‘Superb’: How rising Wanderers star ‘slipped under the radar’ to haunt his former side

After Adelaide United’s surging 3-0 win over Melbourne Victory on Friday night, the Isuzu UTE A-League action rolled into Saturday with an enthralling double-header.

Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City kicked off the action in a pulsating game at McDonald Jones Stadium, with City reduced to 10-men but holding on to clinch a 2-1 win on the road.

Then, attention turned to a full house at Allianz Stadium, with Western Sydney Wanderers travelling to the home of their bitter rivals Sydney FC to record a 1-0 win thanks to Kusini Yengi’s late winner.

KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from an Isuzu UTE A-League double-header on Saturday, November 12.

How ‘superb’ rising Wanders star ‘slipped under the radar’ to haunt his former side in Sydney Derby

“Legends are cherished. Traitors’ legacies will perish” 

It was the pre-match message pointed directly from The Cove to former Sydney FC star Milos Ninkovic in the minutes prior to kick-off to the Sydney Derby at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night. 

Once a club legend, whose seven-year spell in Sky Blue produced trophies aplenty, Ninkovic stepped out onto the Allianz Stadium turf in the red and black of Western Sydney Wanderers as enemy number one. 

The Serbian played the role of key protagonist on Saturday night – and whilst taking the brunt of the spotlight, allowed another former Sky Blue to get to work in his shadow.

Calem Nieuwenhof, 21, joined Ninkovic in crossing the divide in the off-season, signing on for the Wanderers to far less fanfare. 

Ninkovic got the assist for Kusini Yengi’s all-important strike in the 1-0 win on Saturday night – but in the centre of the park Nieuwenhof pulled the strings.

He’s made six-consecutive starts for the Wanderers to start the campaign – one more than he achieved over three seasons at Sydney FC.

In the aftermath of the Derby triumph Nieuwenhof stood in front of a euphoric Wanderers crowd to reflect on his off-season move and the night that was.

“I’m absolutely loving it,” he told Paramount+. “The (Red and Black Boc) has come out in force today and got around us. They’ve been so good throughout the whole season and for them to show up today and be our 12th man, they really helped us get over the line. That was awesome today. 

“I’m loving the start to the season and playing every game. We’ve all been working hard, we’re all so fit. It was such a tough game today, we didn’t stop running all day.

“The whole Ninko situation is a bit touchy – but we’re both happy at the Wanderers, we’ve been loving the start of the season, and we want to keep going for the fans.”

Calem Nieuwenhof is challenged for possession by former teammate Anthony Caceres.

Sydney FC legend Alex Brosque praised Nieuwenhof’s impact after “flying under the radar” in the off-season.

“He left Sydney and not much was made of that when you compare it with everything we were speaking about with Ninkovic,” Brosque told Paramount+. “He flew under the radar, he was able to concentrate on his football only – and he was superb tonight.

“He controlled the midfield, he moved the ball, he controlled the tempo – and he made big tackles when he needed to as well. He certainly wasn’t fazed by the occasion.”

Packed house at Allianz showcases the best of the A-Leagues in array of colour 

All night long, you simply couldn’t look away.

The sights and sounds of a rocking Allianz Stadium captured the attention from beginning to end in the Sydney Derby.

A heaving crowd of 34,232 flocked to Allianz Stadium for the first Derby at the brand-new stadium. The fans played a significant role in making the spectacle what it was, with each chance on goal and committed challenge met with a deafening rise in decibels from the stands.

Kusini Yengi’s winning goal fittingly came in front of the Wanderers fans, with those in the away end erupting when the young Wanderers forward scored what would be the eventual winner.

This was the Isuzu UTE A-League at its pulsating best.

THE SATURDAY AGENDA

Sydney FC 0-1 Western Sydney Wanderers

Newcastle Jets 1-2 Melbourne City

REACTION: ‘HOPEFULLY INJURY-FREE’: WORLD CUP-BOUND LECKIE ‘BATTERED AND BRUISED’ AFTER CITY WIN OVER JETS

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