Western Sydney Wanderers have enjoyed a fine start to life in their new, purpose built Bankwest Stadium, but a sold-out local derby against Sydney FC would certainly provide a stern test of their credentials. Local derby down under in a brand new stadium with added Wanderers' manager Markus Babbel doing his best Peaky Blinders? Got ‘Framed’ written all over it, so of course we duly obliged by attending.
The first-ever Sydney derby at the all-new Bankwest stadium doubled up as a top of the table showdown, with both teams having enjoyed a perfect start to the season. And it was a local derby in the perfect sense, encapsulated by brothers Dylan and Ryan McGowan, who have played in numerous countries throughout their careers but now find themselves back home and lining up as players on opposite sides. That right there is everything a local derby should be: families and loyalties divided for 90 minutes, before life resumes as usual at the final whistle. Except for with some added bragging from the winning side of course…
Affectionately known as ‘Wanderland’ by the Wanderers fans, one of the ideas behind the design of the Bankwest Stadium was to get the fans as close to the action as possible, and with a sold-out crowd it certainly contributed to the pulsating atmosphere within. Sydney FC took the initiative, with wave after wave of attack for the majority of the opening 20 minutes, but it was the home side that took the lead against the run, with captain, Mitchell Duke thundering home his third goal of the season with the definition of a diving header.
Moving into the second half and the visitors continued to apply the pressure in search of an equaliser. With no goal line technology they were left infuriated after Kosta Barbarouses' header ricocheted off the post before trickling along (and across?) the line before being gratefully scooped up by Daniel Lopar. And that’s the way the game played out; the Wanderers riding their luck, but also defending admirably, whilst last season’s champions huffed and puffed, but ultimately came up short. Fans left gloating or fuming depending on the colours they wore.
Photography by Aleksandar Jason for SoccerBible.
