For the Wanderers, this derby was always being played for pride after their chances at finals contention came to an end last round, but for Sydney, the all-important three points would send them into the top four.

It was a derby that could have gone either way, with both sides missing key players in the likes of Caitlin Cooper and Talitha Cramer for the Wanderers and Lisa De Vanna, Danny Colaprico and Amy Sayer for Sydney.

As fans have become accustomed to seeing this season, the “Wander Women” had a strong start to the match but were unable to maintain that same form for the duration of the game.

Playing with nothing to lose, the first fifteen minutes saw Dan Barrett’s side pressing well throughout the early stages of the game.

It was Servet Uzunlar opening the threat, with an almost goal in the 12th minute, followed up by a Lo’eau LaBonta strike in the 14th minute, rattling Sydney’s defence with the possibility of having their finals plans derailed.

It was heartbreak for Sydney in the 15th minute when 17-year-old Taylor Ray went down with a suspected serious knee injury.

Chances remained relatively even with neither side able to convert until five minutes before half-time when US import Sofia Huerta scored a cracker of a goal, cruising through the Wanderers defence to beat Nicole Simonsen at the near post.

The Sydney side almost made it two before half time, but a miscommunication on who was taking the shot let the ball go begging, rolling past the bottom corner of the net and a visibly irked Logarzo and McCaskill.

By the end of half time, possession was weighted 57 percent to 43 percent to Sydney, with the Wanderers taking three corners to Sydney's two, while WSW conceded 10 fouls to Sydney's five and both had equal shots on target at three a piece.

It was another huge blow for Ante Juric’s side losing superstar McCaskill to injury just 17 minutes into the second half after a heavy challenge by Maruschka Waldus.