Round 18 of the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League season rolled into Saturday with three games on the agenda.
Sydney FC and Melbourne City got the action underway at Allianz Stadium, with stunning goals to Jordan Courtney-Perkins and Marco Tilio highlighting an entertaining 1-1 draw.
Attention then turned to Coopers Stadium where Adelaide United rallied late but fell to a 2-1 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers.
The action wrapped up in WA as Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix went toe-to-toe in a goalless Distance Derby.
ROAR 2-2 WESTERN: ‘Curse strikes again’ as substitute’s 91st-minute equaliser rescues point for Roar
Catch up with the highlights from Friday night’s 2-2 draw between Brisbane Roar and Western United below
Sydney FC 1-1 Melbourne City
MATCH CENTRE: Click here for stats, highlights, video and more
Melbourne City winger Marco Tilio produced a moment of individual brilliance to net the reigning Isuzu UTE A-League Premiers a point in a 1-1 draw with Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening.
Sydney led through left-back Jordan Courtney-Perkins’ stellar strike in the first half but despite dominating possession and chances the hosts couldn’t put their opponents away and it proved costly as Tilio’s brilliant solo run and finish – assisted by goalkeeper Jamie Young – earned City a point on the road.
The Sky Blues had the chance to move above Macarthur FC and into the top four but couldn’t notch a third-consecutive win to keep recent momentum rolling.
City can take positives from coming back to earn a point against one of the in-form sides in the league – but Saturday’s result made it four games without a win as head coach Aurelio Vidmar continues to search for the points needed to make up ground on the top six.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Sizzling strike from City’s Celtic loanee rescues a point in clash with Sky Blues
Adelaide United 1-2 Western Sydney Wanderers
MATCH CENTRE: Click here for stats, highlights, video and more
Ten-man Adelaide United rallied late but could not find a share of the spoils as Western Sydney Wanderers clung on to notch a 2-1 win at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.
Two first-half goals to Nicolas Milanovic put Western Sydney in command and after a 75th-minute red card to Ben Halloran, the visitors looked set to cruise to the final whistle before Luka Jovanovic’s deficit-halving goal in the 94th minute.
The Reds launched a desperate push for an equalising goal but referee Alex King put an end to the comeback hopes with the final whistle after 12 minutes of additional time.
Halloran’s straight red card came as a result of a challenge on Wanderers full-back Aidan Simmons which referee Alex King deemed a red-card offence.
The Reds have now lost four of their last five games. Western Sydney meantime moved up to fourth on the Isuzu UTE A-League table with the win away from home.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Wanderers survive late push from 10-man Reds to notch slender win on the road
Perth Glory 0-0 Wellington Phoenix
MATCH CENTRE: Click here for stats, highlights, video and more
Perth Glory have extended their unbeaten run to six games, drawing 0-0 with league-leaders Wellington Phoenix at HBF Park on Saturday night.
Adam Taggart threatened on multiple occasions for Perth while keepers Alex Paulsen and Oli Sail made a series of clutch saves down either end.
Phoenix midfielder Ben Old came closest for the visitors in the second half but struck the post from a narrow angle as both sides kept their respective sheets clean in the goalless draw.
FULL MATCH REPORT: League-leaders held by in-form Perth in goalless Distance Derby draw
