Milos Ninkovic has made himself an instant Sydney FC hero, scoring an 88th-minute winner as the Sky Blues prevailed 1-0 over Western Sydney Wanderers in a feisty derby on Saturday night.
A sensational crowd of 40,539 crammed into Allianz Stadium – the second biggest ever Sydney derby attendance – and they were treated to a pulsating clash with a thrilling finish.
Just as it looked like it would end goalless, Ninkovic pounced to score his first Sky Blues goal to give Sydney FC Harbour City bragging rights for the fourth time in their last five meeting.
The win takes Graham Arnold’s side top of the Hyundai A-League, while the Wanderers are still searching for their first win of the new season.
GOALS
1-0 Ninkovic (88’) – The Wanderers looked to have cleared a Sydney FC attack only for Brandon O’Neill to play a clever chip over the top to Ninkovic. The Serbian’s first touch was sublime, taking it down and past Nikolai Topor-Stanley before burying his shot across Andrew Redmayne and into the far, bottom corner.
KEY MOMENT
A cagey opening 45 minutes looked to be finishing with the visitors on top and they thought they had a goal in first-half stoppage time.
The impressive Mitch Nichols played a cross in from the left and found the head of Jaushua Sotirio, who flicked his header brilliantly into the far corner.
But before he could wheel away to celebrate their joy was cut-short by an offside flag. Replays suggested it was line-ball and could have gone either way.
It was a blow for the visitors, who were then sunk at the death by Ninkovic’s winner.
OPTA DATA KEY STATS
Sydney FC has now extended their unbeaten derby run to five matches, winning four of those.
It’s also the first time they have kept the Wanderers scoreless in nine meetings, going back to the very first derby three years ago.
The Wanderers have now failed to keep a clean-sheet in 16 straight Hyundai A-League matches, the clubs worst-ever run
Sydney FC: Janjetovic, Ryall, Faty, Jurman, Grant, O’Neill, Dimitrevic (Tavares 61’), Ninkovic, Holosko (Hoole 61’), Brosque, Smeltz (Simon 73’)
Western Sydney Wanderers: Redmayne, Neville (Hamill 53’), Alberto, Topor-Stanley, Jamieson, Andreu, Dimas, Castelen (Vidosic 12’), Nichols (Bridge 82’), Sotirio, Piovaccari
Scorers: Ninkovic 88’
Red cards: Nil
Yellow cards: Dimitrijevic 36’, Neville 38’, Faty 65’, Ninkovic 89’
Conditions: 21C, Fine
Attendance: 40,539 @ Allianz Stadium
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