The A-League got under way this weekend, and straight off the bat we were served up the Sydney derby, with Western Sydney Wanderers hosting Sydney FC at the CommBank Stadium. Would’ve been rude to miss this one, and so it became the latest instalment in our ‘Framed’ series.
As with most local derbies around the world, there’s no love lost between Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC, and and kicking off the season with a Derby is a hell of a way to start. For those who have yet to take in the A-League and are wondering what it’s all about, you could do a lot worse than taking in this fixture, which boasts the usual passion from fans that you’d expect from two rivals going head to head. So take in the latest entry in our 'Framed' series, and soak up the atmosphere both inside and outside Parramatta's CommBank Stadium, all from the comfort of wherever you just so happen to be as you're reading this.
Sadly though, with it being the first game of the season, both teams were a little rusty. While this led to several chances due to mistakes, the only players who seemed up to scratch were Tomás Mejías and Andrew Redmayne in the Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC goals, both pulling off some impressive saves that unfortunately kept the game goalless. In fact this was the first 0-0 Sydney derby in four years – typical! The 23,118 fans in attendance were in good voice, but that wasn’t enough to spur either side on to victory. Honours even and a steady start to the season for both sides. Hopefully the return fixture later in the season will deliver more.
And for anyone who's been curious as to where former England international Jack Rodwell had disappeared to… turns out he’s signed on for the home side, and he came off the bench to show flashes of the talent that earned him that big money move from Everton to Man City many years ago, stinging Redmayne’s palms with a vicious strike from distance. So there you go.
Photography by Aleksandar Jason for SoccerBible.
