Western Sydney Wanderers 1 Sydney FC 2
Game management usually means taking the ball in the corner, shielding the ball and waiting for the foul. Sydney FC, leading by the single goal, took it to a new level by simply keeping the ball, the intricate passing and close control of their silky-footed squad making it impossible for the Wanderers to get anywhere near it. The home team did have their chances to nick a draw, but it would have been unjust on the visitors, the pirates of East Sydney plundering the three points and celebrating with glee in front of their adoring fans. This is what the A-League us all about, and for the new arrivals in sky blue, this was a taste of what football can be in this country, a simply magnificent show.
The Sydney Royals made the short journey from Ryde via bus, Michelle joining the journey a few stops after West Ryde, and we were installed in the mid-renovation Commercial Hotel next to Parramatta Station well before 4pm. With concerns about wearing colours totally unfounded, we were joined by groups of fans in shirts of both teams, giving this a Merseyside Derby feel. The Cove train arrival had us hurriedly finishing our drinks and we rushed down through the wet streets to catch up with the march.
After navigating the thin footpath past the buses and being ushered back off the road by the police, we passed one street full of honking horns. This unexpected blocking of the streets of Parramatta was not being met with much enthusiasm. As we turned the corner into O’Connell Street, we had the whole road to ourselves and continued past the welcoming hand gestures from the window of the RSL and over the river. This was where the road narrowed and the chanting intensified.
Turning into the car park by Gate H, we had a lengthy wait while supporters were trickled through to go through a full pat-down and security check, airport style with everything out of your pockets. My ticket wouldn’t scan, but as we had tickets in a row it was clear that it wasn’t the ticket that was mulfunctioning and I was waved through. The seemingly early march had been perfectly timed and we now had just enough time to get set up with the necessary refreshment and then installed in our bay.
Kick off wasn’t far away. The music was unbearably loud, probably a tactic by the tenants to make sure the visiting fans couldn’t be heard over the din. We had multiple bays down the bottom of the away end, in the centre behind the goal. To be honest, the acoustics weren’t the best compared with the usual corner bay, but the additional capos with megaphone and synched timing brought the best out of each of the bays. The RBB released their tifo, an impressively sized, but disappointingly self-titled banner that came down over the empty upper section, letter-by-letter. The players were out, the noise was big, and every fan was on their feet in the away end.
Once the irritating music made way for the countdown, We Are Sydney was all we could hear, and the away end was roaring. The first half was excellent entertainment, Alexandar Popovic clearing off the line in front of us, but Sydney FC took the lead quite early up at the home end. An inoccuous header found its way to Patrick Klimala in loads of space with the defence nowhere to be seen, and he laid the ball off to Joe Lolley. There seemed way too much to do, and our superstar does like the ball on his left foot, but he shot low with his right, and wheeled away, the away end erupting as we realised the ball had gone in. Glorious!
There were bad-tempered moments, Popovic yellow-carded for a meaty challenge that got the hearts racing on the field, and the home team went close with some half-chances, but Sydney FC exuded supreme confidence and looked so much more composed than their quite ragged opponents. Anas Ouahim and Douglas Costa looked world-beaters, linking up on the left, and Costa then swapped to the right to continue the torment. The half-time score of 1-0 to the Sky Blues was about right, and we disappeared into the bowels of the stadium, emerging just in time for the kick off for the second half.
The clasy Bozhidar Kraev came on at the break, and the Wanderers got their equaliser. It wasn’t pretty, and an appeal for a Wanderers penalty distracted us as the ball was swept home past Andrew Redmayne to bring the scores level. The game could have easily turned at that moment, but instead it turned again on the appearance of superstar Juan Mata for the home team. No sooner had he come on, when Sydney FC struck again, a whipped ball in from the right by Costa flicked on by fan favourite Hayden Matthews, and Klimala stooped to flick a header into the net. Suspicion of offside, but no doubt in his mind as he raced to the fans for the celebration. We were, once again, jumping for joy.
There were chances for both sides, Kilmala’s shot right in front of us touched onto the post and it looked like Costa could have puffed out his chest to finish, but he just let the ball run past him. The home fans rose as one to see two good headed opportunities towards the end, but they were both off target. Fan favourite Maxi Burgess came on and was then promptly sent off within four minutes, a moment that could have changed the complexion altogether. Instead, it was cue for the possession play at its best and Sydney FC cantered to victory.
Post-match was fun. The Poznan started immediately after the final whistle to really rub the home fans’ noses in it. The players came over as a block to celebrate with the Cove. A brilliant SFC chant got us going, the players all joiing in. Costa and joker Leo Sena commandeered a trolley, Douglas surfing as Leo pushed, it was so good to see the players understanding just what it meant to get the three points in enemy territory. Klimala led Come On You Boys In Blue in a Polish remix, which was superbly done, and the players were left to enjoy the adoration of their fans while Douglas and captain Rhyan Grant were collared for the post-match interviews.
We were out of there about 20 minutes after full-time and made our way up through the crowds of shirts of both teams’ colours, and headed along Victoria Road to catch the free bus back to the safety of the blue half of Sydney. What an evening. A superb way to start the season, three precious points on the road, a derby victory and a statement of intent. The fast-paced football echoed some of the football played in the Corica era, but the passing was not just for passing’s sake. This was top quality football and we hope to see much more of this in the weeks ahead as Sydney FC mix Asian football with domestic football. The A-League is back! Catch you at the next game.