Sydney FC have claimed derby bragging rights following one nil victory over the Western Sydney Wanderers in from of 40,539 fans at Allianz Stadium.
Summary
Sydney FC 1 (88’ Ninkovic) def. Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Sydney FC have gone top of the Hyundai A-League outright for the first time in five years after claiming the derby bragging rights with a 1-0 victory over the Western Sydney Wanderers at Allianz Stadium tonight.
Serbian striker Milos Ninkovic fired home two minutes from time to give the Sky Blues the win and break Wanderers hearts.
40,539 fans watched the match, the fourth consecutive time the fixture has had a 40,000 attendance.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “I think it was a Derby. It was physical, it was fast, it was erratic at times and I think we showed a lot of character. We’re a work in progress and we’ll get better and better. Overall defensively we were outstanding tonight, we didn’t give them too many chances and as I said we’ll get better and better in possession.
Tonight we probably weren’t in control of the game as much as we would have liked but we scrambled, we defended superbly and tactically the boys carried out the game plan. I thought we nullified Mitch Nichols, they’re a work in progress and so are we. We’ve got a hell of a lot of improvement in us.”
Goals
88’ NINKOVIC GOAL – O’Neill plays a lofted through ball to Ninkovic inside the box. He takes one touch to control it and fires home into the bottom corner.
Key Moments
5’ NINKOVIC SHOT WIDE – A long ball forward is nudged back by Holosko to Ninkovic on the edge of the box and the Serbian curls a shot just wide.
14’ DIMAS MISS OFF SIDE – Jamieson crosses for Vidosic to nod down to Dimas who hits the bar but is ruled off-side.
42’ BROSQUE CLEARS VIDOSIC HEADER – A corner from the left is headed towards goal by Vidosic but Brosque clears off the line.
45’ SOTIRIO GOAL DISALLOWED – Nichols crosses from the left hand side to Sotirio who flicks a header over Janjetovic but the goal is ruled out for offside.
55’ JANJETOVIC SAVE – Vidosic wriggles clear of his defender and shoot but Janjetovic is down to save and Faty clears the danger.
Team News
Sydney FC 1 (88’ Ninkovic) def. Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Sydney FC Head Coach Graham Arnold made one change to the line-up that started against Newcastle Jets seven days earlier. Christopher Naumoff made way for Filip Holosko to return while Andrew Hoole secured a place on the bench in place of George Blackwood.
Attendance: 40,539
Ground: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Ben Williams
Sydney FC: 1. Vedran JANJETOVIC 2. Seb RYALL, 5. Matt JURMAN, 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC (27. Mickael TAVARES 60’), 9. Shane SMELTZ (18. Matt SIMON 71’), 10. Milos NINKOVIC , 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 19. Jacques FATY, 21. Filip HOLOSKO (7. Andrew HOOLE), 23. Rhyan GRANT (3. Alex GERSBACH 57’).
Subs not used: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI, 3. Alex GERSBACH.
Yellow cards: Dimitrijevic 38’, Faty 64’, Ninkovic 88’, Ryall 92’.
Red cards: None
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 20.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3.Scott JAMIESON, 4.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY (c), 6.Mitch NICHOLS (19. Mark BRIDGE 81’), 7.Romeo CASTELEN (10.Dario VIDOSIC 11’), 8.DIMAS, 9.Federico PIOVACCARI, 12.Scott NEVILLE (5.Brendan HAMILL 54’), 16.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 17.ALBERTO, 18.ANDREU.
Subs not used: 1.Dean BOUZANIS (GK), Jacob PEPPER
Yellow cards: Neville 38’, Alberto 75’, Topor-Stanley 85’.
Red cards: None
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