Western Sydney Wanderers 0-0 Sydney FC
by Callum Logie (7/12/25)
Above: Western Sydney Wanderers’ Amy Chessari (hoops) battles for possession with Mackenzie Hawkesby today at Marconi Stadium. Photo: Sydney FC.
Marconi Stadium hosted the Sydney derby which saw a lot of action on the field, but neither team was able to get the deciding goal as they split the points.
An overcast but pleasant day in Western Sydney hosted the derby between two sides with different aspirations coming into it. Sydney FC were looking to remain undefeated and move up to the top of the table while the Wanderers were looking to propel up the table with their second win of the season.
Sydney FC started out with a very young back line, with 14 year-old Willa Pearson and 16 year-old Rubi Sullivan getting starts, with fellow teenager Amelia Cassar getting the start in the front three. Chinese International Yuan Cong got the start up front for the Wanderers, who came out in a positive shape seeing both Holly Caspers and Kim So-Eun in the starting eleven.
The first five minutes were rather tentative, with both teams looking to feel each other out and get stuck in defensively. Western Sydney controlled the majority of the possession and territory during the start, but the defensive line of Sydney FC, lead by Kirsty Fenton, held firm.
The first meaningful chance came from Riley Tanner. Western Sydney lost possession after an errant pass from Amy Harrison and Mackenzie Hawkesby leaped into possession and played a clever ball through to Tanner. It arrived awkwardly to the wide forward and her effort on goal was competently collected by Sham Khamis.
On the other end almost immediately after, some determined aerial play from Yuan released Harrison for a driven shot at Tiahna Robertson. Robertson proved equal to the effort and collected the ball on the second effort.
There was no shortage of goalmouth action within the three minutes after the ten minute mark, with Mackenzie Hawkesby drifting wide and setting up a curled shot from Madeleine Caspers. Caspers strike was well directed but saved well by Khamis, and Cassar’s subsequent effort was deflected behind for a corner.
The midfield battle in particular was very interesting to watch, with Harrison, both Caspers sisters, and Bianca Galic all looking to create chances in what was a rather narrow gameplan from each team early on.
At 15 minutes, Hawkesby struck a snapshot half volley after an aerial battle was won by Sydney. While a nice display of ingenuity from the forward, the shot was straight at Khamis who looked in good form to start the first half.
The Wanderers tweaked their game plan early, focusing up the left wing and looking to create with Holly Caspers. The focus was testing Pearson and Fenton in the middle with the aerial threat of Yuan who was winning her fair share of battles in the air.
A breakaway forward set up by nice hold up play from Cong allowed Kim space to break forward, she played a gentle ball across to Holly Caspers who took a shot after taking a touch, but the effort was deflected for another corner. The middle third of the first half was controlled by Western Sydney.
Yuan and Kim combined well on a few occasions in the first half, Cong consistently looking to test the centre backs physically and the creativity of Kim complementing the target forward well.
Yuan’s hold-up play created another chance for the hosts, with Harrison taking a shot from around 20 yards but directing it high and wide, not getting the best connection with her shot.
Hawkesby won a free kick in a dangerous position, well within shooting territory for Sarah Hunter. Hunter did take a curled shot around the wall but it was too close to Khamis who was able to collect the shot at the first time of asking.
Just before half-time, Yuan found herself open from eight yards out for a free header at goal after a good run forward and cross from Ella Buchanan. The shot was just slightly wide of Robertson’s post but it was the closest either team got to opening the scoring in the first half.
Tanner and Hawkesby combined to create a great chance for Caley Tallon-Henniker in the 49th minute, but Khamis charged out to close the angle and made the save to keep the game even at 0-0. Despite the lack of scoring, there was quite an engaging flow of play in this derby.
In the 55th minute, the visitors created a terrific chance. Galic broke forward and set up Hawkesby from just behind the penalty spot. Unfortunately for the forward, her effort was driven over the bar and the scores remained even.
A couple of minutes later, some good passing between Tanner and Galic set up another great chance, this time for Maddy Caspers. Her left foot effort was driven wide of the goal, but Sydney were consistently knocking on the door in the second half.
Robertson nearly conceded the first goal of the game as she played a misdirected pass into the path of substitute Talia Younis who immediately slid the ball across to Yuan. Robertson remarkably got back to her spot in time to make the save from the effort and Sullivan was able to clear from danger as there was an injury stoppage for Robertson, who was able to continue after receiving some treatment for a cut to the head.
Younis drove a shot wide after some clever build-up play from Yuan and Holly Caspers. Yuan took another shot a couple of moments later but was unable to direct it on target.
The Wanderers once again created a chance after a poor pass from Maddy Caspers directly played in Talia Younis, but Tiahna Robertson charged down and made the save to keep the game even at 80 minutes.
Western Sydney continued to press and push forward, not content with settling for the draw. Some determined forward play led to an excellent shot from the edge of the box from substitute Alyssa Ng-Saad which was denied by an outstretched Robertson who put on a heroic performance in the second half.
In stoppage time, Hana Lowry in her first game in over a year took a shot from the edge of the box that was driven over the bar. It would have been a fairytale return for the midfielder after such a long rehabilitation, but it was not to be.
In an action-packed derby game, both goalkeepers put up great performances to keep clean sheets and mark what may have been the most exciting 0-0 draw of the season. Sydney FC remained undefeated but Western Sydney Wanderers ended their 6 game losing streak in Sydney derbies.
Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-2-3-1): Khamis, Matos, Cerne, Hooks, Buchanan, Chessari, Harada, Harrison, Kim, Caspers, Yuan. Substitutes: Edwards, Khoshaba, Ng-Saad, Price, Wang, Younis.
SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Robertson, Lemon, Pearson, Fenton, Sullivan, Kaspers, Hunter, Galic, Tanner, Hawkesby, Cassar. Substitutes: Ayson, Halmarick, Lowry, Oppedisano, Ulkekul, Tallon-Henniker.
Referee: Isabella Mossin.
Attendance: 1,348.
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