Sydney FC has played out an entertaining draw with Western Sydney Wanderers to secure an away point in the first game and first Sydney Derby of the Isuzu Ute A-League season.
Moments That Mattered:
REDMAYNE SAVES WITH FACE – 13’ – A headed knock down from a corner falls to Petratos but Redmayne is out quick to save the striker’s shot with his face.
BUHAGIAR HEADER SAVED – 32’ – A fantastic cross from Kamsoba lands perfectly on Buhagiar’s head but it’s saved by Mejias and Le Fondre puts a difficult rebound over the bar.
LE FONDRE SHOT SAVED – 54’ – Great pressing from Caceres wins the ball for Alfie who hits the ball from range and he is only denied by a fingertip save.
BURGESS SHOOTS JUST WIDE – 76’ – A cleared corner drops to Burgess on the edge of the box and with his first touch he drives the ball inches past the post.
REDMAYNE SAVE FROM RODWELL – 83’ – Rodwell takes a shot from 25 yards and Redmayne dives full length to tip the ball around the post.
What They Said: Head Coach Steve Corica
“I think we played really well. I was happy with the performance, maybe the final third we can improve in creating more chances, but overall we dominated most of the game.
“It’s just the final pass and the final finish that was missing, other than that I thought we were good.
“We’ve got players out who will come back into the side as well.
“Caceres I thought was standout tonight, I thought he was excellent.”
Report
Sydney FC have taken a point from their first game of the season but could well have secured all three having controlled the majority of the play.
The Sky Blues had a number of good chances with Mejias in the Wanderers goal saving well from Buhagiar and Le Fondre either side of half time.
Andrew Redmayne also made two game-saving stops for Sydney FC, one with his face from Petratos and the other a long range effort from Rodwell.
Max Burgess almost won the game for the Sky Blues with a clean strike in his first touch of as a substitute but the ball went wide and a stalemate ensured.
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 3. Ben WARLAND, 4. Alex WILKINSON, 8. Paulo RETRE, 10. Milos NINKOVIC (22. Max BURGESS 76’), 11. Trent BUHAGIAR (33. Patrick WOOD 64’), 14. Adam LE FONDRE, 16. Joel KING, 17. Anthony CACERES, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 27. Elvis KAMSOBA (21. Harry VAN DER SAAG 85’)
Unused Subs: 20. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 28. Calem NIEUWENHOF, 32. Patrick YAZBEK, 35. Liam McGING.
Yellow Cards: Retre 75’.
Red Cards: None.
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Tomas MEJIAS, 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Rhys WILLIAMS, 7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 8. Steven UGARKOVIC, 9. Bernie IBINI (37. Alex BADOLATO 88’), 10. Tomer HEMED, 22. Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 23. Dimi PETRATOS (11. Keijiro OGAWA 77’), 29. Terry ANTONIS (5. Jack RODWELL 78’), 39. Thomas AQUILINA.
Subs: 1. Daniel MARGUSH, 13. Tate RUSSELL, 21. Jordi SWIBEL, 33. Mark NATTA,
Yellow Cards: Williams 50’, Traore 68’.
Red Cards: None.
Venue: CommBank Stadium
Referee: Alex King
Attendance: 23,118.
