A-League: Western Sydney Wanderers beat Sydney FC 1-0 in first derby at Bankwest Stadium
After more than three years away from Parramatta, the Wanderers have returned to score a historic derby win against Sydney FC at a rocking Bankwest Stadium.
A-League
Don't miss out on the headlines from A-League. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Update: The West is back – and so is the derby.
The Wanderers have claimed first blood of the season after defeating Sydney FC at Bankwest Stadium by a single goal.
Mitch Duke’s first half strike was enough to settle a throbbing, pulsating encounter and earn the home side just a fifth derby win in their history.
Stream every game of The 2019/20 Hyundai A-League season LIVE & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Duke’s a hazard
A third goal of the season for Western Sydney’s captain confirmed the feeling that Mitch Duke has a knack of being in the right place at the right time. In this instance it was to meet a deft cross from Daniel Georgievski with a thumping header to open the scoring on 19 minutes.
Pity Sydney’s makeshift leftback Paulo Retre, though, whose ill-advised and ill-executed flick handed Western Sydney possession in the most vulnerable of areas and allowed them to score.
“It’s difficult to take but I’m proud of the boys – we created chances but the goals weren’t going in,” said Sydney coach Steve Corica.
Lopar’s saving grace
Several sharp stops from the Wanderers goalkeeper suggested again that he is a fine acquisition, even if his goal led a charmed life at times.
Milos Ninkovic and Adam Le Fondre were both denied, the latter also somehow shot wide when clean through, and another Lopar save scooped the ball up on or behind the line from Le Fondre’s header. The referee said it hadn’t crossed the line into the goal, and the VAR couldn’t overturn that call - nor the referee’s denial of a penalty for Keanu Bacchus’s alleged handball.
“Of course we had luck in many situations, but it’s a learning process and every win helps,” said Babbel.
The derby we needed
From the cacophony in the stands to thundering tackles on the turf, this was a Sydney derby to serve as a marketing tool for the A-League. The RBB filled their safe standing zone and unfurled the chants that used to rock the old Parramatta Stadium, and The Cove responded in kind.
“The stadium was great, as were the fans, it was a top derby,” said Corica. “There were tackles flying, apart from the result it was a great night.”
Ninkovic still has it
Baumjohann looked like a man determined to own the occasion but Milos Ninkovic actually played like it. Booed incessantly, the German raced in pursuit of the ball but if anything the ball sought out the Serb, whose distribution all night was masterly. His was the reverse pass from which Le Fondre should have scored, and his was the audacious scoop that beat Lopar but came back off the bar.
Balance of power is wobbling
Only twice in 22 A-League derbies had the Wanderers beaten their cross-city rivals and finished the game ahead of them on the ladder.
So to claim the first derby of the season – just the Wanderers’ second such victory in almost six years, incredibly – was sweet enough. But to go above Sydney at the top of the table was even greater delight for the home fans.
“The supporters helped us a lot, when you’re struggling you need that,” said Babbel. “It’s important for this club that we all come back together.”
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS 1 (Mitchell Duke 19m) bt SYDNEY FC 0 at Bankwest Stadium. Crowd: 28,519. Referee: Alireza Faghani.
Originally published as A-League: Western Sydney Wanderers beat Sydney FC 1-0 in first derby at Bankwest Stadium