The Western Sydney Wanderers got back to winning way in the Foxtel Y-League on Sunday morning when they defeated Sydney FC 1-0 in a hard-fought Derby contest.
The Western Sydney Wanderers got back to winning ways in the Foxtel Y-League on Sunday morning when they defeated Sydney FC in a hard-fought Derby contest.
Marley Peterson’s first-half penalty was enough to separate the sides with the Red & Black defending bravely to see off a late onslaught from Sydney FC.
It was Peterson who had the first chance of the match for the Wanderers, getting behind the defence only to be denied by Sydney goalkeeper Duro Dragicevic.
Sydney responded and Nicholas Suman did well to make a one-on-one save from former Wanderers Academy player Cameron Devlin.
Midway through the first half, Andrea Agamemnonos linked well with Peterson, winning a penalty after being fouled in the box. Peterson kept his cool, sending Dragicevic the wrong way to give the Wanderers the lead.
The momentum swung back towards Sydney as the first half came to a close, and Suman flew to his right to make a top-class save from Daniel De Silva, before backing up a few minutes later to deny Jerry Skotadis.
The Red & Black started the second half well and Agamemnonos had a chance after combining once again with Peterson, forcing Dragicevic to tip his shot over the crossbar.
Peterson was pulling the strings and with an hour played found WIlmering in space, but the keeper was there to smother the shot.
With twenty minutes left, Suman did brilliantly to save a header from point-blank range and keep the Wanderers in front.
At the other end, Lochlan Constable picked out John Roberts six yards from goal, with Dragicevic somehow managing to make the save.
As Sydney FC pushed for an equalizer, some heroic defending preserved the one goal lead, with both Mathieu Cordier and Noah Pagden making crucial blocks inside the penalty area.
It was frantic in stoppage time with Dragicevic saving from Wanderers substitute Oliver Wiggin. The Sky Blues immediately launched a dangerous counter, but Suman was unbeatable, making a one-on-one save after Marco Tilio got behind the Wanderers defence.
Even then it wasn’t over and in the last action of the game, Tate Russell blocked a goalbound header from Jacob Tratt with Suman claiming the rebound under heavy pressure.
The win moves the Red & Black up into 3rd place on the Foxtel Y-League Conference B table, level with the Sky Blues who remain at the top of the table.
Sydney FC 0
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 1 (Marley Peterson 23′)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: Nicholas Suman (c), Tate Russell, Thomas Aquilina, Noah Pagden, Mathieu Cordier, Fabian Monge, Daniel Wilmering, Andrea Agamemnonos (Lochlan Constable 63’), John Roberts (Jake Trew 80’), Oliver Puflett (Oliver Wiggin 63’), Marley Peterson
Unused substitute: Jack Greenwood
