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  • Sydney FC were dominated on and off the pitch in the fourth Sydney Derby, with the Wanderers taking bragging rights with a 2-0 win.

     

    In front of a record NSW regular season A-League crowd of 40,388 the Western Sydney Wanderers produced a storming first half that left the blue half of Sydney in shock & awe. Both of Sydney FC's expensive marquee players were absent due to injury, while for the Wanderers Aaron Mooy was not risked after his severe concussion suffered against Wellington the week prior.

     

    With raucous away support cheering the Wanderers it was Iacopo La Rocca who opened the scoring. Rhyan Grant cut down Tomi Juric deep on the right flank and gave away the foul. Youssouf Hersi ran over the ball and left it for Shinji Ono. The Japanese genius delivered a pin-point cross on the edge of the 6 yard box. La Rocca's strength saw him get to the ball over Sydney defender Seb Ryall, and the Italian defender forced the ball home to the back post.

     

    15 minutes later and it was Shinji Ono who doubled the Wanderers advantage. A quick paced attack by Hersi was cleared by Sydney FC but only as far as La Rocca, who turned the ball onto the flank for Polenz. His left footed cross was blocked and it skewed away to Ono. Attacking the ball he lifted it high into the air and attempted to nod the ball onward. Even with his path blocked by two defenders, Ono managed to control the ball with his knee, then while falling he flicked out a boot to shoot. His pin-point accurate shot evaded a full length dive by Vedran Janjetovic and nestled into the bottom right corner to send the away support into raptures. Ono ran off to celebrate with Tomi Juric in tow as Sydney pondered the prospect of another Derby defeat at their home.

     

    Sydney's best chance of the game came from an audacious long-range free kick. Mateo Poljak was adjudged by referee Strebre Delovski to have come front behind on Richard Garcia. From nigh on 40 yards Nikola Petkovic lined up a thunderbolt strike that crashed off the woodwork.

     

    On 79 minutes a lighting Wanderers attack down the right flank when Ono managed to turn the ball into the path of an on-rushing Shannon Cole who cut the ball back for Mateo Poljak. With all the time in the world and the the top left corner looming the Croatian midfielder blazed what would have been a match-sealing shot over the bar. The Poznan began in earnest and Mark Bridge should have done better with a golden chance, put through on goal by Poljak, Bridge had only the keeper to beat, but Seb Ryall managed to claw ground back and legally stopped Bridge from being able to shoot on target.

     

    Sydney FC's inability to make an impact on the match is summed up by the fact that it took until a tame shot from 35 yards from Marc Warren in the 84th minute before they registered a shot on target.

     

    Western Sydney had several chances to seal the match in front of their away support, but it wasn't required, they were in cruise control and Sydney FC were totally unable to put any pressure or score the one goal that would have created an interesting finish.

     

    Western Sydney are now in 2nd place on the A-League ladder on 5 points, one behind leaders Brisbane. Sydney FC languish in 6th spot with a tough away trip to Perth in the offing.

     

    The next Wanderers match is against Adelaide United on Friday the 2nd of November at Parramatta Stadium. Kick-off is 7:30PM.

     

    Stay tuned to the @WestSydney twitter page and our Facebook Page for pictures from the match and discussion & news through-out the week.

    A-League Round 3 Preview

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    mv.pngMelbourne Victory vs Brisbane Roar - Fridaybr.png

    Team & Ladder Ranking: Melbourne Victory (6th)

    Keep Up The Good Work: Guilherme Finkler came back from a horror injury lay off to start the Melbourne Victory comeback with his well taken goal. Confidence should be brimming through the Victory's vital play maker.

    Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: It's hard to fault the Victory when they only drew that match as a result of horrible officiating.

     

    Team & Ladder Ranking: Brisbane Roar (1st)

    Keep Up The Good Work: Brisbane managed an almost perfect game against Sydney FC. Without Del Piero the Roar goal was never threatened, and they would have scored a dozen had Besart Berisha not been taken out by a thuggish Sydney FC hack job on the star striker.

    Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Scored another 4 or 5 goals just to really hammer home how useless Sydney FC are ahead of the Sydney Derby.

     

    Prediction: Brisbane are looking good for another Premiership, and Melbourne haven't quite gelled as a team. That said, Roar will be missing Berisha and thus may end up with the diminutive Henrique playing up front. This is a hard game to pick, but I think Brisbane will snatch it 2-1.

     

    ccm.pngCentral Coast Mariners vs Adelaide United - Saturdayau.png

    Team & Ladder Ranking: Central Coast Mariners (4th)

    Keep Up The Good Work: Marcos Flores is pulling the strings for the Mariners, a vital addition to a side that would otherwise lack a try out and out play maker.

    Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Melbourne Heart are considered a team likely to miss out on the finals, yet the Mariners shipped two goals against them. Flores might be able to score or create, but if the defence can't keep a clean sheet his efforts will go to waste.

     

    Team & Ladder Ranking: Adelaide United (2nd)

    Keep Up The Good Work: Jeronimo has flown to the top of the goal scoring charts with 3 in 2 games. He is a real poacher of goals, Adelaide need to feed the ball quickly and efficiently if they are to have a chance of winning this match. The man himself will need to overcome his poor scoring record away from home.

    Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Arguably they deserved a loss because of horrible officiating. Their style of play is highly talked up but hasn't really been backed up on the pitch.

     

    Prediction: 2-2 draw. Neither team are impressive in defence right now, and both have excellent attacking options.

     

    sfc.pngSydney FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers - Saturdaywsw.png

    Team & Ladder Ranking: Sydney FC (3rd)

    Keep Up The Good Work: If Del Piero actually manages to make it onto the park on Saturday then fair play to his personal trainer. Otherwise everyone else sucked in their abysmal 4-0 loss.

    Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Invented a time machine to stop Del Piero getting hurt, or perhaps to stop them signing up Frank Farina.

     

    Team & Ladder Ranking: Western Sydney Wanderers (7th)

    Keep Up The Good Work: Tomi Juric put on a clinic in the tough target man position for Western Sydney, his strong work holding the ball allowed the midfield to get involved in attack.

    Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Adam D'Apuzzo once again had a game below his usually high defensive standards. The addition of Juric and his lack of form has seen the Wanderers weakness switch from the point of the attack to the left side of defence and this is something Tony Popovic will have noticed and must rectify.

     

    Prediction: Sydney FC are a shambles, Del Piero won't play or won't be allowed to play because the Wanderers will be several goals up. Farina manages his last game in the A-League after Sydney FC are massacred 7-0.

     

    wp.pngWellington Phoenix vs Newcastle Jets - Sundaynj.png

    Team & Ladder Ranking: Wellington Phoenix (8th)

    Keep Up The Good Work: Ernie Merrick has shaped a team with no real structure, playing odd formations like 3-4-3 with players out of position that no-one feared into an hack ball thug team who will take points off the top teams, like they did last week at Parramatta.

    Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Telling a team who finished 10th last season who took a point from the Premiers, away from home feels very harsh. That said, Merrick was forced into an early sub because Stein Huysegems was ineffectual up front.

     

    Team & Ladder Ranking: Newcastle Jets (10th)

    Keep Up The Good Work: They kept a clean sheet so that is at least one positive.

    Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Their match against the Glory was a cure for insomnia. They might have 70% of the possession but when all they do is pass around the back four and can't score, that possession is pointless.

     

    Prediction: Wellington at home, are a battle hardened take no prisoners outfit with attacking firepower. They should easily do the job over Newcastle. Depending on the severity it might cost Newcastle manager Gary van Egmond his job. 3-0 Wellington.

     

    pg.pngPerth Glory vs Melbourne Heart - Sundaymh.png

    Team & Ladder Ranking: Perth Glory (9th)

    Keep Up The Good Work: Despite the Alistair Edwards revolution at Perth their early season form has not been impressive. Winger Sidnei has been the pick of a rather poor bunch and they need him to get on the score sheet or risk creating another Andrezinho.

    Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: A dull draw against the worst team in the competition does not say much about their attack.

     

    Team & Ladder Ranking: Melbourne Heart (5th)

    Keep Up The Good Work: David Williams came within sight of the first ever Melbourne Heart hat-trick, perhaps he feels like he can repeat his double against a lesser defense than the Mariners.

    Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Heart capitulated from the 70th minute, giving away two penalties to allow Flores to score his own brace in response. Defensive solidarity and discipline is required.

     

    Prediction: Neither team are in particularly good form, but Heart are in slightly better form. I'm picking a 1-1 draw.



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