On this week’s episode of The Official Isuzu UTE A-League Podcast, host Daniel Garb is joined by Tom Smithies and David Davutovic to discuss Adelaide United’s title chances, Perth Glory’s great escape and more. Listen below.
All signs point to this season’s Isuzu UTE A-League Championship battle going down to the wire.
Melbourne City look all-but certain to sweep up the Premiers Plate, sitting six points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand. But then come the finals – and there’s a team unbeaten in nine games who recently took City to the cleaners – and they’re shaping up as a genuine contender in the championship fight.
Adelaide United moved into second spot on the A-League Men table with a 4-2 win over Newcastle Jets in Round 20. Reds captain Craig Goodwin was a dominant force in the away triumph, with Nestory Irankunda netting a customary goal off the bench.
KEEPUP’s Tom Smithies and David Davutovic joined host Daniel Garb on this week’s episode of The Official Isuzu UTE A-League podcast to discuss Adelaide’s title hopes.
“I’ll say it: they can win the title,” Garb said. “If they can keep everything tight around Craig Goodwin and Nestory Irankunda, Adelaide can beat Melbourne City to the title.
“We haven’t been game enough to raise another contender this season. I’ll say it: the Reds are a legitimate one!”
“I agree Garby, I think they’re a real shout,” replied Davutovic. “I think they’ve got a lot of upside as well, there’s been so much inconsistency in the defence, particularly the stoppers positions which are so important. You know a lot of the teams that go on and win titles, generally the back two – the back three incorporating the goalkeeper – or the back five, tends to stay pretty solid.
“I think if they can bed down those positions and get that consistency going, I would be surprised if we didn’t see them in the Grand Final.
“Craig Goodwin is the talisman, he’s just got that confidence, ability and star factor to really carry them along. You mentioned Irankunda but there are so many other young players who are getting opportunities. They’re really absolutely nailing their DNA, they’re getting their young local players in and as a consequence, there’s that continuity also with some of those overseas players… there’s a real continuity, and a connection with the fans. You’re seeing that translate into the stands, the terraces, the atmosphere.”
Buy tickets to this weekend’s Sydney Derby!
MATCH DETAILS: SYDNEY DERBY
Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
Saturday, March 18 2023
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Allianz Stadium
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS
‘I’d be ashamed’: ‘Clumsy’ centre-half bailed out by Glory’s ‘daylight robbery’
It was the equal-fastest red card in Isuzu UTE A-League Men history – and in the end, Perth Glory centre-back Jordan Elsey was lucky it didn’t cost his side points in what eventually turned into a memorable night for the club at HBF Park.
Glory were down a man against Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday night from the second minute after Elsey’s reckless challenge on Yeni Ngbakoto just 57 seconds after kick-off. The Wanderers went on to have 66% of possession, taking 29 shots to Glory’s 10 – and despite hitting the woodwork on two occasions, failed to find a breakthrough.
Then, in the 95th minute, Glory found an unlikely winner through Aaron McEneff to spark chaotic scenes of celebration as the club marked their return to HBF Park in style.
“They got battered!” said Smithies. “I don’t know how they didn’t concede. Honestly, that was one of the most one-way games I’ve ever seen. And then, to score at the end like that is absolute daylight robbery – not that Ruben Zadkovich would care!
“If I was him I would be having long words with Jordan Elsey though. That’s not a mistimed challenge or lunging in, it is the clumsiest challenge I think I’ve ever seen. It was like he was tripping over things and somehow landed on the back of a heel – and clearly a straight red.
“To happen so early in the game, the lack of discipline, leaving his side up against it like that, I’d be ashamed to come in to training on Monday.”
But concerns over Elsey’s ill-discipline will pale in comparison to the delight around the club throughout this week after one of the more memorable results in Glory’s A-League Men history, recorded against a team vying for a spot in the top two.
And besides the last-gasp winner, there would have been no better sight for Glory fans on Friday night than watching 20-year-old Keegan Jelacic putting on one of his best performances of a breakout season, making his presence felt all over the park despite his side’s one-man disadvantage.
“It was great to see them back at the stadium,” Davutovic said. “Macedonia Park has been fantastic and a cauldron of sorts, and it’s been great watching those games. That translated into a real feel-good vibe atmosphere the other night… a great occasion.
“The one name really on everyone’s lips in the west at the moment is Keegan Jelacic. He got a shoutout from Ruben Zadkovich, and I know the Perth Glory coaching staff rate him really highly. Fantastic, when you talk about tug-of-war, he was a New Zealand youth international and he was just selected in the Olyroos squad, so obviously committing his future to Australia where he was born and bred.
“He’s a really exciting young talent, he’s got a lot of upside considering he hasn’t played a lot of senior football. The way they’ve uncovered him, he’s clearly Brisbane Roar’s loss because he grew up in that neck of the woods.
“But credit to Perth Glory for plucking and finding him, and he’s only going to get better and better as the season wears on.”
Buy tickets to this weekend’s Sydney Derby!
The veteran Western striker ‘mentoring’ Noah Botic through hot-streak
With the best run of form over the past three rounds of any team in the league, Western United look to be timing their run to the finals to perfection.
John Aloisi’s reigning champions have won three games on the bounce as they surged to within two points of Sydney FC in sixth; now, a win over Brisbane Roar on Saturday afternoon would allow Western to jump above the Sky Blues and put all the pressure on Steve Corica’s side to respond in Saturday night’s Sydney Derby.
Western aren’t the only side gunning for Sydney’s spot in the six, with Newcastle Jets and Macarthur FC both within three points at the end of Round 20. But last year’s champions are in the box seat after turning a horrid run of early-season form around – and plenty of their recent resurgence can be credited to the red-hot form of Noah Botic who has bagged five goals in as many games.
“Three wins in a row is all it takes in the A-League to get right back in contention if you’re struggling,” Garb said.
Davutovic responded: “It was an horrific start to the season. Some of their top brass were clearly not performing including Leo Lacroix in defence, and they were having issues with Aleks Prijovic.
“They seem to have settled from that point of view, there’s clarity around John Aloisi’s future and I think they’ve done okay in that January transfer window… it’s paved the way for Noah Botic to come in and make an impact.
“You know what? Sometimes you just need a young player to come in and give you a little bit of energy and a spark. I think that’s what Botic has done.
“Even watching and listening to Prijovic in the post-match interview, he’s talking about how he’s really enjoying mentoring young Botic. And John Aloisi also is getting a real thrill out of it as a former striker. Momentum is everything as they showed last season, and the way they’re going I guess it’s difficult to see them missing out on finals.”
“Clearly Prijovic is a mentor but also helping him on the pitch,” Smithies added. “Having him right next to him is an enormous thing for Noah Botic. (We’re seeing) see a player take that opportunity and start lifting through the gears.”
