The Isuzu UTE A-League took centre stage on Wednesday, February 23 with three fixtures filling the agenda in a bumper instalment of the February Football Frenzy.
Western United defeated Sydney FC 1-0 at AAMI Park in the first of three games, before Macarthur edged Perth Glory 1-0 in Launceston and Newcastle Jets edged Western Sydney Wanderers by the same scoreline at McDonald Jones Stadium.
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from three A-Leagues fixtures:
- Western United 1-0 Sydney FC
Isuzu UTE A-League, AAMI Park
MATCH REPORT: Sydney FC left to rue 1-0 loss to Western United
- Perth Glory 0-1 Macarthur FC
Isuzu UTE A-League, UTAS Stadium
MATCH REPORT: Sturridge injured as Bulls beat Glory
- Newcastle Jets 1-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
Isuzu UTE A-League, McDonald Jones Stadium
MATCH REPORT: Jets’ second half surge sinks Wanderers
REACTION
‘Please (to) god it’s not too bad’ – Glory sweat on Sturridge injury
A groin injury suffered in the 65th minute of Perth Glory’s 1-0 loss to Macarthur FC is the latest in a string of setbacks for star recruit Daniel Sturridge, who looks set for another stretch on the sidelines in a disrupted first Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Sturridge was injected into the action after the half-time break with his side chasing a goal – and could have put that goal on the scoresheet himself if not for an inaccurate attempt from a promising opportunity before the hour mark.
Minutes later, disaster struck for the Englishman; when stretching to control the ball on a Perth counter, Sturridge pulled up holding his groin before trudging off the pitch to be replaced by Pacifique Niyongabire.
“Not only us, but I think the whole Australian footballing community wants to see Studge out there scoring and doing his bit,” said Perth Glory captain Brandon O’Neill told Paramount+ post-match.
“More importantly for him, he just wants to be kicking a ball, and he’s going through a bit of the hard stuff now in Tassie now, (and) obviously previously..
“So please (to) god it’s not too bad and he can be on the pitch sooner rather than later.”
The timeline of Sturridge’s frustrating ALM stay
Sturridge arrived in Perth in October, 2021. A two-week quarantine period shortened his run-up to the start of the campaign, and a debut performance in which he featured for just nine minutes off the bench.
His next appearance wasn’t to come until mid-January, thanks to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Perth camp in December which led to a 42-day break between fixtures for the Western Australian side.
Sturridge returned to the fray against Brisbane on January 19, playing 23 minutes before a second appearance in quick succession against Sydney FC; a game in which he looked at his sharpest since arriving in Australia but ended under an injury cloud with apparent hamstring tightness experienced by the marquee striker.
What came next was a positive COVID-19 test which forced Sturridge into his third stint of quarantine since joining Glory, which put another month gap between Isuzu UTE A-League appearances.
After 20 more minutes against the Roar on Sunday evening, Sturridge backed up three days later to face Macarthur on Wednesday night. Brought on at the halfway point, the Glory forward was set for his longest appearance of this season to date – but only lasted 19 minutes before succumbing to injury.
“I don’t think he probably warmed up as hard as he probably should have,” said Glory boss Richard Garcia post-match.
“But that sometimes happens in games. We had him in during the half-time and he probably didn’t get as much time as he should have to warm up, and he pulled something.”
The 32-year-old now faces another stint on the sidelines, and Garcia is trying to search for answers.
“I keep trying to bring him back and he keeps breaking down,” Garcia said.
“We’ve got to get to grips with it and find out where he’s at.
“He keeps getting to certain stages … we’ll have to wait and see how this one turns up. Hopefully it’s nothing.”
Watching on from the Paramount+ studio, former Socceroo Mark Milligan expressed his wish to see Sturridge back in a Perth shirt as soon as possible.
“Everybody knows the last 18/19 months he had (before arriving in Australia) with injuries and game time,” Milligan said.
“I guess you hope he comes to Australia, warmer weather, maybe a few less games than you play in Europe and (kicks on).
“Hopefully it’s nothing too serious and it’s a speedy recovery.”
Consistent United’s all-time ALM record an ominous sign of defensive strength
No side had ever won more than six games by a scoreline of one goal to nil in a single season heading into the 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign
In just 13 games this season, Western United have notched seven.
The most recent in the string of 1-0 results came in a slender win over Sydney FC on Wednesday night, with Steven Lustica’s goal the difference.
MATCH REPORT: Sydney FC left to rue 1-0 loss to Western United
The Sky Blues had plenty of possession and the majority of shots – but United edged the visitors in shots on target as Steve Corica’s side wasted their opportunities in the final third.
With seven 1-0 wins under their belt, United have eclipsed the record of six notched by Central Coast Mariners in the 2010/11 season, with the all-time leaderboard in said category reading as so:
| Team and ALM Season (regular) | 1-0 wins |
| Western United (2021/22) | 7 |
| Central Coast Mariners (2010/11) | 6 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers (2012/13) | 6 |
| Adelaide United (2005/06) | 5 |
| Brisbane Roar (2019/20) | 5 |
| Central Coast Mariners (2012/13) | 5 |
| Sydney FC (2009/10) | 5 |
It’s a unique statistic brought about by a key aspect of Western United’s play, according to Paramount+ analyst Alex Brosque.
“I think that (midfield) partnership between (Steve Lustica) and Neil Kilkenny is key to what they’re doing,” Brosque said post-match.
“If you look at the game and the way it played out, they didn’t let anything go through the middle.
“They forced everything wide, they stay close to their defenders which means there’s no real space to get your opposing number 10’s on the ball and create chances. Everything has to go wide, and then you’re looking at getting crosses in.”
Those crosses, when they do come into the box, are met by the likes of Tomoki Imai, Nikolai Topor-Stanley and the towering Leo Lacroix, who in front of goalkeeper Jamie Young have performed valiantly through their side’s record six-game winning streak in Isuzu UTE A-League home games.
But Brosque was disappointed to see United coast to the final whistle on Wednesday afternoon without the presence of Bobô in and around the Sky Blues penalty area to test them.
Bobô was removed from the action on the hour mark; without the Brazilian on the park the game played into United’s hands, with balls forced out wide for balls to be swung into the box at a frontline led by Adam Le Fondre and Trent Buhagiar.
Corica brought Alex Wilkinson on late to swing James Donachie forward to provide a presence in the box at the death.
“Toward the back end of the game, unless Bobô was injured or not 90 minute match fit, that’s a curious decision for me,” Brosque said.
“Then in game when you’re down 1-0, and we know Western United like to block up and defend and get numbers around the box, you need Bobo in the box and they didn’t have any aerial threat.
“That was a curious one for me.”
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: PERTH GLORY v MACARTHUR FC
FULL-TIME: PERTH GLORY 0-1 MACARTHUR
That’s a hard-fought win for ten-man Macarthur, as the Bulls navigate 15 minutes without a full contingent of players on the park.
An apparent groin injury to Daniel Sturridge makes matters worse for Perth, with the Englishman substituted after just 19 minutes on the park.
Full highlights below.
VAR: Kurt Ams to the monitor to assess Lachie Rose handball (9.47pm AEDT)
A swinging ball into the penalty area from Giordano Colli earned Perth a late penalty – but a swift VAR check from on-field referee Kurt Ams has revoked the original decision.
Perth looked to have found a late way back into the game but with the assistance of VAR Ams came to the decision to reverse his penalty call.
Late chance to Stynes who rattles the post (9.43pm AEDT)
Perth go closest at the death, with substitute Daniel Stynes rattling the woodwork with a low short driven to the bottom-right corner of goal.
Niyongabire provided the cut-back to find Stynes in space and he angled his shot to Filip Kurto’s near post, but his shot lacked the accuracy needed to nestle into the back of the net.
Šušnjar OFF as Macarthur reduced to 10 men (9.29pm AEDT)
Aleksandar Šušnjar has received his marching orders for a second yellow card accrued for halting the progression of Perth’s attacking play.
The Bulls defender dragged Callum Timmins down to concede a free-kick, and remained stood in front of the Glory midfielder to deflect his attempted pass from the dead ball.
Sturridge pulls up, trudges off (9.23pm AEDT)
That’s not what Perth Glory fans wanted to see.
Reaching to take possession on the break, Sturridge pulls up clutching what appears to be his left groin after the ball evaded his outstretched left foot.
One minute later, Pacifique Niyongabire is readied to replace the star Glory man.
That was a 19-minute appearance from the Englishman which did not go to plan for Perth as they trail the Bulls 1-0.
Sturridge fires wide: ‘that’s a sitter’ (9.11pm AEDT)
Paramount+ co-commentator Daniel Georgievski described it as a “sitter”; a right-footed Daniel Sturridge shot which went wide of the amrk from inside the penalty area.
Glory boss Richard Garcia injected Sturridge into the action at the break and the Englishman went close to opening his Isuzu UTE A-League account, but fluffed his lines off his non-favoured right foot.
A whisker away from the top corner from Fornaroli (8.19pm AEDT)
A semi-scooped, curling effort from Bruno Fornaroli went inches away from the top-right corner as Perth look to find a way back into this contest.
GOAL! Dávila capitalises on Calver mistake to put Bulls ahead (8.06pm AEDT)
A misjudged touch from Aaron Calver inside his own penalty area has allowed Ulises Dávila to swoop in and steal possession before sliding his left-footed shot into the bottom corner, giving the Bulls a 1-0 lead at UTAS Stadium.
Oxborrow lashes first-time strike past the post (8.02pm AEDT)
Mitch Oxborrow has gone close to thundering Perth into the lead with a first-time rocket off his left foot which bent and swerved on its way just past the post.
KICK-OFF (7.55PM AEDT)
Play gets underway at UTAS Stadium through stand-in Glory captain Bruno Fornaroli as Perth hunt back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
TEAM NEWS
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: NEWCASTLE JETS v WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
FULL-TIME: NEWCASTLE 1-0 WANDERERS
A second-half Angus Thurgate strike was the difference as the Jets beat the Wanderers in a tight contest at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Watch the highlights below.
GOAL! Penha to Thurgate as Jets take the lead (9.19pm AEDT)
Daniel Penha picks Angus Thurgate out amongst the crowd with a lofted through pass into the box, and on the turn Thurgate fires the ball from a slight angle into the bottom-left corner to put the Jets ahead of the wasteful Wanderers.
Duncan stands tall to deny Najjarine a near-certain goal (8.41pm AEDT)
Somehow, the score remains at 0-0. Ramy Najjarine’s one-on-one with Duncan looked an almost certain goal, with the young attacker latching onto a James Troisi through pass and sizing up the target.
Najjarine let his attempt on goal fly, but Duncan got off his line with pace to get a strong block on the shot and send it away from danger.
‘How did that not go in?’ Traore goes closest for Wanderers (8.34pm AEDT)
A close-range strike from Wanderers full-back Adama Traore has somehow evaded the back of the net, with Jordan Elsey diving across his path inside the six-yard box to block his volleyed attempt with the goal at his mercy.
Jets keeper Jack Duncan helped close the space to ensure Traore’s shot was blocked at the final opportunity.
Tight start to contest in Newcastle (8.21pm AEDT)
Jets striker Beka Mikeltadze tries a shot on the half volley from a tight angle which skies over the bar in the 25th minute of play as it remains goalless between the Jets and Wanderers.
Western Sydney have had the majority of the early opportunities, with five shots to three getting Mark Rudan’s side on the front foot.
KICK-OFF: (7.55PM AEDT)
The Jets and Wanderers engage in battle at McDonald Jones Stadium.
TEAM NEWS
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: WESTERN UNITED v SYDNEY FC
FULL-TIME: WESTERN UNITED 1-0 SYDNEY FC
That’s six straight home wins for Western United, who return to the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table with their seventh 1-0 win of the season.
Seven of eight United wins this season have come via a 1-0 scoreline.
Watch highlights below.
GOAL! Finally an opener as touch of class puts United ahead (6.50pm AEDT)
A sharp move from United has opened the scoring with Steven Lustica putting the finish on the board.
Neil Kilkenny found the feet of Aleksandar Prijović inside the penalty area, and with his back to goal the striker flicked the ball into space for Lustica to run onto.
The midfielder faked to shoot then skipped past Grant before placing the ball into the top-left corner from close range to put United 1-0 ahead.
Warland off his own bar as United threaten (6.40pm AEDT)
Sky Blues defender Ben Warland was all at sea attempting to clear a United cross into the box off the left flank, meeting the ball with his left foot to send it looping toward his own goal instead.
The ball floated over Redmayne’s head, dropping onto the crossbar and out for a corner.
SECOND HALF: Brosque looks to Sydney’s bench to make the difference (6.30pm AEDT)
Paramount+ analyst and former Sydney FC forward Alex Brosque likes what he sees on the Sky Blues bench.
During the half-time show, Brosque pondered whether the firepower at Steve Corica’s disposal could prove the difference after a goalless first half:
HALF-TIME: WESTERN UNITED 0-0 SYDNEY FC
It’s goalless at the break at AAMI Park. Sydney FC had the better of the chances, ensuring United’s defence kept busy through the first 45.
Bayew’s big chance late in the half was the home side’s best, but Redmayne was up to the task of keeping it out.
CHANCE! Bayew with the best United chance of the half (6.04pm AEDT)
A line-breaking pass from defence by Leo Lacroix sent Western on their first genuine attacking foray in the 38th minute of play.
The play fed through Lachie Wales and ended at the feet of Adisu Bayew on the left side of the 18-yard box. Bayew cut onto his right and drove a low shot on goal, calling Andrew Redmayne into his first genuine action of the day to keep the ball out.
Sky Blues start the brightest (5.50pm AEDT)
Sydney FC are creating all the attacking play through the first half hour of play, with eight shots to United’s one and four shots on target as opposed to the home side’s zero.
KICK-OFF: UNDERWAY AT AAMI PARK (5.25PM AEDT)
It’s a top-four clash at AAMI Park as Rhyan Grant captains the Sky Blues into battle.
The away side gets the ball rolling in their first of two fixtures in four games at the Melbourne venue as United try to go back above Melbourne City to the top of the table.
