High drama and tension hits as Wanderers and Sky Blues share the points

A 10-man Sydney FC have held onto a point with a 0-0 draw in a fiery derby match against Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park

Western Sydney started the match strong in attack, holding possession in their half while trying to push the Sydney defenders back.

Tensions were high early on, with the first blow over less than 10 minutes in.

Sydney had the first real chance at goal as Corey Cronin took a strong free kick, but it went straight into the capable hands of goalkeeper Tristan Vidackovic. The Wanderers had a near-identical free kick just a minute later as Reef Farias’ solid strike went to Sydney’s Gus Hoefsloot.

Saxon Hillyer was tempting fate, already on a yellow card from an earlier foul and given a final warning from referee Brodie Merchant after just a quarter of an hour.

Sydney FC took control in the middle part of the half with multiple opportunities at goal led by Matthias Macallister at the front. His best chance came in the 23rd minute after outrunning his defenders and picking up a brilliant cross, only a palm away from Vidackovic and a goal-line stoppage from Lachlan Tilt able to keep the ball out.

Plenty of fouls were traded by each team throughout the half but Sydney FC finally ran out of luck as Lachlan Middleton was given his marching orders at the end of regulation, following a high boot.

The Wanderers had an obvious advantage heading into the second half with Sydney being a player down, and they unsurprisingly dominated possession.

Sydney keeper Hoefsloot was forced to step up big time, along with his defenders, and was tested by a solid free kick just two minutes after the restart.

Edmund Haddad had his turn trying to get the ball past the Sydney custodian but instead forced another great save from Hoefsloot.

Yellow cards were flying at this point, with ** from Sydney and ** from the home side all in the book.

Aidan Simmons struck a blazing ball off a corner but some last ditch defending from Jared Middleton kept the game goalless.

An error in defence from Farias almost gifted the Wanderers a goal, but Hoefsloot once again denied the strikes from Luka Knezevic and Nicholas Badolato and the game ended at nil-all.

Sydney FC coach Jim van Weeren said it’s a good result from tough circumstances.

“I think it’s a really positive result,” van Weeren said.

“The kind of character and fight that the boys showed there, and a little bit of a good mentality too as a collective, to stay in that and fight and still create a few chances ourselves and to walk away with a point is really positive.”

Wanderers coach Richard Cardoza said it was frustrating not to get all three points.

“The red card obviously changed the game a bit,” Cardoza said.

“We had a few decent chances to capitalise, but it’s just the story of our season.

“We’re getting into some really good positions and creating some half decent chances, and if we just had a few more goals we’d be further up the ladder.”

Match Stats

Western Sydney Wanderers FC

Sydney FC 

Saturday 5th April, 2025

Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill

Referee: Brodie Merchant

Assistant Referees: Reece Edwards and Jasper White

Fourth Official: Joshua Kermond

Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 1. Tristan Vidackovic, 2. Nathan Barrie (7. Dallo Sandy 63’), 4. Ricky Fransen, 5. Lachlan Tilt (26. Antony Barbic 45’), 8. Nicholas Badolato, 9. Alaat Abdul-Rahman (10. Luka Knezevic 57’), 18. Awan Lual (29. Edmun Haddad 57’), 27. Julian Cop, 31. Aidan Simmons, 32. Saxon Hillyer (Kaan Nizam 71’), 34. Meliwethu Nkomo

Substitutes Not Used: 20. Lucas Sinnott

Yellow Cards: Saxon Hillyer 12’, Awan Lual 50’, Ricky Fransen 63’, Maliwethu Nkomo 68’, Dallo Sandy 90’

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney FC: 6. Tyler Williams, 8. Reef Farias, 9. Mathias Macallister (Zac Fowler 60’), 14. Jared Middleton, 25. Alen Harbas (c), 27. Lachlan Middleton, 29. Joel Lacey (15. Samuel Lancaster 60’), 30. Gus Hoefsloot, 33. Marin France (10. Taye Hedley 73’), 39. Dylan Rose, 47. Corey Cronin (23. Junior Conde 73’)

Substitutes Not Used: 1. Jacob Cremen-Cowan, 4. Joseph Calusic

Yellow Cards: Mathias Macallister 12’, Tyler Williams 20’, Reef Farias 86’, Gus Hoefsloot 89’, James Slaveski 90+1

Red Cards: Lachlan Middleton 45’

Player Ratings

3 – Gus Hoefsloot (SYD)

2 – Meliwethu Nkomo (WSW)

1 – Marin France (SYD)

-By Katrina May