A Terry Antonis winner has handed a 10-man Sydney FC victory over Western Sydney in a 4-3 blockbuster derby.
After going down 3-0 inside 25 minutes, the Wanderers clawed their way back into the A-League game but Sydney’s potent attack, which has scored 19 goals in the past five games, proved the difference at Parramatta Stadium.
Ante Covic gave the hosts the worst possible start, conceding an early own goal before a Marc Janko double put the Austrian striker at the top of the league’s goal-scorer list.
Controversial new Wanderers attacker Kerem Bulut shot his own brace on debut, with Iacopo La Rocca also getting on the scoresheet.
But Antonis was to have the final say, netting the winner in the 75th minute.
Covic endured some nervous moments early in the match, but things were about to get much worse for the esteemed keeper.
Sydney midfielder Milos Dimitrijevic played the corner into the box and, in a goal-mouth scramble with Janko threatening, Covic somehow sent the ball into the back of his own net to hand Sydney a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute.
It wasn’t long before Janko widened the gap, getting on the end of a Christopher Naumoff ball to put the Sky Blues 2-0 up in the 18th minute.
The marquee struck again just six minutes later with his eighth goal in five games, with defender Sebastian Ryall providing the long cross and Sydney racing to a 3-0 lead in 24 minutes.
But the Wanderers managed to get one back in the 33rd minute, with Brendan Hamill creating the chance and La Rocca scoring his first goal of the season.
Bulut, who was made the injury replacement for Brendon Santalab, then had the 19,484-strong crowd in raptures when he launched onto a Nikita Rukavytsya cross to score a sensational goal in the 42nd minute.
Bulut wasn’t done yet, emerging from the break to draw the hosts level in the 53rd minute. His long-range strike tore through the haze created by flares and into the back of the net.
Desperate to regain the lead, Sydney coach Graham Arnold made all three subs in four minutes, bringing super boot Shane Smeltz on for Janko, Rhyan Grant for Ryall and Antonis for Naumoff with less than half an hour remaining.
And it proved a masterstroke, as a superb finish from Antonis put Sydney 4-3 up in the 75th minute.
Sydney would end the game a man down after midfielder Mickael Tavares was sent off in the 83rd minute on his second yellow card for a foul on Mark Bridge.
Sydney keeper Vedran Janjetovic pulled off two great saves in extra time to deny Labinot Haliti and Yusuke Tanaka, and ensure Sydney went home victorious.
Ian
Guest
I doubt you were near it as you attend games with your mum, she'd pack a bigger wallop than you. Seriously 'proud we won a fight' You do WSW a disservice. Disgraceful.
Josh
Guest
Of course i'm proud of it, i'm sure you would believe the news about a group of 30 thugs and an unprovoked attack but the truth is the exact opposite.
Josh
Guest
I expected it, my second comment stands.
Ian
Guest
ciudadmarron - i wasn't throwing stones - The Courier Fail has earned it's title. You can buy the Sunday Herald with Brisbane Times stories included. And at least at the newsagent we can buy SMH, The Saturday Paper, etc... we have ways of escaping the iron clad grip of Murdoch.
Waz
Guest
Mike Mulvey used similar words. Just sayin'
punter
Guest
He says that after every game.
britesparke
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately Jerrad Tyson is no longer with the Wanderers so it will be up to Bouzanis if and when Ante decides he has had enough of what is already a very distinguished career.
britesparke
Roar Rookie
Yes. I have decided that the Ghangzhou Evergrande team bus will look and perform much better on bricks (hey....this is Western Sydney!) than on wheels. Much better fuel economy too! :P
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Thanks for the reminder, AZ. Just checked and there are some cracking games this week. I'm keen to see how the "other" Guangzhou go against Buriram tomorrow night.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Well then im glad some can see that despite appearances its far from doom and gloom. I guess my view is that if management really needs to shape up for whatever reason then you take it to them. A protest or what have you outside headquarters will get as many column inches. The players should always get support on the pitch Imo. If they are rubbish it's not their own fault and if they are good but playing rubbish it rests with management. Just my view of course!
Gareth
Guest
Not at all, I said IF the management ever gets that complacent, I wasn't implying that they are.
Gareth
Guest
Not as bad as conceding 4 though :P
AZ_RBB
Guest
Gentlemen, are we all there midweek to greet our friends from Guangzhou? I trust you'll all be on your best behaviour? :P
Josh
Guest
Yes the current state of the stadium, he's angry we are getting more seats which means more members which means we should overtake Victory next season even based on current results.
Josh
Guest
3-0 to 3-3, little brother syndrome at it's finest for the blue team from the east.
Josh
Guest
You really don't get it Biala, he was taken to task on twitter last night for his story credentials and he has come up short.
Josh
Guest
Giving up a 3 goal lead is disgraceful, good luck trying to be in finals contention with that many holes.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Are you suggesting it's time for a walkout and time to start booing?
ciudadmarron
Guest
I would agree Biala, that the coverage has been good. I don't get though why the slap story is the main angle on the derby, when the equivalent - some random having a go at Farina for instance - isn't given the main focus of that match report. Bossi's addition to Hassetts story - the fracas - reads like hearsay but is made part of this focus; but when there is something actual perpetrated by wannabees from the other side of town you find it in the news section with a brief mention of a soccer match that happened nearby. And the SMH does tend to run more side stories about SFC. In the first WSW season almost every wanderers story was a match report from AAP. And have a look through the Bossi files, honestly. In the leadup to the derby it was all one on ones with Sydney FC players. I understand completely why this happens - it's the same reason the SMH has better rugby coverage - readership.
AR
Guest
Biala: spot on.