KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from three Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures on Wednesday night.
THE FIXTURES
- SYDNEY FC 2-2 MACARTHUR FC
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
MATCH REPORT: MACARTHUR, SYDNEY LOSE GROUND ON TOP SIX IN 2-2 DRAW
- BRISBANE ROAR 0-3 WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Moreton Daily Stadium
MATCH REPORT: SAIL SUPERB AS ‘NIX SINK ROAR
- PERTH GLORY v NEWCASTLE JETS
HBF Park. Kick-off: 9.40pm AEDT
MATCH REPORT: PENHA RED IGNITES TENSE END TO 0-0 DRAW BETWEEN GLORY, JETS
THE REACTION
Phoenix fourth and rising with each game a ‘Grand Final’
Undermanned and on the road, Wellington Phoenix travelled to Moreton Daily Stadium to record an emphatic 3-0 win over Brisbane Roar on Wednesday night – and shake up the top-six standings in the process.
MATCH REPORT: SAIL SUPERB AS ‘NIX SINK ROAR
The ‘Nix were without key midfielders Alex Rufer and Clayton Lewis due to respectively serious injuries, with defender Tim Payne on New Zealand international duty and star creator Reno Piscopo returning to the fray for the first time in more than a month via the bench.
In the absence of the key quartet, it was a trio of newly-capped Kiwi internationals leading the charge.
Ben Waine, Ben Old and Oli Sail all earned their first New Zealand cap together against Papua New Guinea on March 18. On Wednesday night it was Waine and Old adding goals down one end and Sail providing the safe hands down the other as the Phoenix charged into the top six.
Waine, who has four goals in five games for both club and country after scoring on debut for the All Whites, scored the second ‘Nix goal of the night against Brisbane after playing a heavy hand in Scott Neville’s first-half own goal.
Speaking to Paramount+ post-match, the rising Phoenix star said his side’s latest important win shows there’s depth in the squad capable of guiding the displaced outfit to the post-season.
“It’s massive,” Waine said. “We said that every game from now on is pretty much a Grand Final for us if we want to be where we want to be – and that’s the finals.
“I’m so happy for the boys. I think it just shows the depth that we’ve got, even the young boys are stepping up.
“I mean, look at Old, I’m so proud of him. He scored his first A-League goal today and put in such a shift.”
In terms of putting in a shift, there was arguably no Phoenix player made to work harder than Sail against the Roar, who made an astounding 11 saves from 11 Roar shots on target as the home side peppered the Phoenix goal in an ultimately fruitless display.
Sail – who has hit the ground running in back-to-back wins after returning from the international fold – said his busy night was written in the script, with his side banking on his solidity in between the sticks to clinch the points.
“It was part of the game plan in the second half, to sit back and absorb the pressure and sting them on the counter, and it was fantastic,” Sail told Paramount+ post-match.
“Once again, our young boys stepped up and took their opportunities, so I was just happy enough to chip in.
“It’s been a busy couple of weeks with the internationals for New Zealand falling outside the window and travelling back and forth.
“(But) I love it, playing footy is what I love to do so the more I play the better I feel.”
Perth bring fight to the Jets: ‘It’s something that’s been lacking all year’
Bossed by the Jets through 45 minutes at HBF Park, Perth Glory were in danger of suffering yet another deflating home loss when coming out for the second stanza on Wednesday night.
Instead, a team injected with the energy of youth led by interim head coach Ruben Zadkovich dug in to clinch a point in a goalless draw.
MATCH REPORT: PENHA RED IGNITES TENSE END TO 0-0 DRAW BETWEEN GLORY, JETS
Aidan Coyne (17), Trent Ostler (19) and Joseph Forde (18) all made their Isuzu UTE A-League debuts against the Jets, with Joshua Anasmo adding appearance number three to the tally after his recent introduction to the Glory fray.
Perth’s performance against the Jets left plenty of room for improvement, with no individual error more glaringly obvious than Coyne’s heart-in-mouth back-pass to keeper Liam Reddy which produced an enormous error from the ever-reliable Newcastle spearhead Beka Mikeltadze in the first half.
But together, as a unit, an inexperienced Glory side rode the bumps of an entertaining A-Leagues battle which produced a grand total of 35 shots, but no goals to either side.
In second-half stoppage time, as the game appeared to be drifting to its conclusion, a Daniel Penha elbow on Glory youngster Giordano Colli earned the Jets creator a red card.
In between the challenge and dismissal, however, came a moment of mayhem sparked by Glory veteran Liam Reddy, who came steaming in to defend his teammate decked by Penha’s raised elbow.
“I think it’s just probably the situation both teams are in,” Reddy told Paramount+ post-match when reviewing his unhinged reaction to Penha’s foul. “We’re trying to do everything to win the game, both of us were pushing to the last minute and I think sometimes tempers overflow.
“From (our) point of view, we’ve shown some fight now, definitely over the last two weeks. It’s something that’s been lacking all year. I definitely think we’re heading in the right direction going forward.
“It’s just what teammates do, really. At the end of the day he got sent off because it was an elbow.
“I think that’s what you see, everyone comes in, we’re a tight group here, we look after each other and it was Gio’s turn to be looked after.”
Record-hunting Grant looks to Sydney Derby for Sky Blues to ‘turn it around’
He’s played 267 times for Sydney FC, meaning full-back Ryan Grant is best placed to tell when something is not quite right at Sydney FC.
On Wednesday night, a two-goal comeback to snatch a point from Macarthur FC in the pouring rain was a promising performance in isolation, but failing to capture all three points ensured Steve Corica’s side fell out of the top six on the verge of a crucial run of fixtures in quick succession.
“It’s always difficult no matter what year it is in the A-League,” Grant told Paramount+ after his side’s 2-2 draw with the Bulls. “This season we’re in a place we’re not quite used to, but it’s up to us to turn it around.”
Grant’s 267th appearance for Sydney FC equalled club legend Alex Brosque’s record total in Sky Blue. The Socceroos defender is set to claim sole ownership of the record on Saturday in a crunch Sydney Derby clash with bitter rivals Western Sydney Wanderers.
“It’s obviously quite an honour,” Grant said. “It’s a massive club, Sydney FC, so to do it for one club (and) pay so many games, yeah it’s an honour for myself.
“Hopefully on Saturday breaking Brosquey’s record, it’s massive for me. There’s more important things to worry about at the moment, but on a personal level it’s a massive honour for myself.”
FULL-TIME: PERTH GLORY 0-0 NEWCASTLE JETS
93′: RED CARD! Penha dismissed in the dying moments (0-0)
It’s a dramatic end to proceedings at HBF Park, with Daniel Penha sent off for a high elbow on Colli which sparked a melee between the two sides.
89′: CHANCE! Stynes curls one wide as Glory substitute looks to prove the difference (0-0)
A curling shot off the left foot of Daniel Stynes went just wide of the mark in the 89th minute, as the home side bring youth off the bench in an attempt to find the energy needed to break the deadlock late on.
51′: CHANCE! Fitzgerald denied by superb Duncan save, Mikeltadze clearance (0-0)
How did that not go in?
Somehow, the Jets survive after Jack Duncan got across to save Nick Fitzgerald’s header from an Adrian Sardinero free-kick, tipping the ball onto the post.
The ball dropped across the goal line where Giordano Colli looked set to pounce – but Mikeltadze got a crucial touch, showing desperation in defence to keep his side on level terms.
46′: SECOND HALF UNDERWAY (0-0)
After surviving a barrage of Jets pressure in the first half, Glory will take confidence in the fact it remains 0-0 as the teams begin the second stanza.
Teenage Jets forward Archie Goodwin replaces Olivier Boumal at the break after scoring two goals in his first appearance of the season against Sydney FC last weekend.
43′: CHANCE! Mauragis goes close as Jets put the hammer down (0-0)
The Jets’ dominance of the opening 45 minutes continued towards the half-time whistle, with Lucas Mauragis firing a strike centimetres over the bar at the end of a spell of concerted Newcastle pressure on the Glory goal.
22′: Golden chance goes begging for Mikeltadze (0-0)
Aidan Coyne’s starting Perth debut almost descended into disaster as the young defender failed to put enough power on a back-pass to Glory keeper Liam Reddy.
Coyne left the door ajar for Beka Mikeltadze to swoop in, take possession and round Reddy. Albeit from a tight angle, the goal was virtually at the mercy of the Jets striker, but his shot dribbled past the post.
Paramount+ co-commentator Daniel Georgievski described the opportunity as “the miss of the season” in the aftermath.
18′: Visitors boss early proceedings (0-0)
Newcastle have enjoyed 74% of possession in the early stages at HBF Park.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
The Jets look to continue their excellent run of form as play gets underway at HBF Park.
TEAM NEWS
FULL-TIME: SYDNEY FC 2-2 MACARTHUR FC
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. Kick-off: 7.05pm AEDT
53′: OWN GOAL! Šušnjar diverts ball into his own net (2-2)
After scoring a first-half stunner, Śušnjar inadvertently provided the Sky Blues a way back into the game with an own goal in the 53rd minute.
Burgess was the creator of the Sydney chance, whipping a cross off the left flank toward the danger area. Śušnjar threw a boot at the delivery in an attempt to clear but could only send the ball on its way into the back of the net.
46′: SECOND HALF (1-2)
Adam Le Fondre replaces Bobô at the break for Sydney as the hosts chase the game.
HALF-TIME: SYDNEY 1-2 MACARTHUR
It looked like another ugly night was ahead for the Sky Blues, before Buhagiar popped up to give the home side hope. Dávila and Šušnjar were the first-half scorers for the Bulls.
39′: GOAL! Buhagiar halves the deficit (1-2)
“That’s a lifeline for Sydney FC,” said Paramount+ co-commentator Phil Moss, as Trent Buhagiar’s close-range strike – which was initially ruled out through an offside call – was allowed to stand after a VAR review.
Buhagiar was found by a low cross off the left wing by Callum Talbot after Burgess had rolled his marker to open up space to spark the attack.
Buhagiar supplied the calm finish to make it 2-1 in favour of the Bulls.
26′: GOAL! Šušnjar volleys Bulls into commanding lead (0-2)
What a hit from the Bulls centre-back!
Aleksandar Šušnjar rolled off the back of Sydney’s defensive line to meet a Charles M’Mombwa ball floated to the back post, volleying off his left foot to rattle the back of the net.
7′: PENALTY! Bulls take the lead from the spot (0-1)
A massive blunder from Sky Blues defender Ben Warland gave Ulises Dávila the invitation to swoop in and nick the ball inside the penalty area.
Sydney keeper Thomas Heward-Belle got off his line to attempt to mop up for Warland but caught the ankles of Davila; referee Chris Beath brandished Heward-Belle a yellow card, and Dávila converted from the spot to make it 1-0 in favour of Macarthur.
5′: CHANCE! Barbarouses hits the woodwork (0-0)
The hosts go closest to opening the scoring with Kosta Barbarouses hitting the outside of the post after Max Burgess’ excellent solo run and cross operating down the left wing.
1′: KICK-OFF
The ball gets rolling at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
TEAM NEWS
FULL-TIME: BRISBANE ROAR 0-3 WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Moreton Daily Stadium. Kick-off: 7.05pm AEDT
79′: Dehmie threatening but no end product from the Roar sub (0-3)
Cyrus Dehmie failed to open Brisbane’s account on three occasions in quick succession in the second half.
His first attempt his side netting after the 19-year-old rounded Oli Sail, with his shot on goal coming from a narrow angle. The second attempt Sail was up to the challenge of pushing off target, with the third dipping, but not enough as it sailed over the crossbar.
58′: GOAL! Old finds maiden ALM strike (0-3)
Wellington are cruising toward a massive win on the road after Old rifled his left-footed strike from a narrow angle past the near post of Macklin Freke.
Roar defender Kai Trewin was caught lingering on the ball by a sliding David Ball, who caused a turnover in Wellington’s attacking half to allow Old to collect possession, drive into the box and deliver the finish.
48′: GOAL! Waine doubles the advantage (0-2)
It’s Waine causing the danger again for Wellington, as the newly-capped New Zealand international puts the away side 2-0 up at Moreton Daily Stadium.
It was another touch of fortune benefiting Waine early in the second half. Ben Old made a run into the penalty area but was prevented by a swarming Roar defence – unfortunately for the home side the ball repelled into the path of Waine who shot first-time on the turn to find the bottom left corner.
HALF-TIME: BRISBANE 0-1 WELLINGTON
Somehow, after all of Brisbane’s early dominance, the hosts go into the break at half-time.
Neville has an own goal to his name for the second game in a row; the Roar defender was furious at half-time at the decision to let the goal stand:
GOAL! Calamity for Brisbane as Neville scores own goal (0-1)
After all their early dominance, the Roar are behind after Scott Neville’s own goal.
A dangerous corner whipped in by Gael Sandoval sparked the danger, with the delivery striking the chest of Ben Waine stood on the goal line after a coming together of bodies contesting to head the ball near the front post.
The ball ballooned off the chest of Waine, and as it dropped back toward the goal mouth Neville rose to clear, but his header hit the bar and dropped over the line.
There was a lengthy delay for a VAR check, with a potential offside call on Waine imminent – but the original decision to award the goal stood.
15′: CHANCE! Ivanovic shoots just past the top corner as hosts press for an opener (0-0)
The Roar are pressing aggressively for an opening goal, with Luke Ivanovic curling a strike from the edge of the box just wide of the top-right corner.
Wellington have been under siege through the opening quarter of an hour.
1′: KICK-OFF
We’re underway at Moreton Daily Stadium!
