Liberty A-League Round 13 Talking Points: ‘That’s extraordinary… it’s borderline inception!’

Defeats for league leaders Western United and second-placed Melbourne City added plenty of intrigue to Round 13 of the Liberty A-League season, with teams lower down the table making significant strides towards the top four.

But, for any team outside the finals conversation, the time to make a charge is now.

With a lot to dissect, here are the talking points from Round 13 of the Liberty A-League.

TOP-FOUR HOPEFULS HAVE MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB – IT’S TIME TO START NOW

We’re 13 rounds into the Liberty A-League campaign. In season’s gone by, there’d be just one round to go before finals; if the 2022-23 season ended after Round 14, the top four would already be secure. But instead, due to the season’s extension, there’s till plenty to play for between now and Round 20.

Melbourne Victory currently occupy the fourth and final spot in the top four. The reigning champions steadied the ship with a convincing win over Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 13 – but keeping pace across the weekend were three finals hopefuls – Brisbane Roar, Canberra United and Perth Glory – who all recorded impressive wins of their own.

The three clubs all have at least one game in hand on Victory heading into Round 14. Glory – currently nine points behind – have two games in hand, and currently share the league’s equal-best active winning streak of two games. Alex Epakis’s side recorded a statement 3-1 win over league leaders Western United, and could fly up the A-League Women table should they take advantage of their games in hand.

Then there’s Canberra who, after successive 5-0 defeats, steadied the ship with a 3-0 win over Newcastle Jets. Winning their game in hand would pull Njegosh Popovich’s side to within four points of Victory in fourth.

Brisbane moved up to fifth with an impressive road win over struggling Adelaide United, and are now just six points shy of Victory with that all-important game in hand.

Up next for the Roar? A home clash with Victory in Round 14. Bring on the remainder of the campaign – the fight for finals could go down to the wire.

Familiar face comes back to haunt Western United

Alana Jancevski, take a bow.

With the scores level between Western United and Perth Glory, the visitors were rewarded a free-kick on the edge of the area and up stepped substitute Jancevski – who fired home an absolute belter to give Alex Epakis’ side the lead.

Glory would go on to come away with a 3-1 win over league-leading Western, keeping their slim finals hopes alive with a stirring victory on the road – 19 days after their last Liberty A-League game.

But it was Jancevski’s moment of brilliance which provided the spark for Perth to kick-away late, doing so against a familiar face on the opposite bench – Western coach Mark Torcaso.

“What a free-kick!” Dub Zone commentator Teo Pellizzeri said.

“And that is the height of irony because not only is it a Victorian player scoring against Western United, would you believe Alana Jancevski went to St Monicas College – the very school Western Untied coach Marc Torcaso works at.

“That is extraordinary. It’s borderline inception!”

Could Haley follow in the footsteps of USA internationals?

Madison Haley is on fire right now.

The American striker added yet another goal this season when she fired home Sydney FC’s third in their 3-0 romping of Melbourne City on Saturday afternoon.

Haley’s strike was her seventh goal of the season, continuing an incredible campaign with the Sky Blues that has seen her stamp her authority as one of the Liberty A-League’s top attackers.

Pellizzeri, however, believes the sky is the limit for Haley, thinking she could follow in the footsteps of previous Americans who have used the competition as a springboard to the national team.

“Madison Haley is not going back to an NWSL team, I still can’t believe that’s the case,” Pellizzeri said.

“I really think that this is a player who much like Abby Dahlkemper, Sofia Huerta, players that were uncapped when they came to Australia went on to become full US women’s national team players.

“Madison Haley is following in their footsteps.”

Welcome back, Catherine Zimmerman

Melbourne Victory were dealt a huge boost in the attacking department in their 3-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in the form of Catherine Zimmerman’s quicker than expected return.

The American striker broke her leg back in their round two loss to Sydney FC and managed to get back on the field in just over two months, coming off the bench on Saturday and making a huge, match-winning impact.

Zimmerman won the penalty which saw Alex Chidiac score the go-ahead spot-kick before teeing up Tiff Eliadis for the sealer off the back of a solid run and assist.

“She’s got back in record time and to come off the bench, I was really pleased for her and she made a huge contribution,” Victory coach Jeff Hopkins said.

“She got in front and forced the player to play through her and was there to set Tiff up for the final goal.”

Now, with Zimmerman back in the fold, Victory’s attack is starting to take full shape yet again and it’ll only go from strength to strength when Melina Ayres makes her much anticipated return as well.