Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers renew their rivalry on Saturday night in the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season’s first Sydney Derby.
Three years ago today, the two sides met in front of over 41,000 fans in a pulsating round two clash.
We relive that memorable night at Allianz Stadium.
BRIDGE DRAWS FIRST BLOOD
After a tense opening, former Sydney FC striker Mark Bridge fired the Wanderers in front.
Dutch maestro Romeo Castelen jinked down the right before providing a pinpoint cross which the Western Sydney front-man gleefully volleyed home from 12 yards.
VEDRAN’S ERROR
Five minutes later the lead was doubled when a Western Sydney corner was hoisted skywards inside the Sydney FC penalty area.
It eventually came down right on the goal-line, with Sky Blues goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic unable to keep it out, and in fact getting the final touch before the ball crossed the line.
GAMEIRO GRABS ONE BACK
With half-time approaching, Sydney FC got a foothold back in the match.
Corey Gameiro had scored the previous weekend in a 1-1 draw with Melbourne City and repeated the dose with a tidy finish in first half injury-time.
AND WE’RE LEVEL!
It took less than five minutes of the second half for the home side to square things up at 2-2.
A left-wing corner was poked goalwards by big centre-back Sasa Ognenovski, with the final touch coming off Romeo Castelen as the ball dribbled over the line.
SABA SEES RED
As both sides went in search of a winner, tempers flared and with 20 minutes to go, Western Sydney’s Brazilian midfielder Vitor Saba flew into a rash challenge on Terry Antonis.
As players from both sides joined the melee, Referee Kris Griffiths-Jones produced a straight red card and Wanderers were down to ten men.
BROSQUEY WINS IT
With ten minutes left in a breathless encounter, Alex Brosque found the decisive winning goal.
After clever lead-up work down the left from Alex Gersbach and Corey Gameiro, the Sydney FC skipper was on hand to fire home from close range.
From 2-0 down, Sydney FC had won it 3-2!
