24 goals hit the back of the net across seven fixtures in Matchweek 10, as Central Coast Mariners moved four points clear at the top of the table.
Western United and Melbourne Victory contributed seven of those goals in a 4-3 affair on Saturday night, after Adelaide United beat Western Sydney Wanderers 3-2 and Perth Glory clinched a 3-1 win over Brisbane Roar on Friday night.
Macarthur FC striker Matt Derbyshire went ahead in the Golden Boot race with his seventh goal of the season in the Bulls’ 1-0 win over Sydney FC, but a brace to Jamie Maclaren in Melbourne City’s 2-0 win over the Wanderers sent the Socceroos striker level with Derbyshire at the top of the charts.
Wellington Phoenix jumped off the foot of the A-League table with a 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets on Sunday before the Mariners rounded out the action with a 2-1 win over Perth on the road to strengthen their grip on top spot on the A-League table.
Find out who made the 4-4-2 formation in the Team of the Week for Matchweek 10, presented by Bunnings Warehouse.
MW10 REPORT: Melbourne Victory 3-4 Western United
MORE: Western Sydney Wanderers 2-3 Adelaide United
Goalkeeper
James Delianov – Adelaide United
James Delianov’s immense performance in goal helped Adelaide United to a 3-2 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on the road.
The 21-year-old shipped two goals but his five saves from seven shots were pulled predominantly from the top drawer as a Wanderers attack brimming with talent failed to score enough goals to take a share of the points after going 2-0 down in the first half.
Delianov’s first-half stop to keep Ziggy Gordon off the scoresheet sparked what was to be an impressive day out for the Reds ‘keeper, who got a crucial fingertip on a late attempt from Mitch Duke to send the fizzing strike off the post to prevent the Red and Black stealing a point at the death.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6235889543001
Defenders
Kosuke Ota – Perth Glory
Kosuke Ota produced three assists for Perth Glory throughout two super-sub appearances in Matchweek 10.
Perth’s Japanese international was one of a quartet of players brought off the bench in a second-half quadruple sub at against Brisbane Roar, and the left-back used his pace and cutting edge to turn the game in his side’s favour.
Making his A-League debut at HBF Park on Friday night, Ota assisted goals to Bruno Fornaroli and Diego Castro in a 30-minute cameo which turned Perth’s 1-1 stalemate with Brisbane into a stylish win in the West.
Ota repeated his substitute impact against Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday night, assisting Bruno Fornaroli’s second half goal to give Perth a chance of a comeback in an eventual 2-1 loss.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6235598839001
Curtis Good – Melbourne City
Melbourne City’s calming presence down back in a 2-0 win over the Wanderers.
The centre-back won eight of 12 duels, made seven clearances and four interceptions as he kept a Red and Black attack oozing with talent off the scoresheet to help City to consecutive A-League wins.
READ: 50 games, 150 goals: the key factors behind A-League’s record-breaking goal fest
MORE: A-League table of no concern to Deans as Jets eye quick response against Reds
Jake McGing – Macarthur FC
Jake McGing kept busy down Macarthur’s right flank as the Bulls won 1-0 over Sydney FC in Matchweek 10.
The right-back contributed to Macarthur’s clean sheet as well as threatening in attack, creating two chances and laying four crosses into the box. McGing passed 55 times at an accuracy of 94.5%, won three of five duels and made one clearance in his side’s mature victory over the Sky Blues.
Midfielders
Daniel De Silva – Central Coast Mariners
Daniel De Silva was everywhere for the Mariners in a 2-1 win over Perth Glory in the West. The 23-year-old assisted Marco Ureña’s goal with a perfect delivery from a free kick to the back post, and after helping his side gain a two-goal lead De Silva upped the ante, getting all over the park in a display of commitment to the Mariners’ cause.
He won seven of 11 duels and made two clearances on the defensive end and lashed five shots on goal in a performance defined by the young midfielder’s boundless energy.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6236628182001
Victor Sánchez – Western United
A match-winning performance from Victor Sánchez garnered two goals – an equaliser and a winner – throughout Western United’s incredible 4-3 win over Melbourne Victory in a classic instalment of the Battle of the Bridge.
Sánchez brought his side level in the first half before a chaotic second stanza left United tied 3-3 with Victory with just ten men on the park.
United not only avoided defeat, but clinched all three points with 95 minutes on the clock thanks to an opportunistic finish by Sánchez. The Spanish midfielder’s lung-busting run into the box reaped rewards for his side as he was on hand to control and finish after a loose ball spilled from a heavy collision of bodies inside Victory’s defensive box.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6235908215001
Beñat Etxebarria – Macarthur FC
The Spanish midfielder was everywhere for Macarthur in a 1-0 win over the Sydney FC.
Beñat led all comers in a number of categories, taking 119 touches, passing 107 times at an accuracy of over 96% and creating five scoring chances in a classy showing at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium.
Alessandro Diamanti – Western United
A magnificent individual performance from Alessandro Diamanti helped ten-man Western United overcome Melbourne Victory at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
The Italian played 15 crosses and created seven chances throughout his 90-minute masterclass, with two of those chances ending in assists for Besart Berisha.
Diamanti found Berisha for his first goal of the night with a pinpoint delivery from deep on the right flank, before popping up minutes later to find the ball in the box, nutmeg Leigh Broxham and float the ball to the back post for Berisha to head home. Diamanti’s two assists were just reward for the midfielder’s night out at Marvel Stadium.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6235905777001
Forwards
Craig Noone – Melbourne City
Jamie Maclaren put the goals in the back of the net, but Craig Noone was the orchestrator of Melbourne City’s 2-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on the road.
Noone assisted Maclaren’s opening goal before winning a second-half penalty for his side after his cross struck the arm of James Troisi in the box. The English winger combined Maclaren and Andrew Nabbout on the opposite flank to deadly effect, stretching the Wanderers’ back three and sparking dangerous attacking play.
Noone played 15 crosses into the box, created a game-high five chances and won all four of his attempted tackles as he showed his class in an impressive City win.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6236592815001
Besart Berisha – Western United
Besart Berisha scored a brace against Macarthur FC in Matchweek 9, and the Western United spearhead helped himself to two more in his side’s 4-3 win over Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.
Berisha displayed an almost telepathic connection with Diamanti to rip Victory’s defence apart twice in a five-minute spell. Two headed goals came from delightful Diamanti crosses from either flank as Berisha lapped up the silver service offered up by his mercurial teammate.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6235902881001
Diego Castro – Perth Glory
Perth’s Spanish sensation was in the mood against Brisbane, scoring twice to break the game apart and remind the league of his quality on the ball which only seems to get better with age.
The 39-year-old struck on either side of half time, netting a sumptuous first-half goal with lethal precision to set Glory on their way to a sealing three points over the Roar.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6235580471001
