Perth Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy hasn’t lost his sense of humour, despite being on the receiving end of another Hyundai A-League milestone goal.
The competition’s latest goal-scoring landmark came about when Reddy was beaten by Ola Toivonen’s beautifully struck free-kick in Melbourne Victory’s 2-0 win over Perth Glory on Saturday evening.
The 37-year-old shot stopper has long been allied with milestone moments and competition records, and his role in this latest one confirmed Reddy’s place as a firm part of the Hyundai A-League furniture.
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1: He was the man in between the sticks when Adelaide United’s Carl Veart scored the competition’s first ever goal, against Reddy’s Newcastle Jets in August 2005.
1000: Next, the Sydney United 58 junior was beaten by Carlos Hernandez’s bullet for Melbourne Victory to bring up the 1000th strike in the comp’s history, against Brisbane Roar in Round 2 of 2009/10.
2000: Reddy missed out on the next milestone by a mere 10 minutes when Perth Glory defender Josh Mitchell knocked the 2000th past Wellington Phoenix gloveman Tony Warner in the 90th minute of their Round 15 encounter in 2011/12. In the subsequent match, between Sydney and Central Coast, Mariners midfielder Oliver Bozanic put the ball past our man nine minutes in for the league’s 2001st goal.
3000: Only injury prevented Reddy from conceding the competition’s 3000th goal, a fantastic half-volley scored by Sydney FC’s Terry Antonis against Central Coast Mariners in Round 4 of 2014/15. Matt Nash – now goalkeeping coach at the Mariners, and replacing the unfit Reddy in the starting XI on the day – saw Antonis’ effort fly past him into the back of the net.
First 5000 @aleague goals – goalkeepers most goals conceded:
394 conceded – Reddy (1.5 goals conceded per game)
359 Moss (1.6)
357 Galekovic (1.3)
313 Vukovic (1.2)
264 Theo (1.2)
258 Kennedy (1.7)
246 Covic (1.5)
230 Janjetovic (1.5)
214 Bolton (1.2)
183 Redmayne (1.2)— andrew howe (@AndyHowe_statto) March 30, 2019
4000: Reddy was back in the gloves for Perth Glory when Roy Krishna brought up the 4000-goal milestone, letting the Wellington Phoenix striker’s shot squirm through his grasp in Round 14 of 2016/17.
5000: In a testament to the ‘keeper’s endurance, Reddy was on the receiving end yet again as Toivonen curled in the Hyundai A-League’s 5000th on Saturday to condemn Glory to defeat.
And with Reddy signing a two-year contract extension at the Premiership leaders back in March, there might prove to be more milestone goals still to come. He certainly hopes so, as can be seen by his tweet below.
That’s some stat, hopefully I’ll still be around for 6000 & 7000 ? https://t.co/xuuik1lgop
— Liam Reddy (@LiamReddy33) March 30, 2019
History was made last night as Ola Toivonen scored the 5000th @ALeague goal! 🇸🇪👏
Where does it rank amongst the other milestone goals? pic.twitter.com/dWLFrMHtxT
— Fox Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) March 31, 2019
Split loyalties
The task of mothering two aspiring footballers could not have been a straightforward one for Leanne Baccus.
But it has been mission accomplished in triumphant fashion, with sons Kearyn (27) and Keanu (20) now established Hyundai A-League midfielders thanks in no small part to her tireless support.
Still, there was an almighty conflict of interests for Mrs. Baccus when Keanu’s Western Sydney Wanderers played host to Kearyn’s Melbourne City on Saturday evening.
Thankfully, she found a creative way to balance her allegiances as the Wanderers beat City 3-0, with Kearyn anchoring the midfield from the opening whistle and Keanu coming on in the second half.
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The Mother of Kearyn and Keanu Baccus is a legend!
Well played with the half-and-half shirt. ? #WSWvMCY #ALeague pic.twitter.com/x9FRDaaZII
— FOX Sports Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) March 30, 2019
Half and half gear gets a bad wrap but when you have a son in both sides I think it’s fair play. Well in Leanne Baccus. #WSWvMCY @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/C0m1w6Aexi
— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) March 30, 2019
Grand old Duke
Making the top six might be a bit of a stretch for the Wanderers, but if Mitch Duke’s in your side then anything is possible.
The former Central Coast Mariner found the net again for Markus Babbel’s side in their 3-0 win over Melbourne City, finishing coolly after a surging run and cross from Raul Llorente – and celebrated with a move straight out of a yoga studio.
Duke has offered the Wanderers real flexibility across the front line since his arrival – clearly a trait he has in spades on the basis of that celebration.
That’s four goals in just 323 minutes for the 28-year-old after his move to the Wanderers from J-League outfit Shimizu S-Pulse in January.
“To be fair, all the boys have noticed that I’m really flexible when I stretch,” he told the club’s facebook after the match.
“I’m stretching all the time in the change rooms.
“So [I thought] why not – next goal I score I’ll do the splits, everyone was just loving it.
“It was a great reaction from the Wellington game. We just want to finish undefeated now in the next four games that’s left.”
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