The City Derby
Encyclopedia
The Big Blue, also known as The City Derby, is a football (soccer) match between rivals Sydney FC
and Melbourne Victory. It is one of the biggest football rivalries in Australia, perhaps only falling short of The Melbourne Derby
between cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart. The City Derby generally attracts some of the largest crowds and TV audiences of the regular season. The rivalry came about due to Sydney and Melbourne being the two largest cities in Australia.
The name has its origins in Australian slang, with "blue" meaning "fight" or "confrontation" and also in the fact that both clubs play in blue, albeit different hues. It carries on from a longstanding rivalry between the two cities. After sealing the 2010 premiership plate at home on the final day of the season by beating Melbourne 2-0, Sydney FC went on to win the Championship Grand Final
on penalties at Melbourne's home stadium.
The rivalry reached another level in 2011, with both teams in pursuit of the signature of Socceroo Harry Kewell
pre season. Melbourne Victory announced they had signed Kewell on August 20 and five days afterwards Sydney FC announced they had signed another Socceroo Brett Emerton
from Blackburn Rovers. Both teams play against each other in the first round of the 2011-12 A-League season, with national coach Holger Osieck
not picking them for national duty, allowing the match up to occur.
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
and Melbourne Victory. It is one of the biggest football rivalries in Australia, perhaps only falling short of The Melbourne Derby
Melbourne derby
The Melbourne Derby is currently the only intra-city local derby in Australia's premier Association football competition, the A-League, between the two Melbourne teams in the competition, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart. It is the A-League's first intra-city derby, and although only one...
between cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart. The City Derby generally attracts some of the largest crowds and TV audiences of the regular season. The rivalry came about due to Sydney and Melbourne being the two largest cities in Australia.
The name has its origins in Australian slang, with "blue" meaning "fight" or "confrontation" and also in the fact that both clubs play in blue, albeit different hues. It carries on from a longstanding rivalry between the two cities. After sealing the 2010 premiership plate at home on the final day of the season by beating Melbourne 2-0, Sydney FC went on to win the Championship Grand Final
2010 A-League Grand Final
The 2010 A-League Grand Final took place at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on 20 March 2010.It was the final match in the A-League 2009–10 season, and was played between premiers and runners-up...
on penalties at Melbourne's home stadium.
The rivalry reached another level in 2011, with both teams in pursuit of the signature of Socceroo Harry Kewell
Harry Kewell
Harold "Harry" Kewell is an Australian professional football midfielder who plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-League. Internationally he has received 55 caps, and scored 16 goals, while playing for the Australian national team...
pre season. Melbourne Victory announced they had signed Kewell on August 20 and five days afterwards Sydney FC announced they had signed another Socceroo Brett Emerton
Brett Emerton
Brett Michael Emerton is an Australian football player who plays for Sydney FC and the Australia national team...
from Blackburn Rovers. Both teams play against each other in the first round of the 2011-12 A-League season, with national coach Holger Osieck
Holger Osieck
Holger Osieck is a German football coach and current coach of the Australian national association football team. Prior to the Australian role, he most recently managed J.League club Urawa Red Diamonds, where he won the 2007 AFC Champions League. He served as an assistant coach of West Germany...
not picking them for national duty, allowing the match up to occur.
League matches
Game | |Date | Round | |Home team | |Away team | Score | Goals (home) | Goals (away) | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 28 August 2005 | 1 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 1-1 | Yorke Dwight Yorke Dwight Eversley Yorke is a Trinidad and Tobago former football player. He played for Aston Villa for most of his career, followed by stints with Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Sydney FC and Sunderland... (44) |
Thompson Archie Thompson Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record... (73) |
25,208 |
2 | 16 October 2005 | 8 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 5-0 | Kitzbichler Richard Kitzbichler Richard Kitzbichler is an Austrian football player.-Career:Richard Kitzbichler started his career in 1992 with FC Wacker Innsbruck in the Austrian Bundesliga. In 1997 Kitzbichler signed a contract with SV Austria Salzburg and stayed there until 2002... (34), Muscat Kevin Muscat Kevin Muscat is an Australian football player who currently plays for Victorian State League Division 1 side Sunshine George Cross and is assistant coach of Melbourne Victory... (53, 78), Thompson Archie Thompson Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record... (57, 69) |
18,208 | |
3 | 3 December 2005 | 15 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 2-1 | Corica Steve Corica Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a... (24), Carney David Carney David Raymond Carney is an Australian football player who plays left winger for Spanish club AD Alcorcón and as a left-back or left winger for the Australian national team.- Junior career :... (81) |
Allsopp Daniel Allsopp Daniel Lee "Danny" Allsopp is an Australian professional football player.He is a full international for the Australia national football team, and is Melbourne Victory's second highest, and the A-League's third highest all-time goalscorer, behind teammate Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz.-Club... (88) |
17,272 |
4 | 2 September 2006 | 2 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 3-2 | Allsopp Daniel Allsopp Daniel Lee "Danny" Allsopp is an Australian professional football player.He is a full international for the Australia national football team, and is Melbourne Victory's second highest, and the A-League's third highest all-time goalscorer, behind teammate Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz.-Club... (8) Muscat Kevin Muscat Kevin Muscat is an Australian football player who currently plays for Victorian State League Division 1 side Sunshine George Cross and is assistant coach of Melbourne Victory... (p 11), Allsopp Daniel Allsopp Daniel Lee "Danny" Allsopp is an Australian professional football player.He is a full international for the Australia national football team, and is Melbourne Victory's second highest, and the A-League's third highest all-time goalscorer, behind teammate Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz.-Club... (51) |
Fyfe Iain Fyfe Iain Fyfe is an Australian football player who currently plays as defender for Busan I'Park in the K-League.- Club career :On completion of his SASI program in 2000, Iain joined hometown NSL club Adelaide City... (18), Vargas Rodrigo Vargas Rodrigo Alejandro "Roddy" Vargas is a Australian football player. He currently plays as a central defender for the Australian A-League club Melbourne Victory.-Club career:... (o.g. 83) |
39,730 |
5 | 21 October 2006 | 9 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 1-2 | Corica Steve Corica Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a... (8) |
Thompson Archie Thompson Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record... (50, 73) |
20,881 |
6 | 8 December 2006 | 16 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 0-0 | 50,333 | ||
7 | 6 October 2007 | 7 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 0-1 | Allsopp Daniel Allsopp Daniel Lee "Danny" Allsopp is an Australian professional football player.He is a full international for the Australia national football team, and is Melbourne Victory's second highest, and the A-League's third highest all-time goalscorer, behind teammate Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz.-Club... (82) |
18,436 | |
8 | 10 November 2007 | 12 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 0-0 | 31,884 | ||
9 | 20 January 2008 | 21 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 2-2 | Corica Steve Corica Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a... (4), Brosque Alex Brosque Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse... (62) |
Milligan Mark Milligan Mark Daniel Milligan is an Australian football player who is currently playing for JEF United Ichihara Chiba. He was also the regular captain of the Australian Under 23 football team and has been capped for the junior Australian National team... (o.g. 46), Allsopp Daniel Allsopp Daniel Lee "Danny" Allsopp is an Australian professional football player.He is a full international for the Australia national football team, and is Melbourne Victory's second highest, and the A-League's third highest all-time goalscorer, behind teammate Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz.-Club... (76) |
33,458 |
10 | 16 August 2008 | 1 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 0-0 | 16,227 | ||
11 | 25 October 2008 | 9 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 0-2 | Bridge Mark Bridge Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:... (20), Aloisi John Aloisi John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart.... (62) |
31,654 | |
12 | 27 December 2008 | 17 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 3-2 | Thompson Archie Thompson Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record... (14), Ward (78), Ney Fabiano (80) |
Cole Shannon Cole Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield... (1), Gan Brendan Gan Brendan Gan is an Australian footballer who currently plays for Sabah FA in the Malaysian Super League.-Club career:Gan began playing football for his local club, the Marton Hammers before he signed for the Sutherland Sharks in 2000 when he was twelve years old and came up through their youth... (4) |
25,395 |
13 | 9 October 2009 | 10 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 0-3 | Brosque Alex Brosque Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse... (14), Bridge Mark Bridge Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:... (17,19) |
30,668 | |
14 | 19 December 2009 | 20 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 0-0 | 27,344 | ||
15 | 14 February 2010 | 27 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 2-0 | Kisel Karol Kisel Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:... (34), Aloisi John Aloisi John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart.... (49) |
25,407 | |
16 | 18 February 2010 | SF Leg 1 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 2-1 | Mrdja Nik Mrdja Nik Mrdja is an Australian football player of Serbian ethnicity. He currently plays as a striker for the Australian A-League club the Central Coast Mariners.-Club career:... (16), Hernández (40) |
Aloisi John Aloisi John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart.... (43) |
18,453 |
17 | 7 March 2010 | SF Leg 2 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 2-2 AET | Kisel Karol Kisel Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:... (36 Pen), Bridge Mark Bridge Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:... (54) |
Kruse Robbie Kruse Robbie Thomas Kruse is an Australian football player who currently plays as a forward for German side Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga and the Australian national team... (15), Thompson Archie Thompson Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record... (114) |
23,818 |
18 | 20 March 2010 | Grand Final 2010 A-League Grand Final The 2010 A-League Grand Final took place at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on 20 March 2010.It was the final match in the A-League 2009–10 season, and was played between premiers and runners-up... |
Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 1-1 AET 2-4 After Penalties | Bridge Mark Bridge Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:... (63) |
Leijer Adrian Leijer Adrian Leijer is an Australian football player who currently plays as a centre back for A-League team Melbourne Victory and is also the Captain of the side.-Early years:... (81) |
44,560 |
19 | 7 August 2010 | 1 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 3-3 | Brosque Alex Brosque Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse... (36), McFlynn Terry McFlynn Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:... (54), Cole Shannon Cole Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield... (85) |
Broxham Leigh Broxham Leigh Broxham is an Australian football player who currently plays as a central midfielder for the Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League.-Club career:... (66), Dugandzic Mate Dugandžic Mate Dugandžić is an Australian football player, who currently plays for Melbourne Heart FC in the Hyundai A-League. He was the first player ever to make a direct switch between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart.... (67), Celeski Billy Celeski Blagoja 'Billy' Celeski , is an Australian football player. He currently plays for Melbourne Victory as a central midfielder. His cousin is Perth Glory player Naum Sekulovski.-Club career:... (73) |
12,106 |
20 | 16 October 2010 | 8 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 3-0 | Vargas Rodrigo Vargas Rodrigo Alejandro "Roddy" Vargas is a Australian football player. He currently plays as a central defender for the Australian A-League club Melbourne Victory.-Club career:... (20), Hernández (49), Kruse Robbie Kruse Robbie Thomas Kruse is an Australian football player who currently plays as a forward for German side Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga and the Australian national team... (90) |
17,299 | |
21 | 15 January 2011 | 24 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 1-1 | Mäkelä Juho Mäkelä Juho Mäkelä is a Finnish footballer who plays for Sydney FC in A-League. He is a striker especially known for his pace.-Early career:... (90) |
Allsopp Daniel Allsopp Daniel Lee "Danny" Allsopp is an Australian professional football player.He is a full international for the Australia national football team, and is Melbourne Victory's second highest, and the A-League's third highest all-time goalscorer, behind teammate Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz.-Club... (51) |
11,387 |
22 | 8 October 2011 | 1 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 0-0 | 40,351 |
Non-league matches
Date | Match | 11 May 2007 | Challenge Cup | Melbourne Victory | Sydney | 0-1 | Brosque Alex Brosque Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse... (34) |
3,400 |
---|
Head to head
Team | Win | Draw | Loss | Goals for |
---|---|---|---|---|
Melbourne Victory | 7 | 8 | 5 | 29 |
Sydney FC | 5 | 8 | 7 | 22 |
Team | Home Win | Home Draw | Home Loss |
---|---|---|---|
Melbourne Victory | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Sydney FC | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Team | Visitor Win | Visitor Draw | Visitor Loss |
---|---|---|---|
Melbourne Victory | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Sydney FC | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Leading goalscorers
Player | Club | Goals Scored |
---|---|---|
Archie Thompson Archie Thompson Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record... |
Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
7 |
Daniel Allsopp Daniel Allsopp Daniel Lee "Danny" Allsopp is an Australian professional football player.He is a full international for the Australia national football team, and is Melbourne Victory's second highest, and the A-League's third highest all-time goalscorer, behind teammate Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz.-Club... |
Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
5 |
Mark Bridge Mark Bridge Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:... |
Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |
5 |
Alex Brosque Alex Brosque Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse... |
Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |
4 |
John Aloisi John Aloisi John Aloisi is a retired Australian football player who played as a striker, and the current youth team manager at Melbourne Heart.... |
Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |
3 |
Shannon Cole Shannon Cole Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield... |
Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |
2 |
Steve Corica Steve Corica Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a... |
Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |
2 |
Kevin Muscat Kevin Muscat Kevin Muscat is an Australian football player who currently plays for Victorian State League Division 1 side Sunshine George Cross and is assistant coach of Melbourne Victory... |
Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
2 |
Carlos Hernandez | Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
2 |
Karol Kisel Karol Kisel Karol Kisel is a Slovak footballer who is currently playing for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League. He is the Vice-Captain of Sydney.-Club career:... |
Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |
2 |
Robbie Kruse Robbie Kruse Robbie Thomas Kruse is an Australian football player who currently plays as a forward for German side Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga and the Australian national team... |
Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
2 |
Leigh Broxham Leigh Broxham Leigh Broxham is an Australian football player who currently plays as a central midfielder for the Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League.-Club career:... |
Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
1 |
David Carney David Carney David Raymond Carney is an Australian football player who plays left winger for Spanish club AD Alcorcón and as a left-back or left winger for the Australian national team.- Junior career :... |
Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |
1 |
Billy Celeski Billy Celeski Blagoja 'Billy' Celeski , is an Australian football player. He currently plays for Melbourne Victory as a central midfielder. His cousin is Perth Glory player Naum Sekulovski.-Club career:... |
Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
1 |
Mate Dugandžić Mate Dugandžic Mate Dugandžić is an Australian football player, who currently plays for Melbourne Heart FC in the Hyundai A-League. He was the first player ever to make a direct switch between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart.... |
Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
1 |
Ney Fabiano | Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
1 |
Brendan Gan Brendan Gan Brendan Gan is an Australian footballer who currently plays for Sabah FA in the Malaysian Super League.-Club career:Gan began playing football for his local club, the Marton Hammers before he signed for the Sutherland Sharks in 2000 when he was twelve years old and came up through their youth... |
Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |
1 |
Richard Kitzbichler Richard Kitzbichler Richard Kitzbichler is an Austrian football player.-Career:Richard Kitzbichler started his career in 1992 with FC Wacker Innsbruck in the Austrian Bundesliga. In 1997 Kitzbichler signed a contract with SV Austria Salzburg and stayed there until 2002... |
Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
1 |
Terry McFlynn Terry McFlynn Terence Martin "Terry" McFlynn is a football player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. He is the current captain.-Club career:... |
Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |
1 |
Nik Mrdja Nik Mrdja Nik Mrdja is an Australian football player of Serbian ethnicity. He currently plays as a striker for the Australian A-League club the Central Coast Mariners.-Club career:... |
Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
1 |
Nick Ward | Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
1 |
Dwight Yorke Dwight Yorke Dwight Eversley Yorke is a Trinidad and Tobago former football player. He played for Aston Villa for most of his career, followed by stints with Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Sydney FC and Sunderland... |
Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |
1 |
- BOLD indicates player still playing for that club.
See also
- Association football in Australia
- List of association football club rivalries by country