Sydney FC are a major force in the Westfield W-League, but they have rarely had it all their own way when it comes to the match that matters most.
Western Sydney Wanderers have consistently been a more obdurate roadblock than their ladder position might have indicated, resulting in some classic encounters between the city rivals.
With the clubs to meet in a blockbuster season-opening showdown on October 25, get excited by reliving four of the most memorable Sydney derbies of yesteryear!
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Western Sydney Wanderers 2-3 Sydney FC (Round 12, 2012/13)
Western Sydney’s first season in the competition delivered two of the closest derbies seen to date, including a cracker in the final round.
After a 1-0 win earlier in the season, Sydney FC again edged to victory thanks to Nicola Bolger’s 83rd-minute winner in a five-goal thriller.
Louise Fors had struck twice either side of half-time to cancel out goals from Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr, but the Sky Blues eventually got their way as Bolger finally broke the resistance late in proceedings.
Sydney FC 4-3 Western Sydney Wanderers (Round 4, 2013/14)
The Wanderers endured similar heartbreak the following season as they again ended on the wrong side of a high-scoring affair.
The disappointment came despite a remarkable fightback that saw them net three unanswered goals in 11 second-half minutes
Finding an equaliser ultimately proved too great an ask as Sydney FC clung on, having been four goals ahead and flying just 58 minutes into the match.
Though beaten in the end, the circumstances gave Western Sydney hope of snapping the hoodoo against their fierce rivals.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 Sydney FC (Round 7, 2014)
Finally, in their third season in the competition, Western Sydney got one over the Sky Blues.
Keelin Winters set the boilover in motion with a shock opener 16 minutes into the match.
Fellow American Jasmyne Spencer then equalised after half-time, but this was to be Wanderers’ day.
An own goal from Teigen Allen just after the hour sealed one of the most famous results in the club’s history, capping a memorable month in which they also scored a 2-1 upset away to Brisbane Roar.
Sydney FC 2-2 Western Sydney Wanderers (Round 8, 2015/16)
Sydney FC shaded the opening encounter of the 2015/16 Season, prevailing 2-1 in Round 3, and another hard-fought battle unfolded in the subsequent clash.
A pair of Westfield Matildas stars, Alanna Kennedy and Kyah Simon, thought they had given the home side victory with one each either side of the interval.
They were pegged back on both occasions.
Hannah Beard cancelled out the first before Liz Grey, in the 84th minute, came up with a second equaliser to savour in another superb installment of the Sydney derby.