Western Sydney Wanderers stun Sydney FC in wild derby
A transformed Western Sydney Wanderers have claimed their second derby victory of the season after stunning Sydney FC - but there will be another black mark against the win.
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Sydney FC will march on to win the Premiers Plate, but the pain of losing another derby will linger for some time.
Western Sydney inflicted just the Sky Blues’ second defeat of the season at Jubilee Stadium, and the fact they also caused the first just added to their glee.
Mitch Duke’s 81st-minute header proved the difference in a gripping, exhausting derby, as good as we have seen for years, and the Wanderers bench celebrated at the end like they had won the league.
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Daniel Georgievski’s late red card for kicking out at Marco Tilio was their only blemish on a stirring night for the visitors, and Sydney’s incredible home record finally came to an end.
Ex-EPL boss Richard Scudamore, watching in his role as adviser to the A-League, must think the competition is in rude good health judging by this spectacle.
PRESSING MATTERS
Sydney FC have been the masters of selective pressing for the past few years, but Western Sydney showed power and purpose in stopping the Sky Blue juggernaut, and matching them from the off.
Every time the Wanderers lost the ball, Mitch Duke and Simon Cox dropped into a stifling position and closed down the space that Sydney need to begin their attacks.
Even Nicolai Muller, not usually known for the intensity of his defensive work, harried and chased incessantly. He almost produced the moment of the night with a thunderbolt from distance that crashed off the bar, but it was his work for the team that stood out.
ON THE PASS
Possibly the first time this season, Western Sydney looked comfortable playing out from the back. Content to take Sydney on at their own game, the Red and Black looked unrecognisable from the side whose travails cost Markus Babbel his job.
They made proper chances, such as the header Mitch Duke should have scored from thanks to Muller’s inviting cross but which he directed wide, and Daniel Georgievski almost embarrassed Andrew Redmayne with a long-distance lob.
Twice late on Muller missed glorious chances, but finally Duke met Tate Russell’s curving cross with a header into the far corner.
If this form can be maintained, there is every chance the Wanderers will force their way into the finals – and create an interesting situation in terms of the future of interim coach Jean-Paul de Marigny.
“It’s a process we’re working towards,” de Marigny said of his team’s form. “The things that happened tonight are from hard work by the players and staff during the week.
“We want to create the right environment and for the players to enjoy their football. It’s what we do on the training pitch on a weekly basis.”
SKY BLUE CLOUDS
Every team has a dip at some point in every season, and Sydney’s passage has been largely imperious so far. But after their defeat to Yokohama, last week’s defeat of the Mariners was rather flattering, and now this reverse will sting.
By no means did Sydney play badly – they made gilt-edged chances of their own, such as Milos Ninkovic’s shot that produced a sharp save from Daniel Lopar, and Adam Le Fondre grazing the bar with a fine turn and shot.
But they were matched step for step in a real contest, not a feeling they are used to, and their response against Jeonbuk next week in the Asian champions League will be fascinating.
Not that coach Steve Corica necessarily agrees. “We dominated the game, they made some good chances but the game was mostly played in their half.
“We probably didn’t create a lot in the final third, and took the wrong decisions a few times, but I’m very proud of the boys and their efforts. The Wanderers played well, they’ve been on a good run.”
RBB WON’T LEARN
On a brilliant night for the A-League, the usual subjects had to let off flares and posture to the police, just tarnishing a glorious night for their team.
Originally published as Western Sydney Wanderers stun Sydney FC in wild derby