Sydney FC devastated the Western Sydney Wanderers with five unanswered goals, in the process breaking a number of club and Hyundai A-League records.
Summary
Sydney FC 5 (14’,45’ Adrian, 41’ Brosque, 53’ Scott O.G., 76’ O’Neill) def. Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Sydney FC devastated the Western Sydney Wanderers with five unanswered goals, in the process breaking a number of club and Hyundai A-League records, including first team to keep 100 clean sheets.
Alex Brosque won his 100th game with the Sky Blues and Adrian Mierzejewski scored the club’s 500th goal in the Hyundai A-League.
Sydney FC dominated their opposition throughout the contest, fashioning a host of chances and keeping the hosts under severe pressure from the very first whistle.
Two goals from Mierzejewski and others Alex Brosque, Brandon O’Neill and an own goal from Lachlan Scott did the damage.
The 5-0 score line is the Sky Blues biggest ever victory in the Sydney Derby.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “We work very hard on every aspect of the game and make sure that we’re teaching the players how to win.
“That was close to our best performance this season. I could see it in the eyes of my boys this week. We worked very hard on having the right mentality and winning this game.
“There’s a lot of belief in that group, there’s a lot of belief in what we do as a team, and at the end of the day the one negative is that we should’ve scored another five.”
Women’s derby: Won ✅
Men’s derby : Won ✅Clearly Sydney is sky blue tonight!!?⚽️?? @SydneyFC @SydneyWFC #ThisCityIsOurs #SydneyIsSkyBlue
— Vicky ⚽️ (@vickstarr11) December 9, 2017
Goals
14’ ADRIAN: Sydney show great patience in their build up play, Carney eventually testing Janjetovic with a low cross. The Wanderers’ goalkeeper gets to the ball but is only able to palm it into the path of Adrian who unleashes an unstoppable shot.
41’ BROSQUE: Sydney FC pick apart the Wanderers’ defence with some pinpoint passing, Bobô’s deliciously weighted through ball being run onto by Brosque, who audaciously knocks the ball past Janjetovic with his first touch and scores with his second.
45’ ADRIAN: The Polish midfielder wins a foul at the edge of the Wanderers’ box and takes the resulting free kick, his dipping shot sailing into the top corner.
53’ SCOTT (OG): The Sky Blues work a short corner, Adrian finding time to whip in a pinpoint cross from the edge of the box that Scott inadvertently guides past Janjetovic in the Wanderers’ goal.
76’ O’NEILL: Simon marauds down the flank and plays a cross-field pass for Zullo to run onto. The full back lays the ball off to O’Neill who shows neat footwork before producing a curling effort that leaves Janjetovic grasping at thin air.
Key Moments
5’ ADRIAN EFFORT: Adrian picks up the ball after Brosque had harried the Wanderers’ defence. He advances into space and blasts a shot at goal but it is directed straight at Janjetovic.
21’ BUIJS SHOT: The Sky Blues produce a guileful set-piece play straight from the training pitch, three first time passes resulting in Buijs finding space in the box. However his final effort is too close to the goalkeeper.
24’ WILKINSON JUST WIDE: Adrian floats a free kick into a dangerous area. Wilkinson meets it with an outstretched foot but the ball trickles just wide of the upright.
29’ REDMAYNE SAVE: Cejudo bends one from distance and the ball looks destined for the top corner until Redmayne is able to get a hand to it, pushing it onto the bar.
32’ CARNEY HEADER JUST OVER: Adrian floats a ball to the back stick for Zullo to lash back across goal. His cross fizzes towards Carney but he is unable to keep his header down.
35’ BROSQUE JUST WIDE: Wilkshire advances into space down the right flank and picks out Brosque in the box who flicks it at goal but it flies just wide.
43’ BOBÔ OVER: Janjetovic comes for a cross but is unable to claim the ball cleanly. The ball drops to Bobô on the volley but he is unable to shift his stance and fire it in.
53’ BROSQUE ON THE BREAK: Brosque and Bobô show great understanding, playing off each other to break the Wanderers’ defensive lines. Bobô is able to play Brosque in but the goalkeeper saves his effort.
56’ ZULLO GOAL DISALLOWED: Zullo puts a cracking effort past Janjetovic and the entire stadium believes him to have scored. However the referee utilises VAR to spot a handball in the build up and the goal is disallowed.
63’ JANJETOVIC SAVE: Adrian plays Brosque through but his shot is too close to Janjetovic. Bobô attempts to stab home the rebound but is unable to muster enough power behind his effort and the goalkeeper is able to claw the ball away.
67’ ZULLO GOES CLOSE: The Sky Blues break on the counter and Adrian picks out Zullo in the box. The full back tries to place the ball inside the upright but Janjetovic gets behind the ball.
82’ SANTALAB OFF THE POST: The Australian striker has a pop from long range and almost pulls a goal back for the Wanderers.
89’ SIMON HEADER: Retre fizzes a dangerous looking ball into the box to be met by Simon, whose header is just within the reach of the goalkeeper.
90+3’ BOBÔ DENIED LAST DITCH: Bobô shows his tenacity to break clear of the Wanderers’ defence but a last ditch tackle from Baccus prevents a sixth goal.
Team News
Sydney FC 5 (14’,45’ Adrian, 41’ Brosque, 53’ Scott O.G., 76’ O’Neill) def. Western Sydney Wanderers 0
The starting eleven is unchanged from the previous week’s win over Adelaide United. Cisak and Simon replace Heward-Belle and Lokolingoy on the substitutes bench.
Ground: ANZ Stadium
Attendance: 36,433
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 4. Alexander WILKINSON, 5. Jordy BUIJS, 6. Joshua BRILLANTE (8. Paulo RETRE, 89’), 7. Michael ZULLO, 9. BOBÔ, 11. Adrian Mierzejewski, 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 14. Alex BROSQUE (18. Matt SIMON, 73’), 17. David CARNEY (16. Anthony KALIK, 78’), 26. Luke WILKSHIRE.
Subs Not Used: 20. Alex CISAK (GK), 22. Sebastian RYALL.
Yellow Card(s): N/A
Red Card(s): N/A
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Vedran JANTJETOVIC (GK), 3. Jack CLISBY, 4. Joshua RISDON, 5. Brendan HAMILL (14. Jumpei KUSUKAMI 57’), 8. Rolieny BONEVACIA, 10. Alvaro CEJUDO, 15. Kearyn BACCUS, 18. Robert CORNTHWAITE, 22. Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 23. Lachlan SCOTT (11. Brendon SANTALAB, 57’), 42. Keanu BACCUS.
Subs Not Used: 30. John HALL (GK), 24 Raul LLORENTE, 33. Michael THWAITE.
Yellow Card(s): Clisby 44’, Risdon 79’, Cornthwaite 84’
Red Card(s): N/A
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