A second-half headed goal scored by Brazilian striker Bobô helped Sydney FC edge Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 in a tight Sydney Derby contest at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday afternoon.
Bobô netted the decisive goal just after the hour mark to seal all three points for the Sky Blues, ending a six-game winless run which stems back to December 2018.
Both sides had goals disallowed throughout the game; Bobô hit the back of the net in the 26th minute of play only to see his early finish ruled out after Rhyan Grant was penalised for dragging Mitchell Duke down in the box before the ball fell into the path of the Sky Blues striker.
The Wanderers looked to have taken the lead late in the first half when Bruce Kamau applied the finish to a well-worked corner routine – but a VAR check found Ziggy Gordon blocking Miloš Ninković as he looked to block the space for Kamau to shoot, and the goal was ruled out.
After being denied a first-half goal Bobô continued to lurk in and around the penalty area, eventually finding his way through once more in the 62nd minute of play. Joel King combined with Ninković to create the chance and Bobô applied the finish with a smart header past Wanderers ‘keeper Daniel Margush.
Sydney’s slender lead remained intact for the rest of the game as the final whistle blew to end their barren Sydney Derby run. Securing three points over the Wanderers at the SCG sent Steve Corica’s side into second spot on the table, leaving the Red and Black in danger of missing out on the Finals Series as time continues to tick toward the end of the season with Carl Robinson’s team in eighth.
