It was an unforgettable day of football in the A-Leagues, with Adelaide United’s Pride Game double-header the main event as four games filled the agenda providing twists and turns, late goals and poignant moments to savour and reflect on.
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the latest goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from four A-Leagues fixtures on Saturday.
RESULTS
- LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: Adelaide United 3-0 Melbourne Victory
MATCH REPORT: Reds book maiden ALW berth with 3-0 win over Victory
- ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: Newcastle Jets 2-2 Macarthur FC
READ: ‘That’s given me goosebumps’: Jets’ Ukraine tribute in 2-2 Bulls draw
- ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: Adelaide United 2-1 Central Coast Mariners
MATCH REPORT: Reds late show rolls on as Mariners collapse again
- ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: Sydney FC 1-2 Melbourne City
MATCH REPORT: Last-gasp Leckie sends City top of ALM table
Mirrored drama in two enthralling A-Leagues fixtures decided at the death
Two Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures. Two identical kick-off times. Four teams with one goal apiece heading into extra time of both games.
Two late winners to snatch the points.
It was drama of the highest order in the Isuzu UTE A-League on Saturday night, with Adelaide beating Central Coast 2-1 and Melbourne City overcoming Sydney FC by the same scoreline in two fixtures decided by last-gasp stunners.
For City it was Mathew Leckie, the star Socceroo finding his feet in the league with five goals netted in his last six appearances, sliding his long-range shot past Andrew Redmayne, the ball nicking paint off the post as it went over the line.
“A lot of people were doubting him at the start of the season,” Leckie’s City teammate Andrew Nabbout told Network 10 post-match. “But we always knew the quality he had, and he’s showed it in spades in the last couple of games.
“To be fair he’s shown it the whole season, but the last couple of games it’s been really good to see him get some goals.”
As one proven striker with experience on the international stage settled one Isuzu UTE A-League contest, a 16-year-old sensation was busy settling the other at Coopers Stadium.
Nestory Irankunda – the first player to feature in the league born after the competition’s very first fixture – completed yet another Reds comeback with a thunderbolt in second-half stoppage time which ensured the Mariners collapsed yet again.
“It’s a dream come true to score here at Hindmarsh Stadium,” Irankunda told Network 10. “I dreamt about this from when I was young. I’m really happy with the coaches for putting me on and score the winner for the team.”
It’s back to the drawing board for the Mariners, who drop points for the fourth time in five games with a goal scored in the 90th minute or later.
For the Reds, meanwhile – that’s their ninth goal of the season scored after the 84th minute of play, and their third go-ahead goal of the campaign scored after the 80th minute.
“Adelaide United, it personifies their character,” said Network 10 analyst Bruce Djite post-match. “They never give up, they always come back – and it always helps to have a super sub come in and get you out of jail.
Djite added: “(The Mariners) have the opposite problem that Adelaide United have: Adelaide have come back a number of times this season at the death most times, and Central Coast Mariners are falling away at the death.
“It’s becoming a habit; it’s happened four or five times this season, they’ve played well, essentially done everything right and deserve at least a point in those games, and in the 90+ minute they concede and come out with zero.”
Pride Game at Coopers produces special moments on and off the pitch
From the moment Adelaide announced the decision to host the inaugural Pride Game at Coopers Stadium on Saturday, it was clear the club was committed to making it a momentous occasion for all in attendance, from players, to staff, to the fans in the stands.
Across two unforgettable fixtures, the Reds brought the occasion to life on a day that Josh Cavallo hopes will act as “baby steps” toward an A-Leagues Pride Round in the future.
‘Together love always wins’: Pictures tell the story of a monumental day in Oz football
Coopers Stadium was awash with colour as fans both young and old showed out in their numbers in enthusiastic support of Adelaide United’s Pride Game initiative.
‘I think 26 is my year’: Worts puts one hand on Golden Boot – and the other on the Julie Dolan Medal?
“She’s got one hand on the Julie Dolan (Medal),” said Paramount+ commentator Campbell Johnson as Fiona Worts ran amok at Coopers Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds forward has come from nowhere to take a commanding three-goal lead atop the Golden Boot standings, scoring nine goals in her past three games to help guide the Reds to a maiden finals series berth.
On co-commentary was Amy Chapman, who echoed the thoughts of Johnson as she witnessed a Liberty A-League star in full flight striking fear into the hearts of defenders around the league.
“Is there a better finisher in the game right now?” Chapman asked. “Is there a better player in the league right now? It would be hard to (argue).”
Worts took all three of her goals against Victory on her weaker right foot – a feat making her current run of form all the more impressive.
When asked to pinpoint the cause of her late-season exploits, Worts could only put it down to one thing:
“I actually turned 26 on the 30th of January, I think that must be it,” she told Paramount+ post-match. “I think 26 is my year, maybe that’s what it is.”
Worts now leads the Golden Boot race by three goals, with her Reds teammate Chelsie Dawber and Melbourne City spearhead Hannah Wilkinson lagging behind on 10 goals apiece.
‘It’s absolutely massive… it’s weight off your shoulders’: An historic day 14 years in the making
Since the inception of the formerly-named W-League in 2008, Adelaide United have chased a goal that’s proved so elusive – until today.
A 3-0 win over fourth-placed Melbourne Victory ensured the Reds would compete in a Liberty A-League finals series for the very first time, and in the aftermath of the final whistle you could see what it meant to the players, staff and fans at Coopers Stadium.
Fuelled by the anguish felt last season, when Adelaide missed out on fourth spot on goal difference alone, Adrian Stenta’s side returned in 2021/22 with a vengeance, booking their spot in the post-season with a game to spare off the back of a stunning 23 goals combined from Dawber and Worts, with the latter talking post-match about what the achievement meant to the league’s most in-form team.
“For the club it’s absolutely massive,” Worts told Paramount+. “I think for the players, especially the ones who were here last year, it means a lot.
“It’s weight off your shoulders as well, everyones been talking bout it and it’s proof we deserve to be there – so let’s get on with it.”
Cavallo hopes Pride Game is a ‘baby step’ to A-Leagues Pride Round
Adelaide United winger Josh Cavallo says the magnificent scenes at Coopers Stadium are an encouraging sign of things to come, outlining his hopes for a league-wide Pride Round in the future.
Cavallo made the decision in October, 2021 to reveal he is gay, and has since received support from people from all walks of life and all around the world that he hopes inspires others in his position to be their true selves.
Cavallo played his part in Adelaide’s 2-1 comeback win over the Mariners on Saturday night – the second of two games at Coopers Stadium in a double-header dedicated to the promotion of inclusivity in the sport.
“(Days) like this just raises awareness,” he told Network 10 post-match. “People that watch the game and have nothing to do with football, and see the pride flag, and see everyone encouraging it and say ‘ok, I’ might be comfortable to play football now’.
“I think that’s the main message to get across.
“Hopefully we’re taking the right baby steps now to have a pride rame in the future.”
