Goals galore, records broken and a new Hyundai A-League leader – Round 21 had it all. Grab a coffee and enjoy your Monday morning wrap with videos of the action and after-match pressers.
Sydney FC
Marc Janko became the first player to score in seven-consecutive Hyundai A-League matches, smashing a hat-trick as Sydney FC held off a fast-finishing Brisbane 5-4 at a rainy Allianz Stadium on Sunday. Brosque and Jurman with a screamer were the other scorers for the Sky Blues. In a crazy match that saw three penalties and five goals in the last 15 minutes, the Sky Blues held on for another three points, propelling them into second spot on the ladder.
See Graham Arnold’s press conference
Brisbane Roar FC
The Roar revival has been halted, albeit briefly, after they put four past the Sky Blues but failed to leave the Harbour City with any points to show. With 10 minutes to go and 4-1 down (Henrique bagged the early goal), the Queenslanders surged back into it as Kaluderovic and Lustica made it 4-3 before a late goal to Sydney had them up 5-3. But Dimitri Petratos with one against his former club made it interesting, but ultimately it wasn’t enough as Roar missed the chance to move back into the top six losing 5-4 in a thriller.
Melbourne City FC
You never quite know which City will turn up. This weekend the very good one performed at AAMI after former Jet Kew Jaliens, new man Harry Novillo, David Williams and Iain Ramsay netted against a hapless Jets to run out easy 4-0 winners. City’s finals hopes remain, they sit in six boosted by Roar’s loss in Sydney.
See John van’t Schip’s press conference
Newcastle Jets
Lost 4-0 to Melbourne City FC in a very poor display. Coach Phil Stubbins summed it up accurately after the game: “From start to finish, we weren’t at the races. You can’t hide behind a performance like that. We were clearly outplayed by a better team on the day. [It was] a performance that wasn’t worthy of our own expectations. It wasn’t good enough.” He was spot on.
Perth Glory
The 1-2 loss brought an end to Perth’s run of 16 consecutive rounds at the summit. Kenny Lowe’s men now fourth after losing to Phoenix on Saturday at nib. Zadkovich with a belter of a strike from range not enough to beat the new league leaders. Glory head to Central Coast this weekend with three points an absolute must.
Wellington Phoenix
Wellington Phoenix moved to the top of the Hyundai A-League table after a Roy Krishna double helped the New Zealand outfit to a 2-1 win over Perth Glory at nib Stadium on Saturday night. Krishna scored either side of a super-strike from Glory to help Phoenix to their third consecutive win and first spot on the ladder. What a weekend for the Yellow Fever.
See Ernie Merrick’s press conference
Western Sydney Wanderers FC
No points but a gutsy performance from a re-jigged red and black who’d played just two days earlier. With virtually a completely different starting XI to the one that defeated City on Wednesday night, Wanderers pushed their opponent and only late on did they wilt as Victory’s clash shone through on Friday night. Some encouraging signs despite the 3-0 loss at home.
Melbourne Victory
Besart Berisha finished with a brace with a goal in each half, either side of Archie Thompson’s goal to ensure a comfortable night for the visitors, winning 3-0 at Wanderland against a determined Wanderers on Friday night The star of the show was import Fahid Ben Khalfallah, though, who ran the game for Victory in a master-class display. They now head to Adelaide for a cracker against the Reds.
See Kevin Muscat’s press conference
Adelaide United
The Reds rallied from a goal down to register a hard-fought 2-1 win at Coopers Stadium on Thursday night. Marcelo Carrusca’s strike saw the two sides locked at 1-1 at half-time, but United seized the lead with Craig Goodwin’s lucky deflected goal in the 67th minute, which proved enough. A much-needed win after two consecutive losses in recent weeks. Adelaide in fifth a point behind the stuttering Glory.
See Josep Gombau’s press conference
Central Coast Mariners
A plucky Mariners went down 2-1 in Adelaide but not without a fight. After the Mariners had the better of the early exchanges, Caceres from 20 yards out blazed a long-range peach past the outstretched Eugene Galekovic. But the visitors couldn’t hold on losing 2-1. Finals football appears gone for this season for Tony Walmsley’s men, but this display was encouraging.
