These players stood up when it mattered most in Hyundai A-League Round 22.
We’ve crunched the numbers to identify the best performers from an intriguing weekend of action.
Thanks to Opta data, here is every club’s best player from Round 22.
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TALKING POINTS: How Stajcic turned the Mariners fortunes around
GOLDEN BOOT RACE: Who will finish the Hyundai A-League’s top scorer
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Our best eleven from Round 22
Adelaide United – Paul Izzo
Although it was a sloppy piece of distribution from Paul Izzo which led to Perth Glory’s opening goal in Friday’s 2-0 defeat, the Adelaide United stopper did his absolute best to keep the West Australians at bay.
Izzo made a round-high six saves and also made more pass attempts (32) than any other goalkeeper.
An incredible save to deny Andy Keogh a double in stoppage time, which saw Izzo bravely fling himself at the feet of the Irishman from point-blank range, was one of the best pieces of goalkeeping from the weekend.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6014281447001
Brisbane Roar – Eric Bautheac
Brisbane Roar did not go down without a fight in their 2-1 loss to Melbourne Victory on Saturday, and Eric Bautheac was the chief instigator of their second-half fightback.
The Frenchman got the visitors on the board swiftly after the interval with a perfectly measured lob over Victory shot-stopper Matthew Acton and was the likeliest source of a Brisbane equaliser.
In addition, Bautheac contested a huge 21 duels and created one scoring chance.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6014681385001
Central Coast Mariners – Jordan Murray
Jordan Murray enjoyed his finest hour in the Hyundai A-League to date in Central Coast Mariners’ F3 Derby win over Newcastle Jets on Saturday.
The former APIA Leichhardt man’s smooth finish sparked the Mariners’ devastating second-half spell, which was crowned by Connor Pain’s strike to put the visitors 3-0 ahead – capably teed up by Murray with a lovely piece of hold up play.
Wellington Phoenix striker Roy Krishna was the only other player to score a goal and provide an assist in Round 22, while Murray’s 26 duels contested was a round-high.
Melbourne City – Bart Schenkeveld
Is there are more formidable Hyundai A-League opponent than Melbourne City’s Dutch man-mountain?
When on form, there are few if any forwards in the competition who can get any joy against Bart Schenkeveld.
That was the case in Sunday evening’s 2-0 defeat over Sydney FC, where the defender won possession a team-high nine times, made two interceptions and finished with a passing accuracy of 91%, having made 53 attempts.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6014923244001
Melbourne Victory – Kosta Barbarouses
The Kiwi speedster simply cannot stop scoring against former club Brisbane Roar.
Kosta Barbarouses put the Queenslanders to the sword yet again in Saturday’s 2-1 win, with his double bringing up seven goals in his last three matches against Brisbane.
He made more shots on target (four) than any other player in that match and was near unplayable at times.
Newcastle Jets – Ronald Vargas
Sure, Ronald Vargas did not know much about his goal in Saturday’s F3 Derby defeat, as Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Ben Kennedy parried a shot directly onto his knee.
But the Venezuelan playmaker’s second-half introduction so nearly pulled off a great escape for the Jets.
Vargas made two dribbles and created one scoring chance.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6014666096001
Perth Glory – Liam Reddy
Having signed a two-year contract extension earlier in the month, veteran goalkeeper Liam Reddy underlined his staying power in Perth’s 2-0 defeat of Adelaide.
Reddy commanded his box effectively as Adelaide launched a second-half aerial assault, making five saves and preserving his side’s clean sheet with a wonderful stoppage-time save from Craig Goodwin’s header.
Only opposite number Paul Izzo made more saves (six) than Reddy’s five in Round 22.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6014923449001
Sydney FC – Alex Wilkinson
Sydney FC’s 2-0 defeat to Melbourne City was through no fault of defender Alex Wilkinson.
The Sky Blues veteran made a round-high 10 clearances, won all eight of his duels contested and made 53 passes for an accuracy of 92%.
Wellington Phoenix – David Williams
David Williams has been a rejuvenated force in front of goal under Mark Rudan and added another fine strike to his catalogue in Wellington Phoenix’s 3-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday.
Williams scored with emphatically struck curler on the edge of the box, and was a constant menace from that position throughout the game, making a joint team-high five touches in the penalty area.
He also won four of the nine duels he contested.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6014895408001
Western Sydney Wanderers – Mitchell Duke
It wasn’t a happy day at the office for the Wanderers on Sunday.
But Markus Babbel will take some solace from the battling performance of attacker Mitchell Duke.
Nominally a forward, Duke was initially deployed at the tip of a midfield three for the Wanderers’ 3-1 defeat in Wellington, where he contested a team-high 18 duels and made three interceptions.
His endeavour was rewarded with a textbook glancing header late on.
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https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6014906375001
