It was a torrid night in Sydney and it was torrid night for Western Sydney Wanderers who went down 3-1 after taking an early lead.

Many of the players enjoyed reliving childhood sessions on the slip and slide. In the end, the blue side of Sydney were just too strong.

The fans thought they’d purchased tickets to the Sydney derby but it was in fact the Adrian Mierzejewski gun show. The Pole has been the signing of the season and he showed his class again.

Two goals from the top drawer and some great general play as well. Opposition teams need to approach Sydney with a solid game plan on how to deal with him or else he’ll run riot.

Sydney FC

Andrew Redmayne 5.5 – he won’t want to watch a replay of his fumble that gifted Riera the first goal. That was an, ‘ask questions about his bank account’ sort of fumble. He didn’t have much to do after that.

Paulo Retre 6 – let Llorente ghost in behind him for the WSW goal but otherwise he did well, considering he was drafted into an unfamiliar position.

Jordy Buijs 7 – his passes from defence are a huge part of Sydney’s A-League dominance. He hits them hard, accurate and early. This is huge for his team and how they play.

Alex Wilkinson 6 – had a quiet match. Wasn’t tested too many times but he nearly gave Ikonimidis a headed goal from a lapse in concentration.

David Carney 6.5 – slotted back into his old Socceroo position of left back tonight and he did well to stifle the WSW attack.

Adrian Mierzejewski 9 – we have strict gun laws in this country, someone check his paperwork. This, of course, references his now very familiar bicep flex goal celebration. The man is a revelation. Who would have thought Sydney’s title winning team of last season needed another number 10? The people involved in securing him for three seasons need to be given a bonus. He was brilliant tonight.  

Joshua Brillante 7.5 – if someone wants to make his day, set up a slip and slide in his backyard. He must have slid in to win the ball more than anyone tonight. He also worked well with O’Neill to completely nullify the WSW midfield.

Brandon O’Neill 7.5 – great performance from Sydney’s other number six. He had just as much fun sliding around as Brillante but he also played some smart first time balls to evade the Western Sydney press.

Milos Ninkovic 7 – he worked hard tonight and created some good openings with his composure on the ball. His back heel assist for Bobo was brilliant and set him off on a bit of a back heel frenzy. That was his first in the game but after it he attempted another three in the next five minutes.

Matt Simon 6 – Simon played exactly as you’d expect Simon to play. He didn’t threaten the goal much but he made a nuisance of himself and created space. At this point in his career a younger Aussie should really be pushing him out of the team.

Bobo 7.5 – to be fair to Western Sydney, they contained the Brazilian really well tonight. He didn’t get many chances. The chance he scored was really nicely finished.

Subs

Alex Brosque 5 – the game was pretty much over when he came on and he didn’t exactly try to make the night worse for Western Sydney. He almost strolled around the pitch at times.  

Fabio Fereirra N/A – barely touched the ball. He should have been slipped in once but O’Neill chose the other option. Did Sydney really need to sign him?

Western Sydney Wanderers

Vedran Janjetovic 6 – unlike his counterpart in blue he wasn’t at fault for any goals tonight but he was beaten thrice.  

Keanu Baccus 5.5 – hopefully he learns a lot about being a fullback from Llorente because at the moment Western Sydney are a bit lopsided. Baccus doesn’t get forward as well and this leaves the Wanderers winger on that side rather isolated at times.

Michael Thwaite 6 – He said in his pregame interview that his match up against Matt Simon was like two giraffes in the gym. He deserves a post-playing career gig on Foxsports for that description alone.

Brendan Hamill 6 – the Western Sydney centre halves really did their jobs well tonight. They didn’t give Bobo and Simon many chances and that’s their job. Stopping Mierzejewski and Ninkovic is up to the midfielders but too often we see centre halves having to break the line to close them down. Hamill tried so hard not to go to Ninkovic for the third goal but the Serb just came too far.

Raul Llorente 7 – played very well tonight, ran hard, got forward into some very dangerous positions. Should have done better with his chance on goal in the second half.  

Roly Bonevacia 5 – against Sydney he really needed to have a top game defensively. He did not. Gombau really needs to push him higher up the park and find another player for this role, or another formation against that particular team.

Steven Lustica 6.5 – he put in a good shift tonight. Even had a couple of chances. He was the best player in the Wanderers’ midfield.

Marcelo Carrusca 5 – put through one great ball for Llorente and then went quiet. He tried to press Brillante and O’Neill but the Sydney sixes were too quick and slick for him.

Chris Ikonimidis 6 – he’s so often isolated when he gets the ball. He did well on occasion but he really should have done more against Sydney’s second choice full backs.

Oriol Riera 5.5 – he owes Redmayne a beer at least. He won’t get many easier goals. Held the ball up well a few times and played his position. He loses some points for not doing enough to stifle Buijs. Sydney’s attacks start with him and opposition strikers need to apply the appropriate pressure.

Mark Bridge 4.5 – really didn’t do enough tonight. Up against one of Sydney’s second choice full backs he should have run riot. Came off early.  

Subs

Brendon Santalab 5 – didn’t get much of the ball after coming on.

Alvaro Cejudo 6 – he was a lot more dangerous in that position than Bridge had been. Caused Sydney a few problems and combined well with Llorente.

Joshua Sotirio 5 – his team mates should be looking to use his pace when he comes on but they didn’t find him tonight and he didn’t demand those balls enough.