The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have drawn 2-2 with Sydney FC in the 16th Sydney Derby on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium.
The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have drawn 2-2 with Sydney FC in the 16th Sydney Derby on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium.
Early goals by Oriol Riera and Brendan Hamill put the Red & Black in a commanding position before Sydney FC levelled things in the second half thanks to a penalty by Bobô and a Josh Brillante strike.
It only took three minutes for the Wanderers to take the lead when a pinpoint cross from Josh Risdon found Riera who expertly headed the ball into the top left corner.
The opening goal continued Riera’s streak of scoring in every competitive match for the club so far and marked the 200th goal scored by the Wanderers in the Hyundai A-League competition.
Roly Bonevacia was sprightly early on and got close to extending the Wanderers’ lead after making a barnstorming run that broke through Sydney’s defence but the ball got away from him as he entered the area.
Man-of-the-match Álvaro Cejudo was at the heart of numerous Red & Black attacks and would provide the assist for the Wanderers’ second in 30th minute when his free-kick found an unmarked Brendan Hamill who headed home.
The Sydney FC fight-back began when they awarded a penalty after Chris Herd was adjudged to have brought down David Carney in the box.
Bobô made no mistake from the spot as the Wanderers took a one-goal advantage into the break.
After half time, Bonevacia had a chance to extend the Wanderers’ lead after being teed up by Cejudo but his shot went just wide of the post.
Sydney would level the scores after Josh Brillante’s deflected effort found its way past Vedran Janjetovic.
Kearyn Baccus then tried his luck from distance with a curling strike but the ball sailed agonisingly over the bar.
The Wanderers defence worked tirelessly in the final minutes of the match to deny a number of chances by Sydney, with substitute Matt Simon having a glorious opportunity to steal all three, only to send his header wide.
The result sees the Wanderers continue their undefeated start to the Hyundai A-League season and they’ll now turn their attention to Tuesday night’s Westfield FFA Cup Semi Final against Adelaide at Campbelltown Stadium.
