The Western Sydney Wanderers capped off a remarkable weekend with the W-League team defeating Sydney FC to prove they rule this city.
It was a dominant performance by the Red & Black with the 2-1 score line giving Sydney FC significantly more credit than they deserved.
The goals came from a Keelin Winters penalty and a Teigen Allen own goal while Linda O’Neill was robbed of a goal by the match officials when she was inexcusably adjudged to have been offside.
With victory over Brisbane Roar in Round 5, the Wanderers have now defeated the two most successful W-League clubs in three weeks with impressive performances to match.
Sydney FC themselves had glimpses at goal throughout the match but that was all that was on offer for the Sky Blues compared to the host of chances that was created by the Red & Black.
The scoring was opened by Winters early on in the match as a brilliant ball by Hannah Beard was collected by the American who was subsequently toppled in the box by former Wanderers Teigen Allen.
The spot-kick was converted by Winters with Sydney’s keeper not even attempting to save it, instead remaining on her feet in the centre of goal.
That goal was followed by a number of chances for the Wanderers with the impressive Michelle Carney, Helen Petinos and Winters all putting shots over the crossbar.
Debutant Caitlin Jarvie was also making inroads for the Red & Black, involved in a lot of build-up play and creating chances. While her finishing still has signs of rust after an injury-disrupted season the English-born Australian certainly added a spark to the Wanderers style of play.
An outstanding goal by US-import Jasmyne Spencer shortly after half time bought the match back to equal terms but that would be the only real chance for the Sky Blues as the Wanderers shifted into top gear for the remainder of the match.
While the winner was to come eventually it should have come a lot sooner as Linda O’Neill latched onto a through ball and expertly shot into the back of the net.
The joy was short lived though as the assistant signalled for offside and O’Neill was yellow carded for shooting after the whistle.
Replays confirmed that O’Neill was onside by at least a metre.
Fearful that that decision may change the match, supporters need not have worried as Jarvie was the architect for the clincher.
With Sydney FC on the attack, Kendall Johnson won the ball on her own by-line and drilled a pass to the on-running Jarvie. Taking the ball past her defender the winger drilled a cross into the box that Allen, under pressure from Carney, diverted into her own net.
It was a forgetful match for Allen who was responsible for both goals scored by her old team.
It was just reward for a dominant performance and while O’Neill had to leave the field after some rough treatment, the Red & Black comfortably saw out the rest of the match.
The result tops off a perfect weekend for the Western Sydney Wanderers after Saturday’s Champions League win over Al-Hilal.
The Wander Women travel to McKellar Park next week in what will be an intriguing match against the improving Canberra United.
