Western Sydney Wanderers have beaten Sydney FC for the first time since December 2019, holding on to win 3-2 after a tight finish at Allianz Stadium.
Amy Chessari, Allyssa Ng-Saad and Yuan Cong ensured the Wanderers ran out victors, after Riley Tanner opened the scoring for the Sky Blues and before Amber Luchtmeijer set the match up with a tense finish.
It took just eight minutes for Sydney to score their first goal, Riley Tanner was sent through on goal with a beautifully weighted pass from Willa Pearson, before the Panamanian winger curled her shot past the on-rushing Wanderers keeper Shamiran Khamis.
Western Sydney steadied after conceding the goal and had much more of the ball throughout the first half, but it wasn’t until Amy Chessari’s precise long shot through traffic with the last kick of the half that they could find a way past the Sydney defence.
Sydney held on defensively for the first 15 minutes of the second half with some crucial goal line clearances, however the Wanderers hit the front on the hour mark through Allyssa Ng-Saad.
The 17-year-old – who came on as first half substitute after an injury to Holly Caspers – managed to poke the ball home from a goal mouth scramble.
Western Sydney extended their lead in the 70th minute when Talia Younis’s corner kick was placed perfectly for Chinese striker Yuan Cong to nod in.
Amber Luchtmeijer gave the Sky Blues a bit of hope with her late goal, the 18-year-old created herself some space at the top of the penalty area before placing her shot in the bottom corner.
Sydney FC had the last five minutes to try and get an equaliser, but a pair of big saves from Shamiran Khamis kept the score at 3-2.
Both teams will be in action again on Wednesday evening, Western Sydney away to league leaders Melbourne City and Sydney at home Brisbane Roar.
