Sydney thumps Western Sydney 4-0 in the Sydney Derby in front of an A-League record crowd

SYDNEY has claimed bragging rights in the Sydney Derby, beating Western Sydney 4-0 in front of an A-League record crowd at ANZ Stadium.

Sydney FC's Alex Brosque celebrates scoring a goal during the Sydney Derby. Picture: Gregg Porteous

IN the end the demeanour of the two coaches said everything — Graham Arnold punching the air, and Tony Popovic looking like he wanted something to punch.

Four unanswered goals gave Sydney FC the perfect start to the new season, humiliating their neighbours with the biggest win since the Sydney derby began.

On a night when records were set in the stands, the result seemed like a broken record of a different sort for the Wanderers, condemned to yet another winless derby.

By the time of the next encounter between these two sides, more than three years will have passed since Western Sydney beat their neighbours.

It was an occasion to savour for the neutral, a throbbing, intense game watched by 61,800 - the highest ever crowd for a competitive club football match in Australia.

In truth the balance of power suggested by the scoreline was never so one-sided.

“We have to accept it’s 4-0 but it was never a 4-0 game,” Popovic said.

“They played the big moments better. We had chances but didn’t take them, and they did. Goals change games. We got punished for everything.”

Arnold revealed a remarkable message he had received on the morning of the game.

“I had a text from a kid called Gabi who sat next to me on bench last year and has cancer,” he said.

“He told me games like this and a Sky Blue win gave him reason to live, and I read that to the boys before the game.

“You could see their hunger to win straightaway.”

It was indeed proper derby fare, not a single challenge shirked as the battle for territorial domination waxed and waned.

Inevitably there was an explosion of emotion in the wake of an unpleasant tackle by Robert Cornthwaite on Filip Holosko, sparking a melee which almost every player raced to join.

It was battle of silk versus steel that had the crowd enthralled.

Western Sydney hunted as a pack, trying to overpower their visitors through collective muscle and seeking quick transfer to the effervescent Kerem Bulut up front.

Had Bulut not been denied twice by Danny Vukovic, either side of halftime, the result could have been very different.

Sydney’s approach was more gilded, with Milos Ninkovic, Bobo and Filip Holosko showing signs of a fruitful understanding. On 51 minutes they duly drew first blood.

The ball was worked to Carney on the left and his cross befuddled Brandon Hamill and arrived at the far post where Holosko made a difficult chance look easy with a side-footed volley.

Like a prize fighter, Sydney sensed blood and landed a second blow almost immediately. Zullo took a pass on the left and crossed, again to the far post. This time Holosko used his chest to control the ball and drove it back across goal, where Bobo turned in the second.

Furious, Popovic demanded a response from his team.

Bulut had a free header that was directed straight at Vukovic, then the goalkeeper made another save, charging from his line brilliantly to deny Nichols a certain goal and a lifeline back into the game.

As the minutes ticked away, it all fell apart for the Wanderers.

Released down the middle, Alex Brosque was felled by Aritz Borda, who earned a red card - from the freekick, Brandon O’Neill curled home the third.

When Brosque then swept home the fourth with a minute left, the perfect night for the Sky Blues was complete.

Originally published as Sydney thumps Western Sydney 4-0 in the Sydney Derby in front of an A-League record crowd