Sydney FC have prevailed in the A-League’s biggest Sydney derby to date, coming back from a goal down to end the Western Sydney Wanderers’ title tilt with a shock 2-1 win on enemy territory.
Making their first finals appearance since 2017, the Wanderers were warm favourites but their much-vaunted attack failed to fire, despite going ahead just before half-time through a contentious Morgan Schneiderlin penalty.
Having spent most of the first half on the back foot, the Sky Blues came out all guns blazing in the second, capitalising on an injury to centre-back Tomi Mrcela, which unsettled Western Sydney’s defensive organisation – and a horrendous mistake by Adama Traore – to knock them out of the finals race.
First, Slovenian international Robert Mak seized on Traore’s woeful attempt at a clearing header in the 69th minute, latching onto the loose ball, skipping past a defender then pulling the trigger from close range, his shot bouncing in off the right post and past a helpless Lawrence Thomas.
Then Adam Le Fondre put them ahead from a corner kick with 10 minutes to go, leaving the Wanderers completely shellshocked.
There were nearly fireworks at the final whistle, too, as former Socceroo Rhyan Grant taunted the Wanderers bench in celebration, sparking a reaction from Amor Layouni that would have turned ugly if teammates and other coaches didn’t intervene.
Adam La Fondre celebrates victory.Credit: Getty
It was no less than a disaster for coach Marko Rudan, who succeeded in ending Western Sydney’s six-year finals drought, but could not guide his team to victory in the one game that mattered the most.
In the cold, hard light of day, a fourth-placed finish on the ladder and a first-up exit from the finals will be seen as a rank underachievement, given the potency of this squad and the heights they managed to hit at times this season.
Steve Corica, meanwhile, was facing the sack just a few months ago but could very well have secured his long-term future with this pressure-cooker result, which puts them in the frame for an unlikely grand final appearance – if they can get past premiers Melbourne City in a two-legged semi-final, with the first game to be played at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
The occasion clearly missed the presence of Sydney’s main active supporter group, The Cove, who are boycotting this finals series in protest at the APL’s controversial Destination NSW grand final deal.
The Red and Black Bloc were loud and proud as always, but without their rivals at the other end to compete with, the atmosphere felt a bit flat.
The official crowd given was 27,288 – just shy of capacity at CommBank Stadium, where the A-League grand final will be played on June 3 between City or Sydney and the Central Coast Mariners or Adelaide United, who will meet in the other semi-final.
The Wanderers had the better of the first half and probably should have taken the lead in the 11th minute when captain Marcelo Guedes missed a free header – and he had another golden chance to equalise in the final minutes, but ballooned another header over the bar from point-blank range.
Former Premier League midfielder Schneiderlin eventually broke the deadlock six minutes before half-time, staring down a dancing Andrew Redmayne to convert a controversial spot kick given for a handball against Alex Wilkinson.
Western Sydney’s Brandon Borello clashes with Sydney FC veteran Alex Wilkinson.Credit: Getty
The move was initiated by Calem Nieuwenhof, who won the ball off Mak, burst into the box and delivered a cross that ricocheted off Luke Brattan and into Wilkinson’s upper arm.
It was harsh on the veteran defender, who had no chance to contort himself away from the path of the ball – but their fortunes changed dramatically by the end of the night.
