Polish striker Patryk Klimala bagged a second half winner for 10-man Sydney FC as the Sky Blues came out on top in what was a blockbuster Sydney Derby at CommBank Stadium.
The away side held a slender advantage at the break thanks to Joe Lolley’s 17th minute strike but the Wanderers hit back in the second half through Aydan Hammond.
Spanish World Cup winner Juan Mata entered the fray as a second half substitute but his arrival was soon dampened by Klimala, who’s predatory instincts inside the box saw him head the ball beyond young goalkeeper Tristan Vidackovic.
The Sky Blues were forced to play the last 10 minutes of the contest with 10-men after substitute Max Burgess was sent off just four minutes after coming on for a mistimed challenge on Wanderers sub Ben Holliday.
However the away side clung on to their slender advantage and despite a late Wanderers surge to seal an impressive win at the home of their fiercest rivals.
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The biggest tifo in A-Leagues history set the tone for what was a pulsating night in Sydney’s west as A-Leagues fans settled in to get their first glimpse of Brazilian superstar Douglas Costa.
Thriving off the atmosphere inside CommBank Stadium, Wanderers forward Brandon Borrello fired an early shot past Andrew Redmayne’s near post before Sydney star Lolley returned fired at the other end.
The Wanderers almost took the lead in the 15th minute but Hammond’s effort from a tight angle was cleared off the line by Alexandar Popovic before the Sky Blues then pounced at the other end.
Launching clear from a goal kick, the ball was headed straight back towards the Wanderers box and into the path of Klimala who in-turn nodded it to Lolley and the Enlgishman did the rest; rolling the ball beyond Vidackovic to open the scoring.
The Sky Blues almost had a second soon after but a Klimala header drifted inches wide of the far post as Sydney looked to assert their dominance.
Tempers flared in the 24th minute as a heavy challenge from Popovic on Zac Sapsford prompted a melee between the two sets of players with both Popovic and Wanderers winger Nicolas Milanovic receiving bookings, the latter for instigating the push and shove.
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Despite Sydney looking the more likely to double their lead it should have been honours even heading into the break but Hammond blazed his effort over the bar in first-half stoppage time after connecting with Borrello’s cut-back.
But in the case of Hammond – if at first you don’t succeed try, try again.
Pouncing on a loose flick from Costa, the Wanderers soon worked the ball into the Sydney FC box and while Borrello was brought down in the area the ball fell kindly to Hammond who promptly lashed the ball beyond Redmayne and into the net.
In the 62nd minute the noise levels in an already noisy CommBank Stadium went up a notch as Spanish superstar Mata was introduced to the action but the crowd were soon silenced as the Sky Blues re-took the lead.
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A whipped Costa delivery into the box found the head of Hayden Matthews, whose flick-on was in turn headed into the far corner by Klimala to send the travelling supporters into raptures.
The Polish striker then should have had a second five minutes later but his left-footed effort was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Vidackovic to keep the scoreline at 2-1.
Borrello came close to levelling things up in the 83rd minute but the Socceroos forward curled a right-footed effort narrowly wide of the post.
Sydney FC were then reduced to 10-men in the 87th minute after substitute Burgess was given his marching orders for a bad challenge on Wanderers substitute Ben Holliday.
