A-League Review: Sydney FC complete derby turnaround

Sydney FC came from two goals down to win an epic derby 3-2 against a 10-man Western Sydney Wanderers in front of a record crowd at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

The visitors looked on course for a comfortable victory as they raced to a 2-0 lead inside 24 minutes thanks to goals from Mark Bridge and an embarrassing own goal by Vedran Janjetovic.

But Corey Gameiro pulled one back right on the stroke of half-time and further goals by Sasa Ognenovski and skipper Alex Brosque – after Vitor Saba was shown a straight red card – capped an amazing comeback by the Sky Blues.

The thrilling contest was played in front of 41,213 fans, Sydney’s biggest ever regular season home crowd and the largest crowd of any code for a regular season match.

Elsewhere last season’s champions Brisbane Roar are still without a point after two games following a 3-2 reverse in Western Australia.

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United striker Andy Keogh scored a hat-trick, including a last minute winner as he sent his Perth team to the top of the A-League ladder.

Despite twice taking the lead at nib Stadium, Brisbane were outdone by Keogh’s stoppage time header, his seventh goal in four games, as Perth recorded their second win in as many games.

The newly re-branded Melbourne City – who are now owned by Manchester City – had new boy David Villa to thank again as his late equaliser salvaged a point against Newcastle Jets.

Despite going behind against the run of play, City’s marquee signing Villa was again, able to do what he does best, with the World Cup winner also earning his side a point in last week’s match against Sydney with a late goal.

City’s rivals Melbourne Victory continued their impressive start with a well-earned point in a local derby at in-form Adelaide, who last week took all three points at Suncorp stadium against Brisbane Roar.

Goals in the last five minutes of the game from Sergio Cirio and Fahid Ben Khalfallah meant the points were shared at Adelaide Oval in front of a South Australian A-League record-smashing crowd of 33,126.

In the final match of round two, Central Coast Mariners lost a close encounter to Wellington Phoenix in Gosford on Saturday afternoon.

The Mariners looked set for a routine home victory when an own goal by Wellington’s Tom Doyle got them off the mark, only for Michael McGlinchey to head home after Jeremy Brockie’s spot kick had come back off the bar before Nathan Burns finished off a fine move to ensure all three points for the Phoenix.