Don't expect to find justice on a football field but always seek to extract it. On a day of thieves, it was Sydney FC who would laugh last after robbing Western Sydney Wanderers of a result in the first city derby of the season, providing some relief for their fans furious after being burgled.
More Sport Videos
- Video duration
- 00:43
Sydney FC's Milos Ninkovic's 88th minute winner against Western Sydney
- Video duration
- 00:57
This man wants to enjoy the AFL Grand Final
- Video duration
- 01:30
Zlatan scores as Pogba shines
- Video duration
- 01:29
Penrith dismantle Tigers
- Video duration
- 02:12
Paralympic swimmer Tiffany is off to Rio
- Video duration
- 01:01
Ex-NFL star jailed for drugging, rape
- Video duration
- 01:30
Broncos overpower Dogs
- Video duration
- 02:26
Steve Mascord's Set of Six: Round 23
Sydney FC's Milos Ninkovic's 88th minute winner against Western Sydney
Sydney FC midfielder Milos Ninkovic scores in the dying minutes to help his side to a 1-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers.
It's said that nothing is too small for a thief to steal and that's not only what Sydney FC supporters were thinking after a giant banner was allegedly stolen from a locked warehouse.
Wanderers fans were also left feeling as though something had been taken after they were beaten at the death after having dominated from the start. With just two minutes to play, Serbian international Milos Ninkovic shattered the hearts of the travelling supporters and endeared himself to his own with an almost unjust winner.
It was the final response to a side that came to Moore Park with just one purpose, to bully those from the city.
The Wanderers relentless pressing imprisoned their rivals deep in their own half. But even with backs to he wall, the Sky Blues stood up.
Unlike this fixture last year, there were few signs of nerves. Tempers remained in check and the frenetic energy was replaced by the one thing this rivalry didn't need from a fans perspective — composure, for all but the final two minutes when Ninkovic finally delivered.
The Wanderers were quicker out of the blocks but were brought to a sudden halt when Dutch winger Romeo Castelen was forced off with a hamstring injury after just eight minutes. Castelen was cradled by Sydney FC defender and close friend Jacques Faty as coach Tony Popovic signalled for Dario Vidosic to leap up from the substitutes bench. It didn't take long for Western Sydney to regain their rhythm and were baffled as to how they didn't take the lead midway through the half. Vidosic made an instant impact heading across goal to teammate Dimas Delgado who had only an open net before his eys.
Somehow he rattled the cross bar but his blushes were spared by the linesman who had already flagged for a narrow, yet correct, offside call. Fouls mounted, cards were brandished as insults bounced from end to end between the two sets of fans. There was no moment more tense than when the travelling supporters were celebrating Wanderers striker Jaushua Sotirio hitting the back of the net. Taunts, abuse and a wall of noise bellowed from the southern stands when Sotirio finished a superb counter-attack heading past Vedran Janjetovic into the goal.
The hosts looked up to the clouds for a solace but found it in the form of an aware linesman, noticing the slightest of offsides.
Sydney FC were incensed the Wanderers weren't reduced to 10 men when defender Scott Neville somehow escaped a second yellow. A late and clumsy challenge against Ninkovic appeared certain to end Neville's evening. The match was stuck in the doldrums as reckless challenges provided the only entertainment for the fans expecting the first stalemate between the two. But, with two minutes to go, Ninkovic clinched an unlikely win for the Sky Blues when he latched on to a superb through ball by Brandon O'Neill.
The experienced midfielder justified his reputation with a perfect finish from an acute angle, shattering the hearts of the Wanderers who deserved more.
3 comments
New User? Sign up