Sydney FC fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat by the Western Sydney Wanderers in a fiery affair at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night in the 32nd edition of the Sydney Derby.
Sydney FC 0 def by Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Yengi 70’)
Both sets of supporters conjured up a pulsating atmosphere during the match but the Sky Blues could not find the finishing touch.
Goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne produced a fine goalkeeping display before his trip with the Socceroos to Qatar, however the Wanderers would net midway through the second half to grab the winner.
Moments That Mattered:
CACERES GOES CLOSE 41’ – Anthony Caceres finds space in midfield and drives towards the edge of the box to drill a shot that Lawrence Thomas saves high to the right of the goal.
REDMAYNE SAVE 53’ – Goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne is out quick to squash Milos Ninkovic’s one on one chance as the Socceroo makes himself big to deny the Serbian.
YENGI GOAL 70’ – The Wanderers are swift to move the ball on the counterattack as Kusini Yengi cuts onto his right inside the area to fire past Redmayne into the roof of the net.
REDMAYNE SAVE 77’ – The Sydney keeper is alert again to get out quickly to deny Brandon Borello through on goal.
SEGECIC FIRES OVER 89’ – Robert Mak beautifully controls Joe Lolley’s cross inside the box and finds Adrian Segecic in space on the left but the winger narrowly drives over the bar from close range.
What They Said – Steve Corica:
“I think it was tight throughout the whole game. They had a couple of good chances, and they took their one chance. Yengi took his goal well and we had a couple of chances which we could have done better with towards the end.
“It was a tight game, it was physical and is what the derbies should be all about.
“It was a fantastic crowd. The boys put in everything, worked hard and created a number of good opportunities, we just didn’t take them. We are just disappointed with the goal and the result.”
Match Report:
The atmosphere inside the new Allianz Stadium was electric as the Cove came out singing in full voice to will the Sky Blues on in what proved to be a fiery occasion.
The first half produced a cagey and physical affair with 19 fouls blown by referee Alex King as Sydney FC recorded a 57% tackle success rate compared to Western Sydney’s 50%.
Robert Mak neatly found Anthony Caceres in space late in the first half as the midfielder drove a powerful shot to the top right corner which was smartly saved by Wanderers’ keeper Lawrence Thomas.
The Sky Blues started the second term on the front foot with Mak and Lolley threatening on the wings as Redmayne prevented Milos Ninkovic one on one in the 53rd minute.
Minimal clear-cut opportunities unfolded as the intensity of the match continued but Kusini Yengi put the visitors in front in the 70th minute as he finished powerfully into the roof of the net following a quick Wanderers counterattack.
Redmayne would save another one on one chance with 13 minutes remaining as he got out quickly to squander Brandon Borello’s effort to keep the score at 1-0.
But Steve Corica’s men could not quite find a late equaliser as second half substitute Adrian Segecic fired narrowly over in the 89th minute.
A slim defeat for Sydney FC before the World Cup break as the Sky Blues look to bounce back against Melbourne City when the Isuzu UTE A-League returns next month.
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 2. James DONACHIE, 10. Joseph LOLLEY, 11. Róbert MAK, 12. Patrick WOOD (19. Adrian SEGECIC 66’), 16. Patrick YAZBEK (25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI 86’), 17. Anthony CACERES (22. Max BURGESS 74’), 18. Diego CABALLO, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 26. Luke BRATTAN, 29. Aaron GURD.
Unused Subs: 20. Thomas HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 21. Alexander PARSONS, 27. Adrian VLASTELICA, 28. Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH.
Yellow Cards: Luke Brattan 90+7’, James Donachie 90+8’
Red Cards: None
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Lawrence THOMAS (GK), 2. Gabriel CLEUR, 3. Adama TRAORE, 5. Tomislav MRCELA, 6. Marcelo GUEDES, 9. Kusini YENGI (23. Yeni N’GBAKOTO 84’), 10. Milos NINKOVIC (36. Alessandro LOPANE 90+5’), 11. Sulejman KRPIC, 17. Romain AMALFITANO, 26. Brandon BORRELLO, 28. Calem NIEUWENHOF.
Unused Subs: 1. Daniel MARGUSH (GK), 7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 12. Ruon TONGYIK, 19. Daniel WILMERING, 35. Zachary SAPSFORD.
Yellow Cards: Calem Nieuwenhof 31’, Alessandro Lopane 90+5’
Red Cards: None
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Attendance: 34,232
Referee: Alex King
