Sydney FC came off second best in a Sydney Derby clash at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, where goals from Kusini Yengi, Amor Layouni and Calem Nieuwenhof were enough to seal Sky Blue fate.
Sydney FC remain in the top six heading into the international break and before next month’s home clash with Western United.
Sydney FC 0 def by Western Sydney Wanderers 4 (Yengi 13’, Layouni 22’, 75’, Nieuwenhof 64’)
Moments That Mattered:
YENGI OPENS THE SCORING -13’- Brandon Borello plays a ball through the Sydney defence into the path of Amor Layouni, who passes the ball across the goal into the path of Kusini Yengi, who slots the ball home into an empty net.
LAYOUNI DOUBLES THE LEAD- 22’- Milos Ninkovic picks up the ball in Sydney FC’s half and is able to play through Amor Layouni who takes one touch and knocks the ball low past Andrew Redmayne and into the back of the net.
RODWELL’S EFFORT JUST SAVED- 36’- A Robert Mak free kick finds the head of first half substitute Jack Rodwell and his guided header towards the far post is just tipped wide by the outstretched Lawrence Thomas.
NIEUWENHOF PUTS WANDERERS THREE TO THE GOOD- 64’- Calem Nieuwenhof picks up the ball about 25 yards out from goal, and smashes a long-range effort into the top right-hand corner, past Andrew Redmayne in the net.
LAYOUNI DOUBLES HIS TALLY – 75’- Brandon Borello finds space on the edge of the box and is able to play a reverse ball into the path of Amor Layouni, who finishes into the bottom corner with his left foot
What They Said: Steve Corica: “It was very disappointing, we knew how important the game was, especially at home, we went down 2-0 straight away and it’s tough to come back.
“They were just way better than us in the final third.
“We had a number of chances that we needed to finish off to get back into the game.
“We were hoping to get one back at half time, and tried to push further forward with our subs but then the sucker punch came.”
Match Report:
Sydney FC looked to bounce back after last week’s narrow loss in Wellington, but their start to this derby encounter was dampened early. After being fouled three times in the opening 10 minutes, and the referee reaching for his cards on multiple occasions Sydney FC would concede the opening goal, after Brandon Borello’s threaded pass found Amor Layouni, who would square the ball for Kusini Yengi to finish.
The odds seemed to be against the Sky Blues early in the game, as James Donachie was forced off with injury just 18 minutes in. Things would go from bad to worse just 4 minutes later for Sydney FC as Milos Ninkovic burst through the Sky-Blue midfield, and knocked the ball through for Amor Layouni, who would pass the ball into the back of the net. This would take the Tunisian forward’s tally to a goal and an assist on the night.
Sydney FC would pile on the pressure as the half wore on and would go on to carve out some good opportunities to get back into the game, the closest of these coming from Jack Rodwell, who’s header off a Robert Mak free kick, was close to nestling in the bottom corner before Lawrence Thomas pushed it just wide. Despite many attempts at breaking down the red and black defence, the Sky Blues would find themselves 2-0 at half time.
The Sky Blues started the second half with a point to prove, and a flurry of attacks early in the early stages of the half looked like they would be the key to getting back in the game but Lawrence Thomas would makes impressive saves from Grant, Mak and Segecic in particular. Sky Blue chances were however made slim, as Calem Nieuwenhof would receive the ball just outside the box and blast it into the near top corner, giving Western Sydney a three-goal advantage.
Sydney would continue to look for a pathway back into the game, and when Robert Mak went one on one, Sky Blue fans held their breath, however the forward was not able to get a shot off in time, as the ball just got away from him. Rhyan Grant would come close after a cross to the far post, was deflected and fell to the full back, but his effort was parried away by Lawrence Thomas and the score remained locked at 3-0
The Wanderers would put the game to bed with 15 minutes to go, as Brandon Borello played a reverse pass through the Sydney FC defence, to the onrushing Amor Layouni. The Tunisian would finish low into the bottom left corner, leaving little doubt about the outcome of this tie.
Sydney FC were not able to fashion any way back into this tie, and would end the game with a 4-0 loss. The international break now looms, as the Sky Blue’s prepare for their next fixture, against Western United, on the 1st of April.
Sydney FC: 1. ANDREW REDMAYNE (GK), 2. JAMES DONACHIE (6. JACK RODWELL- 18’), 4. ALEX WILKINSON (C), 3. JOEL KING (25. JAIDEN KUCHARSKI- 45’), 8. PAULO RETRE (28. JAKE GIRDWOOD-REICH- 71’), 10. JOE LOLLEY (19. ADRIAN SEGECIC- 84’), 11 ROBERT MAK (12. PATRICK WOOD- 84’), 17. ANTHONY CACERES, 18. DIEGO CABALLO, 23. RHYAN GRANT, 26. LUKE BRATTAN
Unused Subs: 20. THOMAS HEWARD-BELLE, 29. AARON GURD.
Yellow Cards: Retre 11’, Brattan 54’ Caballo- 72’
Red Cards: None
Western Sydney Wanderers:
1. LAWRENCE THOMAS (GK), 3. ADAMA TRAORE, 6. MARCELO ©, 9. KUSINI YENGI (23. YENI NGBAKOTO- 71’), 10. MILOS NINKOVIC (14. NICOLAS MILANOVIC- 78’), 11. AMOR LAYOUNI, 16. THOMAS BEADLING, 17. ROMAIN AMALFITANO, 26. BRANDON BORRELLO, 28. CALEM NIEUWENHOF, 31. AIDAN SIMMONS (33. ALEXANDER BONETIG- 87’).
Unused Subs: 1. DANIEL MARGUSH (GK), 8. OLIVER BOZANIC, 21. JARROD CARLUCCIO, 36. ALESSANDRO LOPANE
Yellow Cards: Beadling 11’, Yengi 14’
Red Cards: None.
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Alireza Faghani
Attendance: 28,929
