Matt Dorman

6 years ago

Hyundai A-League Team of the Week: Round 5

Who were the standout performers in rebel Female Football Round?

We’ve assessed the contenders and opted for a 3-5-2 formation in the mould of Tony Popovic’s high-flying Perth Glory for our Team of the Week.

Did we get our starting XI right for Round 5?

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GOALKEEPER

Glen Moss (Newcastle Jets)

Moss was forced to work hard for his first clean sheet of the campaign, making five saves in Newcastle Jets’ 2-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday night.

His first-half denial of debutant Abraham Majok was exceptional and set the platform for Jets to profit further afield.

CENTRAL DEFENDERS

Georg Niedermeier (Melbourne Victory)

Seems to get better by the week.

Niedermeier was a key contributor at the start of the second half in the Big Blue, when Sydney FC were threatening to edge ahead.

The German tallied eight clearances in total in the 2-1 win, three more than any other player on the pitch.

Taylor Regan (Adelaide United)

Afforded an opportunity in Michael Jakobsen’s absence, centre-back Regan ensured there was no interruption to Adelaide United’s defence.

His five clearances, three interceptions and game-high two blocks were all precious in the Reds’ come-from-behind 3-1 success away to Wellington Phoenix.

Jakobsen will find it tough to get back in if Regan maintains the form he showed on Saturday.

Taylor Regan

Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Newcastle Jets)

The man who lifted the 2015 AFC Champions League trophy for the Wanderers delivered a defensive masterclass against his former employers.

Topor-Stanley made an equal match-high eight clearances to repel Western Sydney, and kept a cool head in the other penalty box to tee up Jason Hoffman’s first-half opener.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5970705731001

WING-BACKS

Josh Risdon (Western Sydney Wanderers)

If there was one man undeserving of being on the losing end on Friday, it was Risdon.

The right-back was a tireless force down the right flank, recording a game-high 98 touches and, if not for the wayward finishing of team-mates, could have had a hat-trick of assists from a series of inviting deliveries.

Josh Risdon

Connor O’Toole (Brisbane Roar)

Still only 21, left-back O’Toole enjoyed perhaps his best game for Brisbane Roar in their confidence-boosting 2-0 victory against Melbourne City.

The former Young Socceroo was defensively sound, making five tackles, and with a bit more luck would have had a goal from the two shots that came as a result of his positivity on the ball.

Connor O'Toole

CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

Neil Kilkenny (Perth Glory)

Perth Glory had to fight until the 95th minute to see off a resilient Central Coast Mariners on Sunday.

Without Kilkenny, they wouldn’t have emerged as the 3-2 winners.

The experienced midfielder was prominently involved in all three of his side’s goals, producing a delightful dink in the lead-up to Chris Ikonomidis’ opener and the delivering crosses for the two that came after half-time.

Keisuke Honda (Melbourne Victory)

Victory boss Kevin Muscat lauded Honda as “excellent” in the Big Blue and there can be few arguments over his assessment.

In addition to coolly settling a tight contest from the spot, the playmaker was an influential force in general play as Sydney FC suffered their first defeat of the season.

He finished the match with 94 touches, five crosses, three tackles, four fouls won and plenty of credit for the result.

ATTACKING MIDFIELDER

Chris Ikonomidis (Perth Glory)

Not all 23-year-olds would have been as composed as Ikonomidis amid the frantic finale at nib Stadium on Sunday.

But as the Lazio product continues to show, he’s already a bona fide star 

Ikonomidis dispatched the winner at the death against the Mariners to make it a brace for the match and four for the season.

FORWARDS

Adam Taggart (Brisbane Roar)

In boosting his tally to five goals in as many games, the in-form Taggart showcased exactly why John Aloisi was so keen to take him to Brisbane.

The 25-year-old is capable of scoring all types of goals, as he demonstrated with a commanding header and clinical poacher’s finish either side of half-time against City.

Ken Ilso (Adelaide United)

Marco Kurz has been searching for a striker and, in new recruit Ilso, looks to have a capable goalscorer on his hands.

The Dane was decisive across the ditch, his clinical brace completing Adelaide’s turnaround and providing Kurz with a welcome selection conundrum.

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