The opening game of the 2026/27 A-League Men season ended in a stalemate, with fierce rivals Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers playing out a goalless draw on Friday night at Allianz Stadium.
Played out in front of more than 30,000 fans on opening night, both sides had their chances to steal all three points but the pair couldn’t be split.
The game saw former Sydney FC boss Ufuk Talay return to Allianz Stadium for the first time since his exit from the club last season, with Talay now in charge of the Sky Blues’ arch-rivals.
Talay had to shuffle the pack coming into the game with news captain Brandon Borrello was injured and therefore unavailable.
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His replacement on the night, forward Awan Lual, lasted just 10 minutes before injuring his hamstring whilst sprinting for the ball and he was replaced by Atiya Waraga.
The home side were the more accomplished in possession and had some joy with balls over the top of the Wanderers defence but the end product was lacking in a first half where clear-cut chances were few and far between.
The Wanderers did fashion the best opportunity of the half in the 38th minute but Liam Gillion’s low shot was comfortably saved by fit-again Sydney FC goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares.
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Sydney FC midfielder Jake Hollman saw yellow early in the second half for a late challenge on Panashe Madanha before the Wanderers then saw a good opportunity to take the lead go begging as Miguel Di Pizio lashed Gillion’s cutback over the bar.
With the Wanderers the side in control Di Pizio was then denied by a smart save from Devenish-Meares who got down well to thwart the Wanderers attacker at his near post.
Teenage star Akol Akon was introduced as a 66th minute substitute in favour of Al Hassan Toure and the home side began to wrestle back possession of the ball with 20 minutes remaining.
Wanderers boss Talay was then dealt another injury blow as left back Alex Gersbach suffered a muscular injury and could play no further part on the night, prompting Talay to make a triple change that saw Hiroshi Ibusuki, Nathan Barrie and Jarrod Carluccio all introduced.
Sydney boss Patrick Kisnorbo rolled the dice himself, making a triple sub that saw James Overy, Wataru Kamijo and striker Gabriel Popovic all enter the fray, with the latter lifting a shot over the bar from inside the box with his first touch.
Starved of service up front, Waraga rifled a low effort inches wide of the far post in the 85th minute before captain on the night, German Ferreyra, saw a shot brilliantly blocked inside the box by Sydney defender Jordan Courtney-Perkins.
Substitute Overy had the best chance to win it late on, however the former Manchester United star was denied by Wanderers keeper Lawrence Thomas when put through one-on-one in the 91st minute.
