
Western Sydney should have all three points but slack finishing saw them draw as Bernie Ibini equalised after Tomi Juric gave the Wanderers the lead.
After a quarter hour the Wanderers could have gone ahead if the A-League shared the goal line technology as seen in the Brazil World Cup. Romeo Castelen tore through the heart of the Sydney FC defence and fired a shot that deflected in towards goal, replays showing the ball almost surely was over the line but with no signal from the linesman the referee decided to play on.
On the half hour the Wanderers took a deserved lead. In tight quarters Castelen lobbed a pass to the chest of Juric, who flicked out a right boot to push the ball into the path of Mark Bridge. Unfortunately for Bridge the ball didn't sit up well enough to get a shot away, a block from Sydney FC defender Gersbach only found the feet of Juric who blasted home from 8 yards to open the scoring in the derby.
Nikita Rukavytsya came inches away from doubling the Wanderers advantage just moments after the first goal. Bridge played a delightful through ball for the flying winger and he toed the ball past keeper Janjetovic but could only watch as it arced in towards goal only to bounce off the woodwork.
A breathless 5 minutes was then punctuated by the equaliser. The Wanderers wasted a set piece opportunity with a woeful short corner, Sydney FC managed to clear to Bernie Ibini who ran half the pitch, getting around Adeleke and Hamill before launching a tracer bullet of a shot that was past Covic before he could get a hand up.
Seconds before the half-time break Bridge should have restored the Wanderers lead. Iacopo La Rocca put Bridge clean through one one one with Janjetovic but his first touch took him slightly away from goal and the shot was aimed straight at the keeper.
Shane Smeltz had Sydney FC's best chance in the second half, a header back across goal from a corner was met with a turning volley by the New Zealand international but Covic rose sharply to tip the ball over the bar.
Rukavytsya had his own chances to win the game for his new club and score his first goal for the Wanderers in the process, his blinding pace saw him get in on goal twice, the first a long range effort he could only aim at Janjetovic, the second saw him burst clear of Seb Ryall but his touch let Janjetovic get a sniff of the ball, smothering any chance of a goal.
The Wanderers dominated the match as Sydney FC seemed content to hold on for a point. Western Sydey shaded possession 53% to 47%, with more passes, a better passing accuracy as well as having more shots, crosses and corners in comparison to their opponents in blue. Alas the key stat, goals scored, favoured neither side but the performance was a marked improvement in comparison to the first handful of rounds and if performances like that keep coming then so will wins.
The Wanderers next match is against the Brisbane Roar, on Wednesday the 3rd of December at Parramatta Stadium, kick-off at 7:30pm.
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