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Western Sydney turned the tables on cross-town rivals Sydney FC with a classy 2-0 win in their A-League derby at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
After losing 1-0 at home in the first clash between the sides in October, the Wanderers always looked in control as they sealed a sweet maiden derby triumph in front of 26,176 fans.
Goals in either half to Ethiopian-born midfielder Youssouf Hersi and captain Michael Beauchamp ensured the Wanderers climbed up to fourth spot and continued a superb debut season.
The Sky Blues remain last after failing to build on a valuable win away to Wellington last week.
They welcomed back Brett Emerton and Terry Antonis from Socceroos duty but marquee star Alessandro Del Piero started on the bench as he continues to battle a troublesome hamstring.
The Italian striker came on with 20 minutes to go but had little impact as the Sky Blues struggled to penetrate a well-organised Western Sydney defence.
The early stages were evenly contested but the Wanderers quickly began causing problems for Sydney’s defence.
Mateo Poljak was allowed space to shoot in the eighth minute but his effort went just wide.
Lacopo La Rocca also wasted a good chance before Shinji Ono came close with an ambitious volley in the 17th minute.
Western Sydney continued to mount pressure and capitalised when Hersi struck his first A-League goal in the 24th minute.
Sydney defender Seb Ryall failed to clear a dangerous Jerome Polenz cross and Hersi showed great composure to turn and score from close range.
Ono almost doubled the advantage six minutes later with a curling, long-range effort floating just wide.
Sydney created little in attack with Adam Griffiths wasting their best chance of the half, hitting a header wide from Jason Culina’s 33rd minute free kick.
Sky Blues coach Frank Farina injected Ali Abbas off the bench midway through the second half but the home fans got the substitution they wanted when Del Piero replaced Culina in the 70th minute.
However it failed to halt the Wanderers, who doubled their advantage seven minutes later.
Sydney were again punished for failing to clear, with Ono’s cross finding its way to Beauchamp on the back post and the former Sky Blues defender smashed it into the roof of the net.
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