SYDNEY DERBY SOLD OUT

This Saturday's A League 'Sydney Derby' has sold out. Sydney FC's Sydney Football Stadium, (Allianz Stadium) will be packed to its 45,500 capacity, hosting the visiting Western Sydney Wanderers. The League's biggest derby appears to be unaffected by the expected absence of marquee man Alessandro Del Piero.

Sydney FC kicked off their season with a convincing win over the misfiring Newcastle Jets (whom I tipped). The Italian was instrumental in that victory with the first goal and a typically special play making performance. Unfortunately for Sydney FC Del fell injured last weekend against Brisbane Roar, when one of his visits to the turf proved serious. Sydney went on to receive a 4-nil drubbing from Brisbane who were admittedly dominant before Del's demise.

Just two games into the A League season and Western Sydney Wanderers have proven they remain hard to beat, but they're scoring habits also have a whiff of familiarity. After recruiting recently capped Socceroo Tom Juric and Brendan Santalab to the club to shore up attacking options Wests are yet to set the world on fire. Juric was used as a substitute in the opening round against Central Coast Mariners and tied the match with his volleyed tap in. However, he was unable to repeat the dose at home to Wellington. This has Wests heading into the derby undefeated but also winless.

Stoking the fires of the derby was Western Sydney's Jerome Polenz. The German import spoke on the likely absence of Alessandro Del Piero, "I think it will be better if Del Piero plays because my opinion is he's not running a lot, so there would be more holes for us to go through . . . Of course he's an outstanding player, but he's also not working defensively so I think it would be better if he plays." Meanwhile, Sydney FC youngster Joel Chianese was probed on the loss to Brisbane and the significance of Del Piero. Chianese said, "Whether he's in the team or not, we need to play our best and the way the coach wants us to play - not how we played on Saturday. We'll be better this week definitely."

Chianese's comments need to be backed up by his teammates this weekend, or things could once again turn ugly for the 'Sky Blues'. Farina's men looked lost last week, and Sydney can't afford a repeat performance of the uninspired sit back-athon. This could well play into the hands of Western Sydney Wanderers, whose success last season was owed to their ability to counter attack. Along with that, Tony Popovic is now clear of Socceroos managerial speculation (Postecoglou confirmed as Socceroos manager).

Whatever eventuates we can rest assured their will be a magical atmosphere at the Sydney Football Stadium, marking another step in soccer's incremental rise into Australian sporting relevance.

WANDERERS ONE YEAR ON: WHAT NEXT?

Mark Bridge, Tarek Elrich (foreground) Wanderers unveil

On April 4th, 2012 Ben Buckley fronted a Football Federation Australia press conference with the news that a second Sydney team would be coming to the A-League. Soon after a number of fan forums were held across western Sydney, in a bid to engage with a possible fan base. Pivotal to the club's on-field success was the May 12, 2012 appointment of manager Tony Popovic. By June 25th, 2012 it was official: The Western Sydney Wanderers had been born. 

Western Sydney Wanderers went on to achieve a record breaking season, which included winning the Premiers Plate and qualifying for the 2014 Asian Champions League. So successful is the club that current owners 'the FFA', have stated that potential buyers are going to have to bid around A$15 million for ownership. FFA CEO David Gallop said, "It wouldn't be overstating it to say they're the sporting club with the most potential in the whole country . . ."

Club sponsors for the inaugural season wouldn't have anticipated the massive exposure the club gained. Considering Wests had failed after three matches to score a goal in professional competition, club backers could easily have feared the worst, but gradually results came. Local boy and manager Tony Popovic remained stoic in the face of the storm, something which characterised his playing career. "There are no favourites here, no set individuals guaranteed a place, but we're one unit with a goal to keep improving," Popovic said after a 1-1 draw away to Perth Glory in round 13. Popovic's playing career took him to Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 1997 and onto Crystal Palace in 2001. For this reason it was no surprise that 'Poppa' was able to snare Japanese ace Shinji Ono amongst a host of other foreign signings. A cult favourite was unheralded Ethiopian Youssouf Hersi who was spotted in the Dutch Eredivisie. 

The club's timeline is a miraculous story of success and needs to be seen to be believed:

April 4th, 2012: New Sydney club announced. 
April 19th, 2012: East Asian Soccer covers the story and predicts WSW to become, "the club in Australian soccer." 
June 25th, 2012: Club name and colours officially announced.
July 26th, 2012: Major sponsor NRMA Insurance announced.
September 21st, 2012: Former Socceroos team-mate of Popovic, Michael Beauchamp named club captain. 
September 28th, 2012: Shinji Ono signs as marquee player.
October 6th, 2012: First competition match against Central Coast Mariners ends 0-0 in front of 10458 fans.
October 20th, 2012: First Sydney derby with Sydney FC winning 1-nil at Parramatta Stadium.
October 27th 2012: First win comes against reigning champions Brisbane Roar, in Brisbane.
December 15th, 2012: Wanderers defeat Sydney FC 2-nil in Sydney derby at Sydney Football Stadium in front of 26176 fans.
March 2nd, 2013: Ascent to top of table is completed with victory over Central Coast at Gosford.
March 29th, 2013: Win Premiers Plate in front of massive travelling contingent at Newcastle.
April 21st, 2013: Grand Final appearance brings a taste of defeat via A-League's famed chokers Central Coast Mariners. 

What next for a club that achieved so much in its inaugural season? With Popovic's perfectionist attitude you can bet the title of Champions is uppermost on the club's list of targets. There is also the small matter of the Asian Champions League, which will place the club, the western Sydney region, and sponsors in the spotlight of Asia. The prospect of a clash between Ono's former J-League club Urawa Reds, and Western Sydney Wanderers is mouth watering. Will the club meddle with the eye catching red and black playing strip that has broken merchandise sales records across all sporting codes in Australia? Can the club better it's first season membership numbers (just over 7000) and increase crowd averages? Already the club has signed A-League journey man Dean Heffernan. The defender will look to feature from the first clash which comes on Saturday, October 12th, at Gosford.

Wests with the 2012/13 Premiers Plate

"This is a sponsored post but my opinions are my own."

Wests Wandering Into Asia

Ono, Polenz and youngster Appiah-Kubi celebrate

Western Sydney Wanderers the A League's newest club, booked their ticket into the 2014 Asian Champions League, after opening up a five point gap over their nearest rival. With just three matches remaining in the regular season it seems the Wanderers are going to complete a fairy tale.

Defeating Wellington Phoenix 2-1 via two penalties the Wanderers weren't at their best yesterday, yet still came away with the spoils. Also in their favour is the form of Central Coast Mariners who have sunk from the top of the table. Sadly the Mariners choking at this stage of the season is an almost annual occurrence and with two losses in a row manager Graham Arnold is scratching his head, "Senior players ... if you have got goal-scorers out there, the goal-scorers should be the ones that want to take it." The former interim Socceroos manager was frustrated at senior players not wanting to take responsibility for penalty taking after the Mariners loss to Western Sydney Wanderers. Perhaps more concerning for the Mariners is Arnold's perceiving of mental fatigue amongst his players, "With mental fatigue comes decision making and they are doing things they don't normally do. Turning over possession, taking extra time on the ball."

With their fate in their own hands, it's hard to see anything stopping the Wanderers from taking home the Premiers Plate (A - League Premiership). It's almost unimaginable to envisage Wests being defeated anytime this season. There is such a momentum behind the team and at the same time their nearest rivals are imploding. Manager Tony Popovic was typically cautious after yesterday's win, "There is still some work to be done, and this group knows that." Popovic and the Wests are not celebrating yet, but I can't wait to see the best of Asia playing at Parramatta Stadium in 2014.

GAMBA'S SEASON OF WOE RECEIVES A FINAL BLOW

Gamba Osaka have hit rock bottom. After a season of torment in the J League which saw them relegated to Japan's 2nd tier for the first time, Gamba bombed out in the Emperor's Cup final to Kashiwa Reysol. It truly was a case of Gamba's J League form coming back to haunt them. After a recent undefeated run to gain entry into the Emperor's Cup final gave fans a glimmer of hope, today was the hammer blow which sent the marquee club crashing into J2 with a thud.

Ironically some Gamba fans are glad that the team didn't win the Emperor's Cup, as it would see them committed to an Asian Champions League campaign while playing for promotion in a league which involves more than 40 matches. Now it's Kashiwa who will contest the ACL in 2013 just as they did in 2012. Kashiwa put on a decent showing in 2012 making it to the knockout stage only to meet eventual winner Ulsan Hyundai first up. The win today came about via a Hirofumi Watanabe header. The centre back got himself on the end of a Jorge Wagner corner and made Gamba pay for not taking their own chances. Truly a season of despair for Gamba Osaka.

ONO RECEIVES OVATION AFTER STUNNING DOUBLE FOR WANDERERS

Shinji Ono has put on a masterclass as he took his A League club Western Sydney Wanderers into third place on the ladder. The Japanese import continues to improve as he settles into A League life. Ono Put Wests ahead on the brink of halftime with an amazing juggling volley which will find its way onto every A League highlights reel ever released.

Melbourne levelled the scores in the 72nd minute and looked set to steal the points as momentum had swung their way. Wanderers were looking tired and it was somewhat against the run of play that Ono's second goal came about. On this occasion Ono took advantage of some time given to him by the Melbourne defence, providing a neat turn as a defender strode past him expecting him to lay the ball off. But Ono turned toward goal, and sent a shot into the keeper's left corner. Brilliant!

Ono would leave the field in the 84th minute to a standing ovation, as his team held on for a forth win in their last five matches.

ONO BRIDGE ON FIRE AS ADELAIDE BURNS

WESTS PUT SIX PAST ADELAIDE

Last night the Western Sydney Wanderers woke the A League to their potential. Inspired by a vociferous home crowd, the like that hasn't been heard in the A League before, Wests gave Adelaide a six goal soccer lesson.

From the outset Wests were hungrier and gave very little time to Adelaide to settle on the ball, and it was the western Sydney outfit who looked like they should be sitting second on the ladder. Enigmatic (actually a compliment) striker Mark Bridge opened the scoring after winger Hersi lobbed a ball into the box and the striker's run was untracked. It was 27 minutes later and on the stroke of half time that Bridge made it 2-nil with a goal for his 'best of' collection. Bridge took the ball on the left just outside the box, before turning defender Iain Fyfe inside out and then ramming it home off his left. Before the referee had time to call an end to the 1st half the locals had one more present for the fans. It was Kresinger and Ono combining with some heading and volleying to turn on a pretty little piece that fans will talk about for years to come. 3-nil halftime.

Most teams who go to half time with a 3-nil buffer will take their foot off the pedal in the second half, it's one of those unfortunate customs of professional soccer. But this game was different. Wests came out with the same gusto of the first half and set about 'flogging the dead horse' that was Adelaide. It was Japanese star Shinji Ono who made Adelaide pay for Galekovic's rare hiccup. A misdirected goal kick landed at the feet of an open Youssouf Hersi who headed straight to Ono, the midfielder won a race for the ball and waltzed into the box to smash a goal across the flailing Galekovic making it 4-nil (52 mins). Six minutes later Ono was provider for Bridge in what was a beautifully taken shot giving the Adelaide glove-man no hope. Low and hard into the keeper's left corner. Adelaide would go on to pick up a consolation before Joey Gibbs made it 6-1 to answer the crowds calls for a sixth goal.

Wanderers celebrate one of six goals against Adelaide

Western Sydney Wanderers are shocking the Australian soccer public with their early success, currently sitting third on the ladder. However, the success off the field is no surprise to this blogger. Being at the ground to watch the Wests v Newcastle Jets a number of weeks ago I was blown away when I witnessed the 'red and black block' (supporter group name) arrive at the ground as one, from the various waterholes in Parramatta. They appeared as the populas of Western Sydney does, a 'mongrel dog'. They're mixed blood, they're hybrid they are Western Sydney.

Next week Wests head to Perth another team on the rise. Perth beat defending champions Brisbane Roar last night and last week recorded an impressive 3-0 victory over Emile Heskey and the Jets