Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au brings you all the biggest talking points from each round of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Read on for all the biggest talking points from Round 13, thanks to Mitre.
BUY TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE!
Western United becoming the late comeback specialists
Another week, another insane comeback from Western United and it is certainly not luck, according to head coach John Aloisi.
Like their trip to Western Australia, Western emerged from the jaws of defeat to stun Melbourne Victory 4-3 at AAMI Park on Friday night.
Heading into the first minute of stoppage time, Western trailed 3-2 until Noah Botic equalised in the 91st minute before Hiroshi Ibusuki completed the comeback in the 94th minute.
MATCH REPORT: Western United seal incredible comeback win over Victory thanks to stunning late show
“If it was the first time, we’d say maybe it’s a little (bit of) luck, but it’s not the first time this season we’ve done that,” Aloisi told reporters.
“It’s the belief the boys have to keep going. They show such resilience and character. It’s all the preparation they’ve done, not only pre-season but in the season.
“It’s easy to get lost in that Christmas period and start doing things your family and friends are doing, but they’re elite athletes, we had a big schedule – four games in 12 days.”
‘IF THEY WIN’: Aloisi’s hilarious promise to Western squad after stunning late comeback
Aloisi’s Western are fast becoming the late comeback specialists.
Against Perth Glory on on January 3, the Green and Black also trailed approaching the first minute of stoppage time before Tate Russell restored parity in the 91st minute and Jordan Lauton’s incredible bicycle kick won it in the 95th minute at HBF Park.
The 2022 champions have now scored four goals in the 91st minute or later to win matches this season, while they also netted an 87th-minute winner to down Sydney FC earlier this season.
By comparison, high-flying Auckland have scored two goals in stoppage time to either draw or win this season, while they had a 96th-minute strike to seal victory over Wellington Phoenix.
As for Sydney FC, they have also managed two goals in the 90th minute or later to either earn a point or snatch victory, while Adrian Segecic’s 94th-minute goal completed his hat-trick and sealed a 4-1 win over Central Coast Mariners on Saturday.
Western have also turned a corner as their attack wreaks havoc on the competition. Prior to their 4-3 win over Sydney in December, Aloisi’s men had scored seven goals in seven games. Since then, Western have netted 16 times across six fixtures, having bagged four goals in wins over the Sky Blues, Auckland and Victory.
‘WE SHOULD BE PROUD’: Coach’s powerful A-Leagues message that everyone needs to hear
“The resilience is definitely there and the belief is there because when we went 3-3 you just sense they want to win the game,” Aloisi said.
“They don’t want to just sit off and hope for a draw. That’s why you’re still pushing and hoping if you push enough, one more chance would come.
“When we were 3-2 down, I was mentioning to the coaches, we will have one more chance here, I know we will. That’s why we kept Hiro and Noah on. They may have run out of legs a little bit but they’re so dangerous in the box. They’re real poachers and goalscorers.”
Reds recruit continuing to shine amid historic run: ‘He’s very dangerous’
Adelaide United are in the midst of their longest winning run away from home in Isuzu UTE A-League history – and an unheralded signing is playing a key role.
MATCH REPORT: Record-breaking Reds bag another away win as super sub repeats match-winning heroics
Luka Jovanovic came off the bench to score the winner at Sky Stadium, while Dylan Pierias is continuing to shine as an attacking full-back.
The former Melbourne City, Western United and Western Sydney Wanderers player was brought to Coopers Stadium as a winger but the 24-year-old has flourished at full-back in the absence of injured teammate Panashe Madanha.
At Adelaide this season, Pierias is first among his teammates for open-play crosses (56), while he ranks second for chances created from open play (13), assists (2), interceptions (15), carry directness (75.8), opposition half take-ons (28), total carry progress (1,323.7), total carries (173) and total carry distance (2,277.3), while he is third for opposition box take-ons (6), average carry progress with take-ons (8.5), fourth for possession won (46) and fifth for tackles won (8).
“We brought Dylan to the club as a winger but it was also at the back of my mind that he could also play that right wing-back attacking full-back role that we’re playing this season,” Adelaide head coach Carl Veart told reporters when asked about Pierias.
“It’s unfortunate that Panashe who was playing that position has picked up a serious injury and that was before the season started too.
“Dylan has slotted in there and has been great for us every week. He’s very dangerous and creates a lot of chances for us. Very happy with him.”
‘Sensational’ young gun makes history for Sydney
Adrian Segecic became Sydney FC’s youngest ever hat-trick scorer in the Isuzu UTE A-League on Saturday night.
MATCH REPORT: Sensational Segecic scores hat-trick off the bench as Sydney FC see off the Mariners
The young gun completed his treble in a 23-minute period as he became the fifth youngest hat-trick hero in the history of the Isuzu UTE A-League, only adrift of Nestory Irankunda (18y, 49d), Nathan Burns (18y, 259d), Riley McGree (19y, 163d) and Adam Taggart (20y, 175d).
“Adrian has been fantastic since day one. His mentality and attitude has been sensational for us and for me as a coach to have these players within a squad,” Sydney head coach Ufuk Talay told reporters.
“He could have been frustrated when he wasn’t playing but he had moments when he has done well and we made a decision to not play him and bring him on later. He definitely made an impact. We just don’t talk about going there to score three goals.”
‘I’VE BEEN KILLING IT!’: Sydney FC gun hoping for Socceroos call after stunning display
Segecic has now scored five goals in the A-Leagues this season – the best return of his professional career, equalling the haul he tallied during a loan stint with Dordrecht in the Dutch second division last season.
The Australia youth international is soaring to new heights after his European experience.
When asked what has changed since his loan spell, Talay added: “The style of play we play, he is a very energetic player. He is good in pressing and playing in between lines.
“We’re trying to play him in a position where he can use his best attributes and that’s in between lines and playing behind the opposition midfielders.”
‘I’VE HEARD’: Mariners boss reveals area he wants to ‘explore’ in transfer market amid speculation
City benefiting from ‘important’ change after ‘robotic’ season
Melbourne City have been decimated by injuries but they still find themselves top of the table as their young brigade impress under Aurelio Vidmar, who has introduced a small tweak to how his team operate after matches.
Without injured stars like Mathew Leckie, Marco Tilio, Jimmy Jeggo, Yonatan Cohen, Andreas Keun and Max Caputo, City have still managed to soar to the top of the table following Saturday’s 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar.
‘THIS IS WHY YOU CREATE AN ACADEMY’: Legend blown away as City young guns continue to thrive
City endured a difficult 2023-24 as they scraped into the Finals Series before going down to rivals Melbourne Victory but they impressing this season, even amid an injury crisis as their list of academy graduates make a name for themselves.
Against the Roar, it was Benjamin Mazzeo who scored for the second straight game and head coach Vidmar revealed a small change to the club’s post-game activity is helping the team.
‘RUMOURS ARE TRUE’: Roar coach drops major transfer hint as clubs circle for teen striker
“It is absolutely normal to get carried away at some stage,” Vidmar said of his young squad.
“I won a Championship at 19 and I thought this is easy, my first year. Then the next year and the year after, you get smashed in the face. It doesn’t work like that and you always have to come to work and sweat, and do all the things to make you very good on any given day. That will be the message.
“We are super, super happy and we have to enjoy it. That’s one thing last season, I don’t feel we really enjoyed the wins. It was very robotic. You train, you play, you win, you come into the change room – people are doing recovery, guys are out there doing top-ups. They have something to eat and then it’s a hug, shake hands and it disappears.
“What we’ve instilled this season is a function on the opposite side of the grandstand. Players can go there for 20-30 minutes, have a drink and invite their family and friends.
“It feels more family-orientated. That’s growing. Things like that are important.”
The c word that frustrated Auckland boss after unexpected performance
Auckland FC head coach Steve Corica felt his side were complacent in their shock 1-0 loss away to lowly Perth Glory on Saturday night.
High-flying newcomers Auckland were top of the table before the weekend but find themselves third in the standings, albeit with a game in hand, following a surprise defeat at the hands of second-bottom Perth at HBF Park.
MATCH REPORT: Glory end record home losing streak with shock triumph over Auckland
It was Auckland’s second defeat in 11 games as they entered the came on the back of a bye.
Asked about complacency and whether it was difficult to guard against it when facing a struggling Glory outfit, Corica told reporters: “Well, I put that down to that in the first half.
“It was not what we planned on and not what I expected.
“We shouldn’t have any complacency because we were at the top, all the other teams won around us and there’s no bigger motivation than to keep winning.
“It went wrong in the first half. Disappointed with the performance and how we went around the game.”
As for Glory counterpart David Zdrilic, he watched Perth snap their record seven-game losing streak at home.
Afterwards, Zdrilic lauded match-winning young gun Jaylan Pearman. Read the story here.
Macarthur star scores long-awaited goal and Bulls boss explains celebration
Not since March last year had Bernardo Oliveira scored a goal but the Macarthur Bulls attacker ended that drought amid wild celebrations on Sunday.
A ruptured Achilles cut short Bernardo’s 2023-24 season having made the mid-season move from Adelaide United, but the young gun sealed Macarthur’s 3-1 win away to Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium.
MATCH REPORT: Bulls down Jets as in-form A-Leagues star stakes Socceroos claim in front of Tony Popovic
Bernardo came off the bench and scored in stoppage time before sprinting to the Macarthur bench and celebrating his first goal since returning from his lengthy injury spell.
“He has been out for quite some time and starting to get his fitness again and looking dangerous. I was pleased for him as well,” Bulls head coach Mile Sterjovski told Paramount+.
Sterjovski also explained Bernardo’s celebration against the Jets.
“I told him that we miss celebrating,” the retired Socceroo said with a smile. “We all used to be players and be on the pitch and I said if you score, come celebrate with the staff.
“He did that and it was great.”
‘I’M HOPING’: Newcastle Jets star gives injury update
