Sydney FC midfielder Ali Abbas has suffered a serious knee injury as Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers played out a 1-1 A-League draw at Pirtek Stadium.
The draw leaves Sydney FC undefeated after eight rounds of action, while the Wanderers remain winless.
Iraq international Abbas was crunched in a heavy challenge from Wanderers enforcer Iacopo La Rocca in the opening six minutes.
Abbas was immediately carried up the tunnel by medical staff and shortly after reports were made that Abbas had suffered a torn ACL.
Abbas was booed off the ground by Wanderers fans, a year after accusing Wanderers striker Brendan Santalab of racism during a heated derby at Allianz Stadium last season.
While the Wanderers looked the better side throughout much of the match on Saturday night, their inability to take their chances hurt them badly.
But it was Bernie Ibini’s strike that hurt most of all, after he combined with former Central Coast Mariners teammate Pedj Bojic to score an early contender for goal of the year for Sydney FC.
Just a minute after the Wanderers’ Nikita Rukavytsya was denied by the post, Ibini brilliantly beat two Western Sydney defenders and Ante Covic to level the scores at 1-1 late in the first half.
Ten minutes earlier, Socceroos striker Tomi Juric opened the scoring for Western Sydney by engaging in a lovely exchange of passing in a crowded box with Mark Bridge.
During first-half injury time, Sydney FC goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic pulled off a stunning save to deny Bridge, who had been sent through one-on-one after some stunning passing through the midfield.
Late in the game the Wanderers had plenty of chances to win it with Shannon Cole being played in by Rukavytsya only to stumble.
Rukavystya then had his own chance foiled as a poor touch gifted the ball to Janjetovic.
The draw could leave the Wanderers on the bottom of the A-League ladder, with a game in hand, heading into their match on Wednesday night against the struggling Brisbane Roar.
Needles
Guest
Yes you're right there. WSW looking more and more like Sydney FC of the past few years. Good play up till the box and then out of ideas. The general statements like "the goals will eventually flow" doesn't mean they will. We found that out at FC the past 4 years.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Last couple of weeks watching WSW I can't help but think that after all those times our Asian opponents missed open goals and penalties weren't given, that it's all catching up with us now. The football gods have had enough haha
ciudadmarron
Guest
We haven't won a game yet this season and are on the bottom of the ladder. How's that? :lol:
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Will the good news ever stop CM ?????? ;-)
Arvind
Guest
Topor was pushed off the ball and looked like a definite penalty shout.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Not to mention WSW AFC club of the year.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Breaking news Boys and Girls -Popavic just won AFC Coach of the Year :-)
Punter
Guest
So if you didn't watch the game, how can you discuss about the poor standard? Head in too many scrums one thinks.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Ruka was an inch away... Juric is a heavy hitter.. it's not so much the lack of firepower... unlss you are are talking about bridge, in which case I'm not sure why you are surprised. Castalen is a little gun shy perhaps. Apologies for re-using the line. "Away support in outsinging home crowd claim shocker". Watching a mob with arms folded giving up singing their nursery rhymes for large patches of the second half.... yeah. At times? Perhaps during the goal celebration. Or perhaps you were at home and didn't see the fox guys moving their equipment closer. But then. I'm supposed to say that aren't I. Give up your own home game next year.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Adaleke who otherwise had an excellent game played him inboard. It was a great goal... but should have been shut down earlier. Perhaps we could appeal the push in the box that was waved on with the ref busy watching the clearance... :lol:
ciudadmarron
Guest
".. to qualify for the ACL'. Season 1 - Won the league, Grand finalists, qualified for ACL 2014 Season 2 - Came second, Grand finalists, qualified for ACL 2015, Won ACL 14
Gareth
Guest
Wanderers played some excellent football for the first half, but ibini's goal should have been worth three goals at least, maybe Arnold and Pignata can find some way to appeal the decision to only count it as one...
Lionheart
Guest
Won what league? Not the A League, and not first past any post, not last season. ACL, ok.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Terry Glad you tuned in .. again. Either you've got no friends & no social life; or, you are a masochist .. of course, if your are a masochist that could open up a new social life you should explore. As Z said: "Bring out The Gimp" ... tell me Terry, would you like to be The Gimp? ;-)
Punter
Guest
Haha, WSW won the league, first pass the post to qualify for ACL. Finals football is for other codes to find out who the champion is.
Terry
Guest
It is delightful for rival teams to watch the wanderers failing to win this season after all the over the top and unwarranted praise they have received. Unfortunately the a league has such a ridiculous finals set up that it hardly matters. Even if they finished 6th out of a 10 team competition, they will still qualify for the finals.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Yes indeed that was some goal.. I was surprised by the lack of fire power by the WSW strikers on the night. WSW playing at home and playing against an under strength SFC could only manage one goal---very poor if the truth should be told. GA surprised me with his team selections, but got the point and that's all that matters. Well done SFC, leading the derby series still, with one more to go.. I seriously hope that the final derby is played at ANZ, so more SFC supporters can travel. At times the smaller travelling Cove out barracked the majority WSW's fans at the small Parramatta City's dilapidated cow paddock..
ciudadmarron
Guest
Not surprised about Gersbach, have been impressed with him this season.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Only just discovered the A-League official stats page powered by Opta. Love it! A few things from last night - The top 4 pass completions came from the 4 CBs last night with Spiranovic topping the list with 66 passes at 91% - Overall WSW outpassed SFC 397 to 354, WSW passing at 80% and SFC at 75% - WSW sent in 63 long balls to SFC's 84 - 17yr old Gersbach had the highest number of touches with 81. Reminded me of 16yr Wanderer Alessi in the last Derby at Parramatta. Incredible maturity shown in an intense atmosphere. - A review of the heat maps shows that Gersbach, Janjo, Brosque, Smeltz and Abbas were generally concentrated on the far left side of the field for much of the game placing significant pressure on Hamill who was playing out of position. This isn't as good as the old 442 Statszone but still decent.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Watching the game again on Fox and really blown away by the atmosphere, from both sides of the stadium. Love the visual created by the sea of deep red broken by a wall of sky blue.