Summary
Well, wowsie wow. We said it was nicely poised at half-time but I don’t know that many saw that second half coming.
Sydney arguably shaded the first half, but the Wanderers were not without their chances. As the match wore on though the combination of Bobo and Holosko really came to the fore. The Slovak in particular did brilliantly, first for his goal, but then especially for his role in the second.
David Carney too was incredibly impressive, but there really wasn’t anyone in a blue shirt who disappointed. It’s a result that sends shudders across the league – teams will need to watch the tape closely to find cracks in this XI, they were reliable at the back, tenacious in midfield and dangerous up front.
For Tony Popovic some very early headaches – for the second time this season his side have looked decidedly off the pace of key league rivals.
Jumpei was a rare bright spot, and Martinez showed his potential in a brief cameo. But this looks a side still struggling to replace that host of quality players they lost in the off-season. Hamill tried hard but the loss of Scott Jamieson was keenly felt, and whereas Nichols and Bulut combined well in patches, you’d imagine the Wanderers will need far more creativity in the front third if they’re to pick apart rival defences.
All in all though, a stunning display of attacking football in front of a giant crowd of 61,880. What a brilliant way to start the A-League 2016-17 season.
Updated
Full-time: Western Sydney Wanderers 0-4 Sydney FC
90 min: Jared Gillett’s seen enough and he sinks his big green needle into the flailing neck of Western Sydney Wanderers.
Brosque punches the air – the Sydney FC players raise their hands aloft, and it’s a very grim close up of Tony Popovic on the touchline.
90 min: Well, horrible reading this, if you’re a Wanderers fan. I remember a time in their early history where they went something remarkable like 40+ games without conceding more than twice. And yet already in 2016-17 they’ve copped two absolute thumpings – one in the cup, one in the league.
Goal! Western Sydney Wanderers 0-4 Sydney FC (Brosque)
88 min: Deary, deary me. Now it’s Simon charging down the flank – he’s surrounded by five red shirts, and yet is able to pick out an FC player. The shot is parried by Redmayne, and where does it land? You guessed it, at the feet of Alex Brosque.
Well, he did plenty of talking during the week – he came on the pitch and did a little bit more talking – but now he’s let his feet to the talking. This is turning into a rout!
86 min: A yellow card for Brosque who’s been involved in some verbals. Needless that from the skipper.
Now it’s the Sydney FC fans trying a Poznan! Ironic-much? I don’t imagine that was an homage.
Goal! Western Sydney Wanderers 0-3 Sydney FC (O'Neill)
84 min: And here’s salt in your wounds – from the resulting freekick Brandon O’Neill has struck an absolutely thumping deadball. It arches and curls into the top right corner, Redmayne with absolutely no chance, and he stood transfixed.
Updated
Red card!
82 min: Wanderers fire in a long throw but it only leads to a high-speed counter attack. Ninkovic does brilliantly to pick out Brosque and with the FC captain through clean on goal, it’s a horror end to Borda’s debut, as he’s given a straight red card!
Almost a carbon copy of Topor-Stanley’s dismissal in the FFA Cup, horrid, horrid stuff.
80 min: And here’s the Poznan, but a slightly sombre performance from the RBB. Not dispirited, they always get behind their side irrespective of the score, but that one didn’t rattle the stands.
My stats man suggests its been over 3 years since Western Sydney Wanderers last won a Sydney derby – a remarkable statistic – and yet when you look at the table they’ve finished above their crosstown rivals in 3 of their 4 seasons. Remarkable.
78 min: Arnold goes to the bench once more, and it’s Matt Simon who lumbers on for Holosko. Great shift from the Slovak tonight – a goal and an assist – Arnold couldn’t have asked for more from him.
76 min: Ooh! Rhyan Grant brings down a sumptuous cross-field ball from O’Neill and smashes it past Redmayne – but it clatters the crossbar!
Great move from Sydney FC, if that had gone in it surely would have been curtains.
A crowd figure goes up – it’s 61,880 – a new A-League regular season record, what a feather in the cap that is for Australian football. Great stuff.
Updated
75 min: Bacchus with a header from very deep, but Vukovic deals comfortably. He’s not put a glove wrong, the veteran.
Hamill fouls Holosko and Sydney FC are in absolutely no hurry to take this.
74 min: Jumpei runs at the Sydney defence once more, as we now sight Santalab preparing on the touchline. Brosque did in fact come on for Carney, by the way, and was met with a chorus of not unexpected boos.
It’s Bulut to make way for Santalab – like for like once more from Popovic.
72 min: Massive save from Vukovic! Nichols charges through the middle after a ricochet, and the new shot-stopper has pulled out a save of the highest order!
He came in for Janjetovic, who’d played a remarkable 84 consecutive A-League matches up until tonight – but the former Victory custodian has justified the decision just then.
70 min: Some fluid interchange between the Sydney FC frontline as Carney, Ninkovic and Holosko all exchange positions. They look really well drilled, don’t they?
Another super cameo from Jumpei – he slaloms through a few players but finishes with an underwhelming stab at goal. Such great close control, this lad.
68 min: Sydney FC in now hurry now, they’re content to caress it around. Grant turns it over under pressure though, as WSW start to build a series of attacks.
Brillante steps in to prevent Nichols, as Brosque makes an appearance on the touchline.
66 min: Excellent work from Martinez – he took absolutely no time to make an impact! A lovely display of quick feet and guile as he turns his man inside the box, picks out Kerem Bulut at the far post who rifles a header in – but right into the grateful arms of Vukovic! Great set up, and a great chance for the Wanderers.
64 min: Carney with another strong driven shot. Perhaps he knows his spot will be under pressure when club captain Alex Brosque returns from his injury woes.
Nicholas Martinez gets ready on the sideline – could he be the spark the Wanderers need? The more defence-minded Steve Lustica makes way, but the 4-2-3-1 structure stays in place.
62 min: Nichols with a driven shot, but it’s from a long way out. Vukovic will be fine with efforts from that kind of range.
Jumpei drives through the middle, the crowd howl as they considered that a foul, but none given. Gee, he’s been a standout in red-and-black tonight. How quickly we’ve forgotten Romeo Castelen!
60 min: Cornthwaite prevents Carney from getting round him. He’s done well tonight, the Season 1 Sydney FC left back, now Season 12 Sydney FC winger, but the defender has his number on this occasion.
58 min: First tactical adjustment from Popovic, and it’s Pinatares who makes way for Kearyn Bacchus. Like for like in midfield, so as we presumed, no panic from Popovic.
A subdued performance from the Uruguayan, not an imposing debut by any measure.
56 min: What can Popovic and his chargers muster?
They’ve got a corner to defend, Sydney really enjoying a purple patch, and this predominantly red-and-black filled stadium has fallen into something resembling a lull for the first time in nearly an hour.
Redmayne claims and launches the counter. Jumpei runs hard and straight at the Sydney defence and almost finds a way through. Lovely again from the Japanese.
Goal! Western Sydney Wanderers 0-2 Sydney FC (Bobo!)
54 min: My, my! Zullo with a lofted cross from the left, Holosko does brilliantly to keep that in – he takes it on the chest, then volleys across goal, into the path of his strike partner Bobo for a tap in.
Wonderful from Holosko, Wanderers are really in trouble now!
Updated
52 min: They always go on about goals that spark games, but this makes this a very interesting proposition now.
Tony Popovic isn’t known for his dramatic adjustments – his side will presumably continue as they have, rather than throwing fifteen strikers on; but they’ll need to show a little bit more front-third intent now.
Game on.
Goal! Western Sydney Wanderers 0-1 Sydney FC (Holosko!)
50 min: And there it is! A mazy dribble from Carney and he’s lofted a sumptuous curling ball box-wards. Ninkovic with the very slightest of touches as he stretched for it, taking it around the Wanderers defender Borda, and into the path of Holosko who lashed home!
Emphatic finish, and didn’t they enjoy that, the FC players!
49 min: Holosko again marauding down the right channel, well released by Ninkovic. He shoots from an acute angle but no real danger for Redmayne.
In fairness to both defences neither side has really been opened up through the centre; but plenty of joy being enjoyed in wide areas.
47 min: Again Holo-Bobo combine well, and again Holosko fires off a shot on goal, after the whistle. Gillett’s been very lenient on that front, it must be said. Perhaps sensible given the noise inside the stadium. He’d just strayed offside, the Slovakian, but again a nice piece of combine work.
46 min: Pinatares shepherds a ball out for a goalkick under attention from Ninkovic. Haven’t seen too much of the Uruguayan, but perhaps that’s the nature of his role – screening the back four alongside Dimas, and looking to distribute quickly when in possession.
Second half: Western Sydney Wanderers 0-0 Sydney FC
45 min: Nope, no rest for the wicked – we’re back under way.
You’ll have to excuse me while I frantically try and hoover down a sausage and sauerkraut sandwich. A-League liveblog devotees might remember this as the meal that got away last night during Brisbane-Melbourne.
Well. What did you make of that opening offering?
Vukovic with one or two good saves from Bulut, while Holo-Bobo gave Redmayne a few nervous moments in the WSW goal.
Sydney FC perhaps dominating large sections of that half, especially the midfield battle, but after that no-prisoners tackle from Cornthwaite raised the temperature it was possibly the Wanderers with the better running.
I don’t envisage any changes immediately from either manager; this could be one of those that simmers for another 15 before the more attacking likes of a Brosque or Martinez, or a Santalab or Simon are injected into this intriguing battle.
Updated
Half-time: Western Sydney Wanderers 0-0 Sydney FC
45 min: Vukovic thumps long to Holosko, as both sides engage in some aerial ping pong. Bulut’s no slouch up front so the Sydney backline will have to be careful about playing too high a line. They get away with it this time as Bulut is offside.
Or no! Linesman flags, but Gillett ignores it. Sydney FC are livid, as Bulut then gets a one-on-one shooting opportunity!
Almost some late drama, that wouldn’t have helped Arnold et co on the FC bench’s tempers. But we go to the break at nil-nil.
Updated
43 min: Nichols and Bulut combine well – they seem to have forged a decent understanding already. But it’s a disappointing corner from Dimas, and any small window is swiftly closed.
Wanderers now counter-attack with real venom, that’s their best chance. Nichols finds Jumpei whose ball to Bulut is excellent. He drags the shot wide, but is close enough to send Vukovic really scrambling across his goal. Great moment, Wanderers.
Updated
41 min: Sydney FC win a corner, and Neville does well to prevent Wilkinson getting on the end of it.
Redmayne scampers out to scoop a ball off the toes of Ninkovic. They’re going very direct tonight, Sydney, and presumably you can’t blame them with Bobo and Holosko – or ‘Holo-Bobo’ as I like to call them – up front. Two great lumps of human, really, and that’s before we even throw Bernie Ibini into this lineup.
39 min: Bobo receives from Ninkovic and turns Cornthwaite far too easily. How much will that yellow weigh on his mind, regarding staying close to the Brazilian?
The shot drifts harmlessly wide though, the connection was poor.
37 min: The Wanderers go short, but it peters out. O’Neill again harries well to break the sequence down.
Vukovic claims a lofted ball and distributes well. Lovely touch from Bobo as he almost strolls past Cornthwaite into the box. He’s a decent physical presence this lad, but he’s got a wonderful touch on his as well.
35 min: O’Neill does well to stop Nichols driving through the centre. Two or three players round Jumpei, they’re swarming well Sydney FC to put pressure on the ball.
That said, Jumpei just spins Zullo and earns his side a corner. Great flick past Zullo, who recovers to poke behind.
33 min: It’s back to playing football now, as Bulut strays offside. Graham Arnold gives his players the ‘calm down’ hand signals. If anything that flashpoint has perhaps sparked the Wanderers a touch more. Popovic is still livid about something, muttering, shaking his head.
31 min: It’s a yellow for Cornthwaite, and it’s a yellow for Neville and Carney for their immediate reaction and role in that situation escalating.
Well. Several players walking that tightrope now, as Popovic and some of the Sydney FC coaching staff enjoy their own verbals.
The crowd’s into this now, that really was a ‘strong’ challenge from Cornthwaite. He’ll claim he got the ball, which was true, but it was one of those that was all about catching the man too.
29 min: Bulut receives the ball in a wide right area, lovely ball to find him from Kusukami, or Jumpei, to his mates. Another nutmeg from the tricky winger.
And here’s a real flash point: Cornthwaite has kicked the living #$%^ out of Bobo and players have run 30m to have a real old fashioned melee!
You could hear the thundering whack as the centre back clattered the Brazilian. What will the officials make of this? Jared Gillett is our man in charge and he confers extensively with his assistants.
Updated
27 min: Zullo goes long to Holosko who’s penalised for offside, and rightly so. He tempts the referee’s ire by firing a shot well after the whistle. Before miming the universal language of strikers’ temporary deafness.
26 min: So no real clear cut chances thus far, but it’s been Sydney FC that have enjoyed the more dangerous attempts on goal.
Neville gets a good cross in from the right, but Nichols’ header from deep flies harmlessly over.
24 min: Bobo again combines with Holosko – you can tell their previous relationship.
Dimas, Wanderers captain in the absence of Topor-Stanley is the first man in the book for sliding in late on Zullo. Not averse to a card himself, Dimas – Popovic will be hoping he cools his spurs for the next 65 odd minutes.
22 min: Hamill again probes down the left, he’s won another throw in. They go long, but Wilkinson has the measure of Bulut in the air. What a key signing he could prove for Sydney. They haven’t really had a centre half of real league-worrying quality for several seasons, but the 2014 World Cup player is looking the part early on.
20 min: Nichols just caught offside, before Ninkovic is brought to ground just inside the Wanderers’ half. It’s not cagey thus far, but it’s certainly defences on top.
Bobo tries to turn Borda who does well before Grant does brilliantly to keep in an overhit Carney cross.
17 min: Ninkovic with a cheeky effort that sees the Wanderers’ custodian scrambling. Just for a second that looked a dangerous moment, but it’s a goalkick.
Now it’s Holosko with a strong driven shot. He was picked out by his former Besiktas co-striker Bobo – Sydney FC with the early running at the moment.
16 min: It’s a red shirt that meets the corner, but not goalbound. Nichols fails to control the spilt ball and Sydney stream up-field. Great counter attack this, and it finishes with a shot on target to Grant.
Scuffs the shot slightly, to the relief of Redmayne.
15 min: Hamill with a marauding run down WSW’s left, he’s preferred at fullback to Clisby and he’s done well to earn his side’s first corner.
What can they fashion here?
Cleared by Sydney, but only to Nichols! The eyes light up but his driven shot is deflected. Another corner WSW.
13 min: Sydney look to break down the left but Carney’s offside. A lovely little nutmeg from Wanderers’ Japanese winger Kusukami. Look to him to be one of Western Sydney’s more creative players.
11 min: WSW penalised for a high foot on Grant. He charged in bravely for that ball, and to his credit didn’t make anything of that.
It’s not been a spiteful or malicious game; yet. Brosque’s pre-game comments perhaps more about selling tickets than a genuine heartfelt loathing.
10 min: Not a break-neck beginning to this one as both sides suss each other out. Sydney FC sweep some passes round the back – Jurman fires long to try and find Bobo, but Redmayne intercepts.
8 min: Both sets of fans in fine voice early on – gee, it really is a sight the RBB in full flow with coordinated clapping, chanting etc. They really raised the bar when their club entered the A-League several years back. To their credit most other active support groups around the country have come some way to matching them.
6 min: Corner to Sydney FC after the Wanderers head behind. It’s whipped in well but W. Sydney deal with it, not necessarily comfortably, but not in a state of panic.
Sydney pepper a few crosses in, Zullo prominent – they could be looking to target Redmayne early on. He certainly had a rocky showing in the FFA Cup against Melbourne City.
Updated
4 min: Bobo and Cornthwaite enjoying a physical contest early on, that should one one to watch. The Uruguayan Pinatares goes straight through Holosko, and it’s a freekick for David Carney.
First chance here.
3 min: Grant gallops down the right flank following a nice switch from Ninkovic. Zullo tries to pick out Bobo in the box but the Wanderers defending easy intercept the ball.
Grant penalised for a foul on Bulut who dusts himself off and gets on with it.
2 min: Sydney content to sit deep up front, not pressing the Wanderers back four who caress some passes between themselves before hoofing it down the right channel to earn a throw in.
Kick off!
1 min: It’s Wanderers with the kick off as they stream forward in their trademark red and black, Sydney FC in sky blue. No surprises there.
First blood to Sydney FC there in the social media graphics department. Groovy.
The players have made their way onto the pitch and the handshakes are commencing. A slightly delayed kickoff tonight due to the huge volume of fans still filing into the stadium.
Who are you most looking forward to seeing tonight? Such a swathe of fresh faces (and a few old faces) to choose from. For mine, I can’t wait to see how Josh Brillante fares in the FC midfield. Absolutely quality player who’s back from a disastrous few years in Italy’s Serie A.
Looks like there are a few bodies inside ANZ Stadium, and both sets of fans seem in good spirits. The playing field is already covered in a soft film of smoke – but before you ring the Herald Sun/Channel 7 etc it’s controlled pyrotechnics. A lot of investment in the build up, and why not. Should be a cracker.
Some lineups news:
Sydney FC
XI: Vukovic; Grant, Wilkinson, Jurman, Zullo; O’Neill, Brillante, Holosko, Ninkovic, Carney; Bobo
Bench: Janjetovic (GK), Dimitrijevic, Brosque, Simon, Ryall
LINE UP | Here's how your Sky Blues shape up for tonight's clash!! What do you make of the team? #SydneyIsSkyBlue #SydneyDerby pic.twitter.com/qHvmZy3RI4
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) October 8, 2016
Western Sydney Wanderers
XI: Redmayne; Neville, Borda, Corthwaite, Hamill; Piñatares, Dimas (c), Nichols, Jumpei, Lustica; Bulut
Bench: Tyson (GK), Clisby, Bacchus, Martinez, Santalab
STARTING XI: Redmayne (GK), Neville, Borda, Corthwaite, Hamill, Piñatares, Dimas (C), Nichols, Jumpei, Lustica, Bulut #WSW #SydneyDerby
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) October 8, 2016
Hi all, Richard Parkin in the chair for this – we’ve seen some absolutely belting Sydney derbies in recent years and this one bodes to be no exception.
As always a train ride is more fun with a packed carriage, so please send your quips, witticisms and opposition-team sledges to the above email/twitter addresses to join in.
There are about twenty solid reasons to anticipating this fixture (see below’s Preamble for several) but just one is to get a look at this Brazilian striker for Sydney FC, the lovably named Bobo.
Hopefully his visit to our shores has nothing to do with this frankly terrifying ‘creepy clown craze’ that seems to be suddenly sweeping the English speaking world.
And I imagine the Brazilian’s journey to Australia may have been perhaps slightly less adventurous than poor old Mr Burns’ bear.
Thankfully for those of a Sky Blue persuasion, he looks in slightly better nick, too.
Preamble
As if there wasn’t enough anticipation around the Sydney derby, the FFA has decided to give it to you, the people, in Round 1. There’s talk of a record regular season crowd coming through the turnstiles at ANZ Stadium (with Wanderers’ normal home ground at Parramatta currently under renovation). And if that wasn’t enough motivation, Sydney FC captain Alex Brosque lit the touch paper with some, well, frankly over the top comments midweek, in which he stated of the Wanderers players: “We hate every single one of them”.
Both the Wanderers and Sydney FC have had a huge turnover during the off-season. Graham Arnold presumably due to the incredibly disappointing season his chargers had last year. He’d never coached a team that didn’t make the finals; until then. In comes a raft of experienced faces, Socceroos Alex Wilkinson and Michael Zullo, as well as veteran shot-shopper Danny Vukovic to sure up defence. Their problems were up front though with last season’s goal return a whopping goal-a-game less than Melbourne City across the regular season.
In comes the delightfully named Bobo, who will be expected to lead the line, as well as re-engage the at times disappointing Filip Holosko.
For Tony Popovic it was perhaps a case of being victims of their own success – key first team players Scott Jamieson, Mark Bridge and Dario Vidosic all saw moves overseas, while Spanish duo Andreu and Alberto as well as livewire winger Romeo Castelen presumably wanted too much more coin to stick around. It’s a host of new faces therefore for the Wanderers, and while players like Jumpei Kusukami and Nicholas Martinez could prove tremendous players it’s made for a disjointed pre-season for Western Sydney; no more evident then during their 4-1 FFA Cup mauling at the hands (or feet) of Melbourne City.
Incidentally, no Nikolai Topor-Stanley for this key clash – he pays a heavy price for his needless dismissal in that game.
History suggests Sydney FC have the wood over Wanderers in recent seasons, but you’d imagine with so many new faces that’s essentially moot. It could turn into a goal-laden end-to-end thriller, or a turgid, badly-natured arm-wrestle.
Guess you’ll just have to stick around to see which!
Richard will be here shortly to take you through the eagerly anticipated first Sydney derby of 2016-17, but in the interim here’s David Squires’ A-League season preview.
