Perth Glory and Melbourne City dropped points in a weekend of action which saw Adelaide United tighten up the battle for ascendancy in the top six.
Sydney FC stretched their lead at the top to 13 points with a tight win over Brisbane Roar while Western Sydney Wanderers beckoned in a new era under Jean-Paul de Marigny with a win on the road against Central Coast Mariners.
But who were the players that stood out to earn a spot in this round’s Team of the Week?
Read on to find out who made it in our 3-4-3 formation.
SATURDAY REPORT: Adelaide United v Melbourne City
SUNDAY REPORT: Central Coast Mariners v Western Sydney Wanderers
Goalkeeper
Jamie Young (Brisbane Roar)
He may have been on the losing side, but there was no denying the Roar shot-stopper did his part as he foiled Sydney FC’s attack from open play on Friday night.
Following a relatively quiet first-half from both sides, Young proved his quality with five crucial saves as the Sky Blues sought to press their numerical advantage in the final half-hour.
His 67th minute double stop to deny Luke Brattan and Adam Le Fondre was the pick of the bunch – combining the positioning and reflexes that make him one of the toughest keepers to beat in the Hyundai A-League.
REPORT: Le Fondre penalty the difference as Sydney see off 10 man Roar
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128564822001
Defenders
Matt Millar (Newcastle Jets)
Somehow, for all of the Newcastle wing-back’s relentless probing of Western United on Saturday afternoon, Millar left the McDonald Jones Stadium pitch without an assist to his name.
Millar saw Dimitri Petratos produce the miss of the season after finding the Socceroo with a cutback, and he found constant joy behind the Western United defence.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128829927001
Andrew Durante (Western United)
Yes, Western United were fortunate to come away with a clean sheet in Saturday’s stalemate with Newcastle but the fact they did at all is credit to Durante’s leadership.
United were under the pump but the veteran defender showed all of his experience to help the league new boys escape with a point. He made two interceptions, eight clearances and won one duel.
Ivan Franjic (Perth Glory)
Perth Glory’s full back put on a crossing master-class against Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.
He ended the contest with one assist but he could have had four to his name; Bruno Fornaroli hit the post from an acrobatic scissor kick off a Franjic cross in the first half, and after Nick D’Agostino scored a late equaliser from a superb delivery from Franjic he could have scored a couple more in added time when Glory’s number five found him twice more with dangerous balls into the box.
SATURDAY REPORT: Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128864502001
Midfielders
Nicolai Müller (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Müller was the shining light in the Wanderers’ first game under Jean-Paul de Marigny, as the German used all of his creative tools to craft a winning margin for the Wanderers on their travels.
Müller scored the first goal of the game and set Simon Cox up for the sealer in the dying stages, creating six chances throughout the game, laying four crosses and winning the bulk of his 13 duels throughout the contest.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128969004001
Luke Brattan (Sydney FC)
Fresh from securing a new two-year deal with the Sky Blues, Brattan immediately repaid the faith of coach Steve Corica with a tireless turn in hot conditions at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium on Friday night.
He proved unshakeable on the ball with a match-best 106 touches and 90 passes across his 90 minutes on the pitch, while also creating three chances for his side.
The only thing missing was a goal but it wasn’t for want of trying as he drew key stops from Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young with fierce drives in each half that on another day would have earned their reward.
Nathan Konstandopoulos (Adelaide United)
Konstandopoulos and Adelaide were always in full control of Saturday’s 3-1 win over Melbourne City. The young midfielder helped sense of ease with another excellent appearance in the middle in the Reds’ engine room.
He also played a crucial role in Ben Halloran’s first and George Blackwood’s third goal for the Reds on the night with two sublime corner kick deliveries.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128842854001
Riley McGree (Adelaide United)
McGree tormented his former club and City defenders on a night he underlined his totemic importance to Gertjan Verbeek’s side.
The Australian youth international’s corner teed up Halloran’s second, one of three chances McGree conjured in the contest.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128842836001
Forwards
Ben Halloran (Adelaide United)
Two neat finishes at the back post for the Adelaide winger highlighted Halloran’s impact aganst City, but it was his all-round forward play that earns him a spot in the weekend’s best 11.
Halloran kept the visitors on edge all evening and on a different occasion the flying winger could have notched a career-first hat-trick.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128839683001
Bruno Fornaroli (Perth Glory)
Perth Glory’s star striker played like a man possessed against Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.
Facing a one-goal deficit in the first half Fornaroli willed Perth back into the contest single-handedly, scoring a perfectly-placed free kick on the stroke of half time after winning the foul on his own to bring his side back into it.
The bulk of Fornaroli’s work was done in the first half but his efforts early on gave Glory the inspiration they needed to fight off a stern Victory test and earn a hard-fought draw.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128857586001
Andrew Nabbout (Melbourne Victory)
A goal and assist from Andrew Nabbout helped Melbourne Victory on their way to snapping a three-game losing streak in an impressive display on the road against Perth Glory.
Nabbout set up the first goal of the contest by cutting into the box and teeing up Ola Toivonen to score a sumptuous finish, and Victory’s number nine was at it again in the second half when he burst onto a rapid counter attack to cut inside of Alex Grant and roll an inch-perfect curling attempt into the back of the net.
Under the immense pressure of their recent shortcomings Nabbout led Victory’s positive resurgence against the Glory with his clinical attacking display.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128862251001