Newcastle Jets continue to impress, Phoenix are taking it the #NixLevel while Brisbane Roar paraded their new signing in their win.
Here’s the latest Hyundai A-League friendly results ahead of the new season kicking off on October 7.
Jets joy for Jones
The Jets recorded their sixth consecutive pre-season victory with a convincing 2-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at Cessnock Sportsground on Saturday.
Newly appointed coach Mark Jones was on hand as goals in either half to in-form Andrew Hoole and Andrew Nabbout secured a confidence-boosting win for the hosts.
The Wanderers employed an experimental line-up for the clash with a number of senior players rested as Tony Popovic looked to give some of his younger brigade game time.
Hoole was a standout for the Hunter-based outfit, causing the Wanderers plenty of problems with his speed and directness throughout the contest.
The 22-year-old has now scored seven goals in the pre-season and looks primed for a breakout season in the Hyundai A-League.
Nix rule in Nelson
In New Zealand, Wellington Phoenix got the better of Central Coast Mariners for the second time in a week, earning a hard-fought 2-1 win in Nelson.
Kosta Barbarouses put the Nix ahead in the 22nd minute from the penalty spot before Connor Pain restored parity on the half hour mark with a neat finish after being played in behind.
The Mariners were reduced to 10-men after Jacques Faty was shown a straight red for pulling down Roy Krishna as the Fijian was bearing down on goal.
Wellington took advantage of the extra man just four minutes into the second stanza with Krishna burying a close-range header after a delightful cross from Barbarouses.
Macca’s Roar brace
Elsewhere, former Socceroo Brett Holman saw his first action as Brisbane Roar eased to a 3-1 win over a PS4 NPL Queensland Under-23 select side on Saturday afternoon.
Club great Thomas Broich opened the scoring for John Aloisi’s side before a brace to Jamie Maclaren sealed a dominant win at QSAC.
Holman showed glimpses of his class in a 45-minute cameo, combining with Dimitri Petratos to set-up Roar’s second goal.
In positive news, luckless defender Luke DeVere got through the full 90-minute as he continues to build fitness after a long-term injury.
City defeat City
Marquee recruits Tim Cahill and Nicolas Colazo were on target for Melbourne City as they downed Auckland City in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Sunday.
Youngster Daniel Arzani set up City’s opening goal with a mazy run inside the box before teeing up Colazo who smashed home a powerful strike into the roof of the net.
Cahill popped up in injury time to seal the win with a close-range finish after a well-weighted cross from former Adelaide United winger Bruce Kamau.
