Sydney FC have stunned a record regular season crowd inside Allianz Stadium with a come from behind victory to take the first Sydney Derby of the season 3-2.
Summary
Sydney FC 3 (Gameiro 45’, Ognenovski 48’, Brosque 79’) d. Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Bridge 18’, Janjetovic Og 24’)
Sydney FC produced an incredible comeback to win the Sydney Derby 3-2 in front of a record crowd of 41,213 at Allianz Stadium and go second in the Hyundai A-League ladder.
The Sky Blues went 2-0 down inside 24 minutes but showed class to turn the game around thanks to goals from Corey Gameiro, Sasa Ognenovski and captain Alex Brosque.
Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Vitor Saba was sent off for a challenge on Terry Antonis in a passionate game in front of a packed crowd.
The crowd figure is a record for a regular season crowd of any code at Allianz Stadium and breaks Sydney FC’s record for a regular season crowd of 40,338 against the Wanderers last season.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “I think it [the win] was down to a good football team, I think over 90 minutes we had 15 bad minutes and that’s when they got the 2 goals. We gifted them the 2 goals, for me the other 75 minutes was all us.
“I thought we played some real good stuff. When we went down 2-0 I changed the system to a 4-2-3-1, it needed an extra midfielder there, and thankfully we got that goal just before half time to give us that belief.
“I thought the second half was a barrage. We were down their end nearly the whole time. It was good.
“It’s a great night for our fans. It’s a wonderful occasion with a huge, record breaking crowd, and to go 2-0 home behind and send our supporters home with a 3-2 win, I think that will stay in their memory for a long, long time. “
Alex Gersbach: “To be able to make my starting debut against the Wanderers in front of 41,000 people at our home ground in one of the best football grounds in the country was amazing.
“In the end we got the win fought hard, showed courage and determination and to get the win really meant a lot.
“I had a little bit of nerves before the game but I tried to relax myself and focus on the game.”
Goals
18’ BRIDGE GOAL – Castelen ran down the right and found room for the cross to Bridge who was free on the penalty spot to hit a bouncing shot beyond the reach of Janjetovic.
24’ JANJETOVIC OWN GOAL – A corner from the Wanderers left hand side is sliced high into the sky and when it came down under the crossbar Janjetovic could only succeed in pushing the ball into the net.
45’ + 1’ GAMEIRO GOAL – A back-heel by Brosque inside the box found Gameiro in the left hand channel. The striker took one touch before curling a shot into Covic’s left hand post.
48’ OGNENOVSKI GOAL – A Petkovic corner caused chaos inside the Wanderers penalty box and in the scramble the ball falls to Ognenovski who turned and fired towards goal. The ball took a big deflection off Castelen and then a touch off Topor Stanley before rolling through the legs of Ibini and into the net.
79’ BROSQUE GOAL – Ball played into Gameiro who took it on his chest, flicked it to Brosque and the striker neatly prodded the ball over Covic who came out to block.
Key Moments
7’ IBINI FIRES OVER – A Nikola Petkovic free kick from the right is headed back into the Wanderers six yard box where Ibini fired over in a scramble.
9’ IBINI SHOT DEFLECTED OVER – Ibini ran at Golec inside the Wanderers box. He made room for the shot which was goal-bound but Golec got a foot to it to deflect it over the bar.
21’ BROSQUE PUSHES BALL WIDE – A ball forward from Sydney FC eluded numerous players and found its way through to Brosque who pushed a sliding shot wide after getting there before Mullen inside the box.
47’ BROSQUE SHOT BLOCKED – A corner from the Sydney FC left falls in the six yard box. There was a scramble in which Ibini tried to drive the ball home and then Brosque turned and shot from six yards but Covic forced the corner.
68’ SABA SENT OFF – Wanderers Brazilian midfielder Vitor Saba is sent off for a lunging tackle on Terry Antonis.
74’ RYALL HEADER PUSHED OVER – A left wing corner is met by Seb Ryall who powered a downward header on goal which Covic tipped over.
Team News
Sydney FC 3 (Gameiro 45’, Ognenovski 48’, Brosque 79’) d. Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Bridge 18’, Janjetovic Og 24’)
Sydney FC Head Coach Graham Arnold was able to recall the Sky Blues international players Marc Janko and Bernie Ibini to the starting line with Nick Carle dropping to the bench and youngster George Blackwood away with the youth team in Vietnam. Alex Gersbach replaced Matthew Jurman at left back and Ali Abbas returned to the bench following his stint with the Iraqi national side. Christopher Naumoff also warmed the bench having returned from Young Socceroos duty.
Ground: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Attendance: 41, 213
Sydney FC: 20. Vedran JANJETOVIC, 2. Seb RYALL, 3. Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 6. Nikola PETKOVIC, 7. Corey GAMEIRO (22. Ali ABBAS 82’), 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 11. Bernie IBINI-ISEI, 13. Alex GERSBACH, 14. Alex BROSQUE ©, 17. Terry ANTONIS, 21. Marc JANKO.
Subs Not Used: 1. Ivan NECEVSKI, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 13. Christopher NAUMOFF, 19. Nick CARLE
Yellow cards: Ryall 23’, Ibini 55’, Ognenovski 60’.
Red cards: None.
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1. Ante COVIC, 3. Daniel MULLEN (7. Labinot HALITI 87’), 4. Nikolai TOPOR STANLEY, 5. Brendan HAMILL (14. Kwabena APPIAH-KUBI 75’), 6. Antony GOLEC, 8. Mateo POLJAK, 10. Vitor SABA, 11. Brendan SANTALAB, 17. Romeo CASTELEN (2. Shannon COLE 72’), 18. Iacopo LA ROCCA, 19. Mark BRIDGE.
Subs Not Used: 20. Dean BOUZANIS, 23. Jason TRIFIRO
Yellow cards: Santalab 35’.
Red cards: Saba 68’.
