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A first-half goal to captain Mitchell Duke has given Western Sydney Wanderers a 1-0 home win over Sydney FC and moved them up to outright first in the A-League.
A memorable goal from captain Mitchell Duke and a mighty rearguard effort has allowed Western Sydney Wanderers to end their drought against Sydney FC and go top of the A-League table.
Duke's unstoppable flying 19th minute header from near the penalty spot off a Daniel Georgievski cross settled Saturday night's pulsating derby, which threw up plenty of talking points.
The defending A-League champions had almost all the clear cut chances, but two crucial second-half VAR calls went the Wanderers' way.
The visitors were adamant they had equalised in the 51st minute through a Kosta Barbarouses header, but the VAR ruled the whole of the ball hadn't crossed the line.
A few minutes later the VAR cleared a possible handball by Keanu Baccus, and Wanderers held out to earn a 1-0 win.
Unsurprisingly, both coaches had contrasting views.
"I saw on the big screen the the ball I thought was over the line from where I am, but they have VAR for a reason, the other one I think was a definite penalty," Sydney coach Steve Corica said.
Wanderers' counterpart Markus Babbel said: "in my eyes, no handball because he (Baccus) has the arm right to his body
"Also the ball in my eyes was not fully over the line."
The first Sydney derby at Bankwest Stadium attracted a crowd of 28,519 who produced a tremendous atmosphere.
It was Wanderers' first win over the Sky Blues in seven league games and almost three years, and only their second in the last 17 competitive contests between the two clubs.
"'A top result, great fight from my team, of course we had luck in many situations," Babbel said
"We couldn't do exactly what we wanted to do we were too scared, we dropped too deep, we want to press them higher, we have to learn under pressure to do the right things.
Sydney couldn't find a way past the Wanderers' Swiss goalkeeper Daniel Lopar.
The veteran custodian stopped attempts from Milos Ninkovic and Adam Le Fondre in the first half and foiled Kosta Barbarouses in a one-on-one in the second.
In the first half, a short-range dink from the outstanding Ninkovic hit the crossbar
Right at the death, former Sydney FC defender Matt Jurman denied his old side with a great block when Ninkovic looked certain to score.
"It's a little bit difficult to take obviously but I'm so very proud of the boys, they dominated from start to finish," Corica said
Lopar, Wanderers central defenders Jurman and Dylan McGowan and defensive midfielder Pirmin Schwegler defended with tremendous resolve.
The goal followed an unsuccessful backheeled clearance by left back Paulo Retre, but Corica said other players also made mistakes especially those who missed chances.
As expected, former Wanderers' playmaker Alex Baumjohann got a hostile reception from the home supporters, getting booed when he went to take three early corners and was replaced in the 71st minute without having a major impact.
The derby had the occasional flashpoint but referee Alireza Faghani brandished yellow cards after a couple of scuffles between Nick Sullivan and Ryan McGowan in the first half and Rhyan Grant and Schwegler in the second.
