There have been a host of Isuzu UTE A-League players on international duty during the break. This is how they are faring.
Reaction to Sydney star’s goal says it all
From the A-Leagues to Euro 2024 qualifying: Robert Mak scored for Slovakia as they defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0.
In Slovakia’s previous game, the Sydney FC star had come off the bench to make his first international appearance since November 2021.
On Monday (AEDT), he scored his first Slovakia goal in two years as the home side proved too good for Bosnia in their Euro 2024 Group J qualifier in Bratislava.
“I am very satisfied with the performance, the players wanted to atone for the draw with Luxembourg,” Slovakia head coach Francesco Calzona via Sport.sk.
“Robert Mak is an excellent player and person. I am happy that he managed to score a goal.”
Named in the starting XI alongside Napoli star Stanislav Lobotka, Mak opened the scoring with a brilliant goal from outside the box in the 13th minute. It was his 16th international strike.
Lukas Haraslin doubled the lead five minutes before half-time as Slovakia stayed unbeaten through two matchdays to be second and two points behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
“A goal is always pleasing, especially for the national team. We won three very important points,” Mak said via Sport.sk.
“In the first half, we played good football, we attacked them, the Bosnians couldn’t get out of it. In the second half, we defended it.
“I strained my groin during Saturday’s training, it hurt a bit, that’s why the coach replaced me.”
Mak joined Sydney for the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign and the 32-year-old has scored five goals in 19 games – his best league return since 2015-16.
Sydney – sixth in the standings and two points clear in the race for finals – welcome defending champions Western United to Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
Layouni ends international drought
He has been a revelation since joining Western Sydney Wanderers in January, and Amor Layouni’s Isuzu UTE A-League form earned him a long-awaited Tunisia recall this week.
The three-time international had not represented his nation since a 0-0 draw with Cameroon in October 2019, but he emerged from the wilderness as the ‘Eagles of Carthage’ defeated Libya 3-0 in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
Layouni was a second-half substitute, introduced in the 66th minute as Tunisia – who were beaten by the Socceroos at the FIFA Men’s World Cup – stayed unbeaten and top of Group J through three games.
His Wanderers teammate, Brandon Borrello, also ended his international drought.
Borrello came off the bench in the Socceroos’ impressive 3-1 friendly victory at home to Ecuador in Sydney on Friday night.
The in-form forward had not represented Australia since 2021, but he was among four A-Leagues-based players to feature at CommBank Stadium.
In the midst of the best goalscoring season of his career, Borrello almost scored after replacing Mitch Duke with 28 minutes remaining.
Melbourne City’s Valon Berisha was also in action for Kosovo in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Berisha earned his 37th international cap and first since June last year after the European nation played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
The former RB Salzburg and Lazio midfielder, on loan from Reims in Ligue 1, was an 88th-minute substitute as Kosovo shared the points in their opening Group I fixture.
‘Nix at the heart of New Zealand’s drought-ending win
New Zealand snapped a seven-game scoring drought with a late 2-1 win over China in Wellington on Sunday.
The All Whites had not found the back of the net since a 5-0 rout of Solomon Islands in their Oceania World Cup qualifier in March last year. That fixture was also the last time they had won a fixture.
But New Zealand returned to winning ways, with the help of some Wellington Phoenix stars.
Wellington vice-captain and goalkeeper Oli Sail, who will join Perth Glory in 2023-24, started between the sticks while Phoenix teammate Tim Payne was also in the line-up to face the Chinese visitors.
Fellow ‘Nix players Clayton Lewis, Kosta Barbarouses and Callan Elliot were second-half substitutes at Sky Stadium.
It came after the two nations played out a goalless draw in Auckland on Thursday.
For that fixture, Phoenix quartet Sail, Payne, Elliot and Barbarouses all started, while Lewis and Newcastle Jets’ Dane Ingham saw minutes off the bench.
‘You won’t get many better debuts than that’
Melbourne City midfielder Aiden O’Neill earned rave reviews following his Socceroos debut on Friday night, with Jackson Irvine, Awer Mabil and Garang Kuol on target.
O’Neill was named in Graham Arnold’s XI alongside Adelaide United captain Craig Goodwin, and tested himself against a Premier League midfielder, Moises Caicedo – who was the subject of a reported £70 million (A$128m) offer in January, and did not look overawed.
O’NEILL: The A-Leagues star who ‘belonged’ in Socceroos bow
In fact, the former Burnley youngster excelled in the heart of midfield as the Socceroos celebrated their first victory against CONMEBOL opposition, excluding penalties and last year’s World Cup play-off shoot-out against Peru, since 2010.
Playing in front of Australia’s back four as a number six, behind Keanu Baccus and Irvine, Isuzu UTE A-League Championship-winning midfielder O’Neill was composed throughout the 90 minutes.
“It’s hard to put into words,” the 24-year-old said as he reflected on his maiden Socceroos cap.
“My family is here from Brisbane. Tonight was just unbelievable and to get a result like that. I thought we were really disciplined and played really well.”
Socceroos teammate and Leicester City centre-back Harry Souttar told Network 10: “Aiden O’Neill making his debut, you’re not going to get many better debuts than that.”
City compatriot Marco Tilio came off the bench to face Ecuador, along with Borrello.
