Perth Glory showed why they are considered among the Hyundai A-League title contenders in their 3-2 Round 2 triumph over Melbourne Victory.
The Western Australians have struggled away from home against Victory in recent seasons, but their win on Sunday snapped a catalogue of long-standing records.
Meanwhile Sydney FC’s Sydney Derby king came to the fore once again as the Sky Blues flexed their muscles over Western Sydney Wanderers.
Let’s take a look at that and all the most interesting facts and figures from Round 2 thanks to Opta data!
WHISTLE: Round 2 refereeing and VAR incidents reviewed
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Who made the cut for Round 2?
WATCH FOR FREE: How to watch the Hyundai A-League LIVE and FREE
Glory end Melbourne Victory hoodoo in dramatic fashion
Chris Ikonomidis’ 93rd-minute winner saw Perth Glory edge Melbourne Victory 3-2 at AAMI Park on Sunday.
The result marked the first time since 2012 that Glory have won back-to-back Hyundai A-League games against Victory, while their Melbourne wait in the fixture was ended.
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It was Perth’s first win over Victory in Victoria since 2015 and their first at AAMI Park in the fixture since 2013.
Despite two back to back defeats to start the season, Victory fans will be buoyed by the form of Keisuke Honda. With one goal and two assists, the Japanese star has been involved in all three of their goals to begin the campaign.
Wanderers’ Sydney Derby struggles roll on
It seems Western Sydney Wanderers can’t buy a Sydney Derby win.
Sydney FC’s 2-0 win over the Red and Black last Saturday means the Sky Blues have only lost to their cross-city rivals once in their last 14 Hyundai A-League Derbies.
As if the Derby loss wasn’t hard enough to swallow for Markus Babbel’s side, the defeat also handed the Wanderers consecutive defeats against opponents from New South Wales for the first time since 2015.
Adam Le Fondre and Alex Brosque found the back of the net for the Sky Blues, and Brosque’s goal was his fourth in the Derby – a joint-high in the fixture, alongside Adrian Mierzejewski.
Mariners’ City wait continues as Vidosic hurts Central Coast again
No team scored fewer goals in the opening 30 minutes last season than the Central Coast Mariners, but that has changed at the start of the 2018/19 campaign.
Ross McCormack’s 21st-minute opener against Melbourne City marked the second straight week in which the Mariners have struck in the opening half-hour of this campaign.
Ross McCormack has scored his first Hyundai @ALeague goal for @CCMariners…in his first meeting with former club @MelbourneCity 👊
📺: Watch #CCMvMCY LIVE on Fox Sports Football 505 or the My Football Live app.#ALeague #WhereHeroesAreMade pic.twitter.com/vSwcWGZXG2
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 27, 2018
But Dario Vidosic’s late equaliser earned City a point, extending their unbeaten streak against Central Coast to 10 matches – their best against any side in the Hyundai A-League.
Vidosic continues to enjoy facing the Mariners, scoring against Central Coast for a third time – his best record against any Hyundai A-League club.
Reds fall short despite retaining scoring record against Jets
Adelaide United always find a way to score against the Newcastle Jets, and that was the case again in their 1-1 draw on Friday.
Craig Goodwin’s header cancelled out Ronald Vargas’ opener in the second half, marking the eighth consecutive game in which the Reds have scored against the Jets, a run that dates back to December 2015.
🔥🔥🔥
Brilliant from Craig Goodwin!
🎥 @FOXFOOTBALL 505 pic.twitter.com/DZ8VWLr2u0
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 26, 2018
The Jets managed to maintain their record of having not lost back-to-back games away from home since April 2017, taking a point from Adelaide after their Round 1 loss in Wellington.
But Newcastle’s struggles in front of goal at Coopers Stadium continued. The Jets tally five in their past eight visits to the venue, with just one of those strikes coming in the first half.
Roar remain tight but held by Phoenix again
For the fourth consecutive time, Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix played out a draw in the Hyundai A-League.
For the fourth time in a row, @brisbaneroar and @WgtnPhoenixFC play out a draw. #ALeague #BRIvWEL pic.twitter.com/2JAMZfQLgw
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 28, 2018
The 0-0 result continued Roar’s fine recent defensive record at Suncorp Stadium, where they have conceded just twice in their past five games. Brisbane had let in nine in the four matches prior.
Roar are enjoying more possession in games to start this season, their figures of 61 and 59.7 per cent matching or exceeding any tally they managed in 2017/18.
