In the week he was handed the Western Sydney Wanderers head coach role on a full-time basis, Mark Rudan breathed life into their A-League Men season with a 2-0 defeat of Sydney FC.

Western Sydney Wanderers - Sydney FC

  • Wanderers beat the Sky Blues 2-0 in the A-League on Saturday.
  • The win is the first for Rudan since receiving a long term contract.
  • Sydney are now sixth in the ladder, Wanderers ninth.

More A-League news can be found on FTBL.

In a clinical display on Saturday night against the club he served with distinction as a player, Rudan's Wanderers were first to everything.

Tomer Hemed's first-half penalty before a boisterous crowd at CommBank Stadium gave them the lead before a second-half Keanu Baccus header helped secure the victory.

Even if their two goals came by way of set-pieces, Rudan's side were deserved winners as they outplayed Sydney from start to finish and condemned their rivals to a third straight loss.

"I understand just how important this fixture is to our fans," Rudan said.

"They cheered and sang all night, they're very important to us and the players and I am most happy for them.

"You get rewarded for hard work and endeavour and it's games like tonight that are worth it. I thought we were totally in control with and without the ball."

The Wanderers got the breakthrough when the lively Ramy Najjarine earned a penalty in the 37th minute when he was taken down by a lazy trip from James Donachie.

Hemed made no mistake from the spot as he blasted the ball straight down the middle for his fourth of the season as Sydney No.1 Andrew Redmayne dived to his left.

The visitors lost Elvis Kamsoba to a potential medial ligament injury towards the end of the first half and their woes were compounded even further when Baccus netted after the break.

The Wanderers midfielder slipped the attention of Donachie at a Dimi Petratos corner and headed past Redmayne.

Sydney coach Steve Corica turned to his bench, throwing Mustafa Amini and new Dutch signing Luciano Narsingh into the fray.

Neither could fashion an opening and as has been the case for much of this season their end product has been lacking.

The frustration could be felt among the Sky Blues fans with a number of bottles thrown in Adama Traore's direction as he defended his own penalty box, although thankfully none connected.

The result condemned Sydney to their fifth straight game without a win and leaves coach Steve Corica searching for answers.

"We don't want bottles thrown onto the pitch," Corica said.

"The ball just wasn't falling for us tonight. It was a little bit side to side. I think when Luciano came on it changed a little bit.

"We're all to blame for this, we take responsibility as a group."

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The full A-League Men's schedule can be found using this link.