There was plenty to keep you entertained on Saturday, January 15 with 13 goals scored across both the Liberty A-League and Isuzu UTE A-League.
As the action unfolded via Channel 10 and Paramount+, KEEPUP followed on live to bring you all the talking points from the A-Leagues on Saturday.
A-LEAGUES FIXTURES: SATURDAY, JANUARY 15:
- Liberty A-League: Adelaide United v Melbourne City
- Liberty A-League: Sydney FC v Canberra United
- Isuzu UTE A-League: Adelaide United v Melbourne City
- Isuzu UTE A-League: Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: ADELAIDE UNITED V MELBOURNE CITY
Adelaide 2-2 City: A thriller at Coopers
The Reds showed their resilience after twice coming from behind to earn a draw at home to the champions in an entertaining clash.
There were goals, debuts, a penalty, red card and plenty of excitement.
Hiroshi salvaged a point for seventh-placed Adelaide, who have drawn back-to-back games, while City – fourth in the table – were left to rue another missed opportunity.
Konnichiwa, Hiroshi!
Talk about endearing yourself to the fans.
Hiroshi came off the bench and scored an equalising goal on debut for Adelaide, six minutes from the end of the contest.
The Japanese striker with an instant impact.
2-2… what a game.
Glover’s glove thwarts Goodwin and Adelaide
Down a man and facing a penalty, the pressure was on City goalkeeper Tom Glover.
Nuno Reis had just been sent off for a second yellow card after bringing down Blackwood following a VAR review.
But Glover guessed right, diving low to keep out Craig Goodwin’s 70th-minute penalty, in turn preserving City’s lead.
Maclaren at his poaching best
If there is an image synonymous with A-Leagues football, it’s Jamie Maclaren’s poachers goals.
City were at their scintillating best as Maclaren restored the team’s lead six minutes later following another Leckie assist against his former club.
Australia international Maclaren has four goals this season, the joint-most within the league.
Blackwood brings Adelaide as temperature rises
Adelaide needed a response in the second half and they got it via George Blackwood on the hour.
Paramount+ analyst and former Reds striker Bruce Djite demanded a better output from Blackwood and the Adelaide forward responded, on hand to poke home the equaliser, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Reds still in with a shout
The final product has been missing for Adelaide so far but if City’s form is anything to go by, the Reds are still in with a chance in the second half.
Defending champions City have won only one of their last five league games (D3, L1) and have drawn their last two – the last time they drew more consecutive games was a four-game stretch in March 2012, which included a 1-1 draw with Adelaide.
Nabbout’s love affair with Coopers continues
The last time City and Adelaide met at Coopers Stadium, Andrew Nabbout scored a trademark goal with the outside of his foot.
It may not have been as highlight-reel worthy, but the Australia international was on hand to tap home the 24th-minute opener.
Nabbout revelled in the goal, taunting Reds fans as he celebrated.
Even better for City? Mathew Leckie provided the assist in a boost for the Australia international, who has struggled to live up the hype since returning home to the A-Leagues from Germany.
Adelaide’s new signings on show
In what could be Stefan Mauk’s final match before a move to Japan following Ben Halloran’s switch to South Korea, Adelaide have their two new signings on the bench.
Lachlan Brook, on loan from Premier League outfit Brentford, and Japanese import Hiroshi Ibusuki, who has played for Sevilla, are both among the substitutes.
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: SYDNEY FC V BRISBANE ROAR
Sydney 1-1 Brisbane: Honours even in tight affair
Both teams had chances but the points were shared between Sydney and Brisbane.
Sydney opened the scoring but they were unable to build on that against the league’s bottom side, who are still yet to win this term.
Corica’s Sydney have nine points from seven rounds to be sixth in the standings.
Amini’s long-awaited return
With the scores still deadlocked at 1-1, Corica and Sydney turned to loanee Amini with 13 minutes remaining.
Not only is it Amini’s first appearance for Sydney but his first A-Leagues game since April 2012, when he was still playing for Central Coast Mariners before joining Borussia Dortmund.
Sydney’s lead shortlived
Form is against the Roar but Brisbane restored parity five minutes before half-time on the road.
Sydney’s lead lasted just six minutes as Nikola Mileusnic fired a half-volley past Andrew Redmayne, who was unable to keep out the strike.
Elvis’ blue suede shoes
Elvis Kamsoba is like a new man at Sydney FC, having failed to truly convince with Melbourne Victory.
Oozing confidence, Kamsoba dazzled for Sydney’s opener just after the half-hour mark, showing tremendous pace, footwork and vision to set up Anthony Caceres. A superb move.
Sydney are undefeated in their last seven league games against Brisbane (W4, D3); their last defeat to the Roar came in February 2019 at Suncorp Stadium (2-1).
First glimpse of Amini in a Sky Blue shirt?
Australia international Mustafa Amini, on loan at Sydney, could make his debut for Steve Corica’s men today.
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: ADELAIDE UNITED V MELBOURNE CITY
City count their blessings with three points
Melbourne will take maximum points back home but head coach Rado Vidosic conceded City were fortunate at Coopers Stadium.
“I think we were a little bit lucky in the end, it was a little bit of magic from our number 10 (Pollicina),” he said.
“That was the difference. Other than that, I think it was a very tough game.”
Adelaide 0-1 City: Melbourne stay hot
City made it eight wins in their last nine Liberty A-League fixtures after trumping Adelaide to strengthen their grip on second position.
Pollicina, who in 2019 became the first player to score over 100 goals in the top-tier indoor competition – the first woman to do so, was all that separated the sides in Adelaide.
City to extend impressive run?
Adelaide dominated in the opening half, however, City struck first in the second period.
Rhianna Pollicina showcased her brilliant footwork to give City a surprise 1-0 cushion in the 66th minute.
Entering today, City had won seven of their last eight Liberty A-league games (L1), including their last three on the bounce; they have not conceded a single first-half goal in that span., which they extended to four as a result of Saturday’s shutout in the opening 45 minutes.
Legacy the theme with special guest in the stands
The 2023 Women’s World Cup is on the horizon and everyone is excited.
Natasha Stott Despoja is an ambassador for the showpiece event on home soil and she is in the stands for the Adelaide-City contest.
Stott Despoja, a football fan, was asked about the legacy of the FIFA tournament on Australian shores.
“Obviously there are tourism benefits, economics benefits but particularly for South Australia, where hosting five games,” she told Paramount+.
“But’s not just about economics but the message we send. Look at these women, young women but also girls and boys about the role of women in sport generally but also their role in football specifically.
“Beyond that, telling girls and women, you can be whatever you want to be!”
Hayward confident Reds can trump City
It was a tense and goalless 45 minutes, though third-placed Adelaide looked the more likely to score at stages.
City goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri ensured the scores were level at the break with a brilliant, diving save.
After an end-to-end half against second-placed City, Adelaide’s Paige Hayward told Paramount+: “I thought it was good. I think we’re keeping the ball, where as last game we didn’t.
“It’s just finishing in that final third. A few early crosses we need and I think we can do it.”
Bend it like Beckham 2.0?
Emily Condon has already channelled her inner David Beckham this A-League Women season, scoring a stunning free-kick against Perth Glory.
She tried her best Beckham impersonation again but the Adelaide United star was unable to find the back of the net this time around to break the deadlock at Coopers Stadium.
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: SYDNEY FC V CANBERRA UNITED
Canberra in unfamiliar position amid skid
Michelle Heyman and Canberra are now winless in their past eight games — stretching back to last season — and apart from an early spell they did little to trouble Sydney, who were without without Matildas duo Remy Siemsen and Cortnee Vine.
Canberra were champions in 2012 and 2015.
The league’s all-time leading scorer Heyman told Paramount+: “It’s a bit upsetting, we wanted to come here and give it to Sydney.
“It’s really frustrating. We are just not finding our feet. We need to go back to the drawing board and change something.”
Sydney 6-0 Canberra: Merciless display from pacesetters
There is just no stopping Sydney at the moment after their rout of Canberra on home soil.
Rojas fuelled the humbling of Canberra with a hat-trick as Sydney stayed four points clear atop the table.
Through seven games, Sydney have scored a whopping 23 goals while conceding just once. Incredible.
Sydney show no mercy with 6th goal
Try telling Sydney to take their foot off the pedal…
If you thought 5-0 was enough for the hosts, think again after Rachel Lowe capped the demolition in the 88th minute.
The league leaders mean business.
Princess’ drought is over
In 11 appearances against Canberra, Princess Ibini had never scored.
After waiting and waiting, the Sydney sensation finally broke her drought at the 12th time of asking with seven minutes remaining!
The rout continues at Jubilee Stadium.
Rojas the hat-trick hero!
Chile international Rojas ensured she will take home the matchball after scoring her third goal of the game, just two minutes after Green’s moment of brilliance.
Not a bad way to open your account, having not scored this season before today.
4-0 and counting…
Goal of the season contender?
Ally Green will remember January 15, 2022 for a long time to come after scoring just her second professional goal.
And what a stunner it was, leaving Canberra goalkeeper Keeley Richards in a daze with her remarkable curling effort from the touchline in the 62nd minute.
Sit back and enjoy!
A 2-0 lead is dangerous as they say…
Sydney will emerge for the second half with a commanding two-goal advantage, but don’t tell their star Rojas that.
“The game is not over obviously,” Rojas told Paramount+. “We have to keep fighting. Canberra are a good time. We have to keep playing we do. We have to keep working.”
Sydney, however, should be buoyed by the fact Canberra are winless in their last seven Liberty A-League games (D3, L4) – the team’s longest stretch without a win in the history of the competition; they have failed to score a goal in four of those seven games.
Rojas wreaking havoc with spectacular second goal
A first-half double it is for Sydney’s red-hot striker Rojas.
After coolly scoring from the spot, Rojas then capitalises on a backpass as she dinks the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 three minutes before half-time.
High-flying Sydney strike first
The league leaders had threatened to open the scoring against Canberra, and Sydney did just that from the penalty spot.
Maria Jose Rojas, a menace with her pace, steps up to convert the spot-kick approaching the half-hour mark.
1-0.
Daughter of Socceroos great making second start
For those playing at home, remember former Australia international defender Tony Vidmar?
Well daughter Mikayla is following in his footsteps as a young defender in the Liberty A-League.
Mikayla is making her second start for Canberra.
In October last year, she told reporters: “Football’s always been around, but it’s never really been something he wanted us to pursue. It’s really been in the past couple of years, if I wanted help I really had to ask for it. I think my dad just likes being a dad, and not really being a football coach when he’s at home!”