The Western Sydney Wanderers have maintained their unbeaten start to the season and now sit alone at the top of the Hyundai A-League table after a pulsating 1-0 win over Sydney FC in the Sydney Derby at Bankwest Stadium tonight.
It had been a long time coming, but at last the Sydney Derby hoodoo is no longer with inspirational captain Mitchell Duke’s first half goal the difference between the two sides in what was yet another exhilarating edition of the national competition’s fiercest and best rivalry.
The first Derby at the new Wanderland lived up to all expectations with the Red & Black faithful, and rival fans, helping to provide a wonderful and at time electric atmosphere.
The home side were under enormous pressure for most of the game, but showed determination, commitment and reserves of resilience that had been missing for the past few seasons.
Every Wanderers players threw themselves into the game, typified by midfielder Pirmin Schwegler’s unyielding defensive work in the middle of the park. He was superbly supported by the likes of goalkeeper Daniel Lopar, Duke, Matt Jurman and Dylan McGowan.
Despite being on the back foot for most of the the first half, the Wanderers went into the break a goal up after Duke’s magnificent header.
It had been a cagey start to the game with chances few and far between.
Sydney appeared to have the better of the opening changes with Wanderers goalkeeper Daniel Lopar on hand to rescue the situation after Milos Ninkovic’s attempted lob from a tight angle hit the crossbar in the 14th minute.
But, it was the home side that struck to first blow after a defensive mistake. Daniel Georgievski summed up the situation beautifully, bursting down the right before sending a perfect cross for Duke, who charged on to the ball with a thunderous header that slammed into the back of the net on 19 minutes.
From then on, it was a case of all hands on deck for the Wanderers as Sydney mounted enormous pressure in search of an equaliser.
The pressure of the Derby was there for all to see on 22 minutes when players from both sides came together after Nick Sullivan and Ryan McGowan tangled. Order was eventually restored but bot before both were issued with yellow cards.
Sydney continued to push forward as often as they could but, time and again, the Red & Black found a way to keep their goal in tact, though Lopar took some great credit for that – the Swiss goalkeeper making a vital save to deny Ninkovic from close range on 30 minutes.
DERBY FIRES UP
The Wanderers suffered a blow just four minutes into the second half when Sullivan was forced off with an injury. He was replaced by Mo Adam.
A crazy five minute period ensued.
First, Western Sydney had a let-off on 51 minutes when a le Fondre header hit the base of the right post and rolled agonisingly along the goal line before Lopar gathered it. VAR eventually ruled the whole of the ball had not crossed the line.
Then Schwegler and Sydney’s Rhyan Grant became involved in a two-man war that eventually saw them both receive yellow cards.
The Wanderers were battling for every ball at this stage and no-one typified the fighting spirit better than Schwegler, who made a number of vital tackles including one on a le Fondre, who had charged into the box.
That man Lopar then produced another stunning save, this time denying Kosta Barbarouses, who had broken into the box one on one with the keeper.
In the end, nothing would deny the Wanderers a wonderful win.
