7 of the best A-League Sydney derbies

A record A-League crowd of 60,000-plus is expected for the 13th instalment of the derby between Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC. The World Game looks back at seven of most enthralling cross-town clashes during the past four seasons.

Sydney derby

Former Sydney FC midfielder Hagi Gligor, centre, calms down team-mate Ali Abbas, right, and Western Sydney's Brendon Santalab, left. Source: Getty Images

1. Game one: October 20, 2012 - Pirtek Stadium

Western Sydney Wanderers 0-1 Sydney FC
The inaugural Sydney derby was billed as the most anticipated match of the 2012-2013 season.

But the Round three clash was far from a memorable one for the Wanderers, whose staunch defence made it a war of attrition until icon Alessandro Del Piero broke the deadlock early in the second-half.

2. Game three: March 23, 2013 - Pirtek Stadium

Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Sydney FC
A win would have sealed the Premiers' Plate for the Wanderers in their first season, but it was Del Piero again who proved their nemesis.

The Italian latched onto a wayward pass from Nikolai Topor-Stanley to open the scoring for the Sky Blues and Western Sydney's celebrations were put on hold for another week.

3. Game 4: October 26, 2013 - Allianz Stadium

Sydney FC 0-2 Western Sydney Wanderers
Sydney derby 2013
The Wanderers burst out of the blocks to jump to an early 2-0 lead through Iacopo La Rocca and Shinji Ono and Sydney couldn't find a way back into the contest.

Unfortunately for Western Sydney, they would only go on to win one of the next eight derbies.

4. Game 6: March 8, 2014 - Allianz Stadium

Sydney FC 3-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
A strong-second half performance saw the Sky Blues run away with the contest, but allegations that Brendon Santalab racially abused Ali Abbas took the shine off.

While Abbas's claims were later dismissed, the Iraqi international, who also bagged a goal, stood by them.

5. Game 7: October 18, 2014 - Allianz Stadium

Sydney FC 3-2 Western Sydney Wanderers
It's tough to go past this one in terms of derby drama!

Down 2-0 early and staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat, Sydney FC clawed their way back into the contest and levelled the scores just after the break.

Then 11 minutes from full-time, up stepped Sky Blues captain Alex Brosque, who scored the winner in front of the home supporters to send them into delirium.

6. Game 9: February 28, 2015 - Pirtek Stadium

Western Sydney Wanderers 3-4 Sydney FC
Easily the highest scoring of all the derbies so far, Terry Antonis proved the hero for Sydney FC with his goal 16 minutes from full-time.

Kerem Bulut, who returns for his second stint with the Wanderers, also bagged a brace on the night.

7. Game 11: January 16, 2016 - Pirtek Stadium

Western Sydney Wanderers 1-2 Sydney FC

It was ultimately highway robbery as the Sky Blues took all three points off the Wanderers for the second time in the 2015-2016 season.

Sydney defended wave after wave of Western Sydney attack, before Shane Smeltz converted a rare chance in the 90th minute to secure an an unlikely, but incredible win.
The 13th instalment of the Sydney derby is likely to produce more memorable moments as the two sides converge on ANZ Stadium, with the Wanderers looking to score their first win over their rivals in 1,001 days.


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3 min read
Published 6 October 2016 7:18pm
Updated 8 October 2016 12:21pm
By Patrick Nugent

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