There’s only one side ending Round 2 of the Isuzu UTE A-League season with a perfect record – and that’s Melbourne Victory.
The 2020/21 wooden spooners have conceded no goals and scored four in two impressive wins under new head coach Tony Popovic. But as the Victorian outfit gets on a roll, other teams with finals aspirations are faltering early doors.
After drawing 0-0 in a Round 1 Sydney Derby stalemate, both the Sky Blues and the Wanderers left plenty of room for improvement after going winless through an entertaining Round 2.
MELBOURNE VICTORY 3-0 BRISBANE ROAR
Victory come alive in barnstorming return to AAMI Park
The Melbourne Victory faithful turned out in encouraging numbers to watch their side show out against Brisbane Roar in a comprehensive 3-0 win on Sunday afternoon.
A bright Melbourne day added to the positive atmosphere concocted by the 13,026 fans on hand, and the home side produced a performance to match. Head coach Tony Popovic oversaw an entertaining display on his home debut, with his team made up almost entirely of his off-season signings, the feel-good factor returned to the team which collected the 2020/21 wooden spoon just months ago.
Two wins, four goals scored, zero conceded, and top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table after two rounds – it’s early doors in the 2021/22 campaign, but the feel-good factor has well and truly returned to a Victory side on the charge.
REPORT: Victory go top after 3-0 win over Roar
WESTERN SYDNEY 2-2 NEWCASTLE JETS
Robinson unable to pinpoint where ‘lethargic’ Wanderers are going wrong
Two rounds in to the 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season, Wanderers boss Carl Robinson is searching for answers as his side notched its second draw from two games to begin the campaign.
Newcastle Jets travelled to CommBank Stadium to meet the red and black and despite favouritism swinging in favour of the Wanderers it was the Jets who looked the better side, dominating the first half without putting the goals on the board to match.
The Wanderers found a way back into the contest, going ahead in the second half before the Jets pegged them back in an entertaining game which ended 2-2. Robinson’s post-match assessment suggested there’s no quick solution to his side’s slow start to the season – none that he’s sure of at this stage, at least.
“We were lethargic, I’m not sure why and I’m going to have to find the reason for that,” Robinson said post-match.
“We should’ve gone two goals down. I thought we were passive.
“But if you don’t fight and scrap for first and second balls, you’re going to be beaten by any team in this league.”
WESTERN UNITED 1-0 PERTH GLORY
Strikers under the microscope as Aloisi gets first Western win
John Aloisi is off the mark as Western United head coach. His side’s 1-0 win over Perth Glory was hardly the sparkling performance the home fans would have been hoping for, but for a side on a nine-game losing streak it hardly mattered how those three points came about.
Dylan Wenzel-Halls was the goalscorer, coming on for the final 20 minutes of play in place of Serbian striker Aleksandar Prijović, a key off-season signing for United who failed to make an impact on his Isuzu UTE A-League starting debut.
Wenzel-Halls was bumped from the starting XI to make room for Prijović, and after coming off the bench to score an opportunistic, and ultimately decisive goal, he’ll be banging down Aloisi’s door midweek to push to reclaim that position leading United’s line into Round 3.
It was a frustrating night for Perth defined by talismanic striker Bruno Fornaroli’s uncharacteristically inefficient night in front of goal, which garnered seven shots without any hitting the back of the net. And with all eyes on how many minutes marquee man Daniel Sturridge would receive off of Glory’s bench after a nine-minute debut in Round 1, the Englishman withdrew from the squad altogether.
Perth’s next fixture comes on Sunday, December 5, with any positivity surrounding Sturridge’s incremental return to fitness making way for scepticism heading into Round 3.
READ: Wenzel-Halls winner edges Western past Glory
WELLINGTON PHOENIX 2-1 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Record unbeaten run a phenomenal feat for persevering Phoenix
At a time when the club has never been more unsettled, Wellington Phoenix have never been so good.
A 12-game unbeaten run – the longest in club history – extended to 13 on Saturday afternoon after the ‘Nix beat Central Coast Mariners 2-1 in Wollongong – the temporary home base for Ufuk Talay’s side.
Trans-Tasman travel restrictions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic have seen the Phoenix staff and players face tremendous challenges and make enormous sacrifices for the best part of two years, but through it all the club has thrived under head coach Ufuk Talay. A draw and a win to start the 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season has the Phoenix sitting in third spot on the table after two rounds, with a clash against the winless Wanderers in Round 3 offering the ‘Nix the opportunity to continue to surge.
The three points clinched against the Mariners on Saturday afternoon came under threat late in the game, however, when striker Ben Waine and teammate Reno Piscopo jostled each other for penalty taking duties. With goalscorer Gary Hooper on the bench Waine took it upon himself to place the ball on the spot, but Piscopo argued his case to take the spot-kick which was ultimately missed by Waine in the 86th minute of play.
The heated conversation between the two players may have had its impact on Waine’s resulting strike, which was saved by Mark Birighitti to ensure Wellington’s lead remained at just one goal. Despite throwing the kitchen sink at their opponents in the minutes following the Mariners were not able to find the all-important equaliser in a fortunate escape for the ‘Nix, who will be sure to confirm the penalty-taking pecking order by the time of their next fixture.
READ: Wellington extend stunning streak despite late pen drama
ADELAIDE UNITED 2-2 MELBOURNE CITY
Were the Reds hungrier at Coopers and where is Nathaniel Atkinson?
For a moment, it looked as though the speed and dynamism of Melbourne City would ruin Adelaide’s opening home game of the season. Andrew Nabbout was having a night out even before his goal of the season contender.
It was his speed that laid on Jamie Maclaren’s first goal of the season, while he had been racking up the chances before his quite sumptuous strike from distance – reminiscent of his goal of the season at Newcastle Jets in 2017-18 when his form was so good, he landed at the World Cup.
However, City wobbled, Adelaide surged, and overall, showed a greater desire to push home. In fact, Former Socceroos skipper Mark Milligan mused on Channel 10’s post game show that they would have gone on to win the game had they not left themselves so much to do at the start.
“They looked like they wanted it more,” Milligan said. He continued: “It was the same for both goals … reacting quickest. They looked like they wanted the ball more than City.”
It will be a night City will lament dropping what looked a good lead, but which also prompted questions as to why grand final hero Nathaniel Atkinson isn’t in the squad. They could have done with his change of dynamic, especially as the tide of the game turned.
READ: Reds seal 90th-minute comeback after Nabbout gem
SYDNEY FC 0-1 MACARTHUR FC
As injuries mount, is this Corica’s big Sydney examination?
It is too early for panic stations, but for a well oiled machine like Sydney FC, it is unusual to see them go 180 minutes without scoring. Indeed, Ante Milicic was more than happy to leave the Sky Blues to dictate terms, backing his side’s defensive shape to thwart Steve Corica’s attacking options.
Luke Brattan’s sad mid-week ACL injury diagnosis sees him join the likes of Michael Zullo, Bobô and Kosta Barbarouses on the sidelines. The result is a great tonic for Macarthur, however, with the added bonus that Lachie Rose’s form is keeping more illustrious striking options on the bench to start the campaign.
