They’ve scored more goals than any other team this season but defensive solidity has been the cornerstone of Perth Glory’s historic Hyundai A-League premiership win.
Glory secured the club’s first piece of silverware with their 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets on Sunday, thanks to another shutout from keeper Liam Reddy and goal from Ivan Franjic.
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Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory beat the Central Coast Mariners yet again to maintain a run of dominance dating back to April 2013.
We take a look at that and more thanks to Opta data.
Premiers Perth keep it clean
Perth Glory sealed a deserved maiden Premiers’ Plate with a 1-0 win over the Jets.
Diego Castro’s wonderful pass set up Ivan Franjic’s second-half winner as the Glory sealed their first piece of Hyundai A-League silverware.
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The win also marked Perth’s 11th clean sheet of the campaign, a tally only bettered four times since Opta started keeping the stat in 2012-13.
Only Sydney FC (17 in 2016-17 and 12 in 2017-18), Central Coast Mariners (14 in 2012-13) and Adelaide United (13 in 2015-16) have kept more clean sheets, and Perth may yet climb further up that list before season’s end.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6026050156001
Victory maintain Mariners run as Barbarouses shines
Victory continue to find a way to win against the Central Coast Mariners.
Georg Niedermeier’s first Hyundai A-League goal saw Victory past the Mariners 2-1, extending the club’s unbeaten run in the fixture to 18 matches.
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Matt Simon’s penalty had cancelled out Ola Toivonen’s opener, but Central Coast were left without a win over Victory since April 2013.
Kosta Barbarouses created five chances for Victory, joining Keisuke Honda and Terry Antonis (twice) as the only players to manage that for the club this campaign.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6026034453001
Bautheac brace leads Roar to upset
Eric Bautheac scored his first double since his Ligue 1 days in Brisbane Roar’s 2-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix on Friday.
The Frenchman’s pair was his first since he scored twice for Lille against Lorient in December 2015. Bautheac was sent off late against the Phoenix.
REPORT: Eric Bautheac stuns Phoenix with brilliant double for Brisbane
Steven Taylor was able to pull a goal back for Wellington, who moved a step closer to a club record despite the disappointing result.
Wellington (43) are close to breaking their record for most goals in a regular season – 45 set in 2014-15.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6025558321001
Wanderers’ Derby wait continues as Brosque strikes again
Alex Brosque loves playing in the Sydney Derby.
The all-time leading goalscorer in the fixture struck again in Sydney FC’s 1-1 draw with the Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday.
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Brosque’s goal was his sixth in derby history, but it was cancelled out by Alexander Baumjohann’s second-half free-kick.
While Western Sydney avoided defeat, they are without a Sydney Derby win since February 18, 2017.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6025876781001
City deny Reds once more to set AAMI mark
Adelaide United still cannot find a way to overcome Melbourne City.
City extended their unbeaten run against the Reds to seven Hyundai A-League games after Saturday’s 0-0 draw.
REPORT: Adelaide go fourth after AAMI Park arm-wrestle with City
Adelaide have scored just twice in their past 633 league minutes against City, who set a record of their own.
City are unbeaten in 11 matches at AAMI Park – with six wins and five draws – their longest such Hyundai A-League run at the ground.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6025854712001