Sydney FC have defeated their biggest rivals Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 in the first ever Isuzu-UTE A-League Sydney Derby Finals match to book a place in the semi-finals against Melbourne City.
Robert Mak and Adam Le Fondre struck in the second half to end Wanderers’ Championship hopes in front of 27,288 on their home ground following Morgan Schneiderlin’s first half penalty.
Sydney FC 2 (Mak 70’, Le Fondre 80’) def. Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Schneiderlin pen 39’)
Moments That Mattered:
SCHNEIDERLIN PENALTY – 39’- A deflection strikes Wilkinson on the arm and Schneiderlin steps up to slot the penalty home.
LE FONDRE CHANCE – 50’ – A left wing ball into the centre finds Le Fondre who flicks it towards goal but Thomas acrobatically tips over.
MAK GOAL – 70’ – Burgess’ cross is only cleared as far as Mak who controls, takes a touch and drills the ball in off the post.
LE FONDRE GOAL – 80’ – Mak’s corner is headed home by Le Fondre’s flicked header.
What They Said: Steve Corica: “It was the most important game of the season and derbies are always special.
“To come here and get the win after going behind shows great character and a lot of passion from the players.
“They knew how big that win was and I was really proud of them, the way they fought back into the game in the second half.
“We fixed a few things at half time and played really well in the second half.”
Match Report: Sydney FC have dashed cross town rivals Western Sydney Wanderers Championship hopes defeating them 2-1 in the first ever Finals Series clash between the two clubs.
Wanderers’ Morgan Schneiderlin notched a penalty in the 39th minute after the ball deflected into the armpit of Alex Wilkinson to lead at the break.
Le Fondre forced Thomas into a fantastic save early in the second half as the Sky Blues dominated proceedings.
Robert Mak levelled for the Sky Blues in the 70th minute controlling a Wanderers defensive header before drilling the ball into the corner off the post.
Ten minutes later Le Fondre struck the decisive goal heading home Robert Mak’s left wing corner, to send Sydney FC through and the Wanderers crashing.
Sydney FC: 1. ANDREW REDMAYNE (GK), 3. JOEL KING, 4. ALEX WILKINSON (C), 6. JACK RODWELL, 8. PAULO RETRE (10. JOE LOLLEY 78’)(19. ADRIAN SEGECIC 89’), 9. ADAM LE FONDRE, 11 ROBERT MAK (28. JAKE GIRDWOOD-REICH 86’), 17. ANTHONY CACERES, 22. MAX BURGESS (2. JAMES DONACHIE 89’), 23. RHYAN GRANT, 26. LUKE BRATTAN
Unused Subs: 20. THOMAS HEWARD-BELLE, 12. PATRICK WOOD, 18. DIEGO CABALLO.
Yellow Cards: Mak 39’, Grant 65’, Brattan 65’.
Red Cards: None
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1. LAWRENCE THOMAS (GK), 3. ADAMA TRAORE (19. DANIEL WILMERING 82’), 4. MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN, 5. TOMI MRCELA (16. THOMAS BEADLING 61’), 6. MARCELO ©, 10. MILOS NINKOVIC (14. NICOLAS MILANOVIC 76’), 11. AMOR LAYOUNI (9. KUSINI YENGI 82’), 17. ROMAIN AMALFITANO (23. YENI NGBAKOTO 82’), 26. BRANDON BORRELLO, 28. CALEM NIEUWENHOF, 31. AIDAN SIMMONS.
Unused Subs: 1. DANIEL MARGUSH (GK), 8. OLIVER BOZANIC.
Yellow Cards: Borello 65’, Ninkovic 67’.
Red Cards: None.
Venue: CommBank Stadium
Referee: Chris Beath
Attendance: 27,288.
