KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from four Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures on Saturday, March 19.
THE SATURDAY SCHEDULE
- Central Coast Mariners 4-2 Macarthur FC
Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex.
MATCH REPORT: Mariners beat Bulls in Mudgee thriller
- Sydney FC 3-0 Western United
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. Kick-off 7.45pm AEDT
MATCH REPORT: Ninković stars as Sky Blues ease past Western United
- Melbourne City 1-1 Melbourne Victory
AAMI Park. Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
MATCH REPORT: City, Victory share spoils in Melbourne Derby
- Perth Glory 1-4 Brisbane Roar
HBF Park. Kick-off: 10.45pm AEDT
MATCH REPORT: ‘A disaster’ – Perth rue ‘unacceptable’ Roar hiding
REACTION
City rue missed chances in chaotic ending to Melbourne Derby
It was all-out attack against desperate defence in the last knockings of an evenly-matched Melbourne Derby, with Melbourne City throwing the kitchen sink at Melbourne Victory in an attempt to nick all three points at the death.
The last-gasp City lunge came after Victory’s incessant push for a winner throughout the majority of the second half; the two respective spells of dominance of differing lengths in time led the head coaches of both teams to claim at full-time: “we should have won.”
Ultimately the teams were forced to settle for a share of the spoils in the 1-1 draw.
The frantic City finish began as a pack of hungry defenders engulfed the space around Florin Berenguer who looked set to fire a shot from close range into the back of the net; Jason Geria got the final touch with a lunging slide to send the ball out for the first of three successive corners from the home side.
The first came off the head of Curtis Good – who scored from a corner routine for City in the first half – deflecting off his marker Josh Brillante and rattling the post with venom. The second swinging delivery was directed on target by the rising Carl Jenkinson, only for Victory keeper Ivan Kelava to palm the ball over the crossbar and out for yet another City corner.
From the third dead ball, Victory centre-back Matthew Spiranovic earned a free kick under City pressure with City substitute Stefan Colakovski poised to strike the loose ball on target.
Ultimately the late surge counted for nothing. But it was at the climax of the second epic draw between these two bitter rivals this season which sent adrenaline pumping through the fans of both sides at an energetic AAMI Park.
In the aftermath of the full-time whistle, City spearhead Jamie Maclaren was left to rue what could have been.
“We probably should’ve taken one of those chances, but they defended well,” Maclaren told Paramount+ post-match.
“They got four bodies on the line as (Berenguer) was going in.
“I guess that’s what derbies are all about: little fine details. All in all, it was probably a fair result.”
Merrick’s return to coaching? ‘Never say never’
Former Melbourne Victory head coach Ernie Merrick was taken down memory lane as he sat on the sideline for a gripping Melbourne Derby at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
As part of the Paramount+ commentary team, Merrick was taking in the sounds and sights of the epic derby battle, resisting the natural urge to get to his feet and perform the role he knows best.
Inactive as an Isuzu UTE A-League head coach since Round 13 of the 2019/20 season, the former Newcastle, Wellington and Victory boss arrived at AAMI Park to witness the sights and sounds of a high-stakes A-Leagues affair which brought back memories of days gone by.
“The crowd tonight reminded me of the old times,” Merrick said after the 1-1 Melbourne Derby draw.
“I wanted to get up and make changes!” he added.
In the Paramount+ studio was Archie Thompson, Merrick’s former striker during his days at the helm of Victory. Thompson asked his former boss whether his experience on the touchline on Saturday night could inspire his return to the game.
“It is a passion, you never know what’s going to happen,” Merrick replied. “I’d never say never.”
‘How has he not been called up to the Socceroos?’
It’s the burning question in aftermath of this week’s Socceroos squad announcement.
Mark Birighitti’s superb form in between the sticks for the Mariners continued against Macarthur FC on Saturday afternoon, making his omission from Graham Arnold’s Socceroos squad preparing for a pair of crucial World Cup qualifiers all the more glaring.
Arnold released his 25-player squad on Thursday afternoon, with Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne selected to join Mathew Ryan and Danny Vukovic as the three glovemen preparing to face Japan on March 24 and Saudi Arabia on March 30.
Birighitti was a player possessed against the Bulls, with his late heroics preventing his opponents from mounting a comeback charge. Macarthur were trailing 4-1 before a late Lachie Rose goal brought the visitors to within two; in the 90th minute Birighitti pulled off what Paramount+ commentator Ben Homer describes as “one of the saves of the season.”
“That’s the best you’ll see,” Homer said.
Co-commentator Daniel Georgievski added: “That is a world class save – how has he not been called up for the Socceroos?”
United’s ‘worrying trend’: The key circumstance in which Aloisi’s Western struggle
There’s few teams capable of retaining a lead like Western United this season.
But in each and every Isuzu UTE A-League fixture in which Western have fallen behind this season, it’s ended in defeat for John Aloisi’s side.
MATCH REPORT: Ninković stars as Sky Blues ease past Western United
A 3-0 defeat to Sydney FC on Saturday night could just have easily been four or five, such was the dominance of the Sky Blues. Paramount+ analyst Alex Brosque says the early goal was the key for his former side Sydney, who collected their third win and clean sheet in all competitions on the bounce in an emphatic return to form.
But for Western – who now sit one point behind Melbourne City at the top of the table – it was another display which showed that taking the lead and defending it has so far been the only avenue to victory for Aloisi’s men.
“I think that is a worrying trend for them,” Brosque said post-match.
“They haven’t come back from being a goal down and that is something that will worry John Aloisi.
“They go in front and they tend to see out the game well, they have a very good defence they can build off and hold games out, but when they go down and they’re forced to come out it’s a different story – and they haven’t responded well.”
