The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 1 team face Sydney FC at Wanderers Football Park on Saturday as they hope to topple their biggest rival to break an unfortunate run of losses.
It doesn’t need much explaining to tell the neutral fan how fierce this rivalry is, but when you add an element of desperation to the equation, victory becomes even sweeter.
Two teams whose rivalry stems back over a decade, will leave everything on the field when they represent their respective teams on Saturday.
We’ve seen the feeling behind this game in the A-League, and this NPL 1 clash will be no different. Regardless of the league, the grudge remains the same.
One City, Two Teams and Three Points that neither team wants the other to take home.
Both teams come into this game further down the ladder than they would have hoped to be, three points separate them in 14th and 16th. Their positions on the table, nor their recent results will matter when the two teams take the field on Saturday.
Sydney FC’s season so far has carried a very similar outlook to that of the Wanderers – youthful, full of fight and defied by experience. The two sides have shown more than enough to take home all three points in countless games, but have often fallen to more experienced sides who have been able to navigate their way to a win.
This match promises to be evenly contested – not because of the occasion, but because both teams feature a wealth of young talent and share the same struggle this season: a lack of clinical finishing in front of goal.
Sydney FC have welcomed back a few players with A-League experience back into their side recently, that being Jaiden Kucharski, Zachary De Jesus and Thiago Quintal.
Joe Lacey has also played a prominent part in the Sky Blues NPL journey as the teenager continues to develop as he was on the brink of an A-League debut recently.
The inclusion of the trio has not been enough though, as they have only managed four points from their last six games, most recently falling to Mount Druitt in a 2-0 defeat.
The Wanderers on the other hand, will feel hard done by following their loss to Marconi this past week. Two unfortunate decisions ultimately leading to a late Marconi goal denied them their first win in five games. Expect them to use that as added motivation to ensure they walk away with the three points.
The Key Decider: Composure through hunger
Both teams are in dire need of a win, and their long-standing rivalry only intensifies the stakes. However, the key factor in this matchup will be which side can maintain composure in the most crucial moments.
When the opposition commits a tactical foul, delays a restart, or even finds the back of the net, maintaining composure is crucial. It’s about resisting the psychological battle, staying focused, and remembering that more than just bragging rights are at stake—both teams are fighting for three vital points.
The saying goes “Pressure Makes Diamonds” and both teams will be hungry for three points on the weekend, but it will be the team who rises to the occasion through their footballing pedigree who will come out on top.
The Wanderers have won three of the last five games against their rival, although it was Sydney FC who walked away 3-0 victors last time the two teams faced off in the NPL NSW competition.
Recent results are likely to be set aside as this shaping up to be a fiery clash, with both teams expected to give their all in pursuit of three crucial points, as well as the opportunity to claim bragging rights over their arch-rivals.
NPL NSW Round 9
Sydney Derby
Saturday 5 March, 3:00pm
Wanderers Football Park
