At last, the drought is over.
Piovaccari, the much-derided and much-criticised Wanderers no.9 has finally scored and his controversial second half goal means he is only one goal from the tally of Wanderers' cult-hero Dino Kresinger.
But were it not for a hyper-active linesman, he may not have scored at all.
Dario Vidosic was flagged offside, even though he wasn't involved in play. Scott Neville continued on his merry way, as the City defence stood still, starting at the flag.
Piovaccari stayed alive though, and finished off Neville's cross, which didn't even a defence to beat.
City's players were apoplectic with rage. The goal was the correct decision, borne from the wrong one. The linesman shouldn't have been so quick to put his flag up, but on the flipside, City's defence should have played to the whistle.
Piovaccari won't care - he's finally found the back of the net. He was bumped back to earth when he was replaced a few minutes later, but nobody can take the goal away from him.
Nichols' goal shortly after the break was elementary by comparison. Wanderers certainly deserved to win, underlined by Bridge tapping in a late Jaushua Sotirio cross to score his 50th A-League goal and wrap-up a stylish win.
Harry Novillo, making his first start of the season, flashed an early shot wide of the post as City looked to stamp their authority on the game.
Up the other end, Thomas Sorensen had to show some serious athleticism to punch a cross away. Had he not, the unlikely figure of Nikolai Topor-Stanley would have been on hand to finish off at the back post after a marauding run.
City really should have taken the lead on 19 minutes when a shocking clearance from Andrew Redmayne went straight to Novillo. The City winger spent too long hanging around though, and Redmayne spared his own blushes by recovering to save.
It was a costly miss.
With Mooy unavailable after his sparking performance for Australia last night, Nichols was the most creative player on the park, and it was his well-taken goal which opened the scoring early in the second period.
There is something badly amiss with City's second half performances this season, and this was no different.
Nichols was clinical in the area, but it was a goal which will be forgotten among the furore surrounding Piovaccari's. Bridge iced the cake six minutes from time, as City simmered in their rage.
But they will have learnt a lesson they should have learnt long ago.
Always play to the whistle.
Melbourne City 0
Western Sydney Wanderers 3 (Nichols 48', Piovaccari 63', Bridge 85' )
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Referee: Peter Green
