scorer in the fixture alongside Adrian Mierzejewski.
The Western Sydney Wanderers will now turn their attention to Saturday’s away match against Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium.
