Five teams are confirmed as Finals Series contenders after an eight-game Matchweek 23 offered up a rollercoaster of emotions for sides in and around the top six.
Premiers Melbourne City and reigning Champions Sydney FC were joined by Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners and Macarthur FC in the five sealed spots in the top six as Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers bowed out of the Finals Series race.
Melbourne Victory were the big winners of Matchweek 23, beating Western United 6-1 on Friday night. Macarthur FC lost to Central Coast 2-1 before beating Western United by the same margin later in the Matchweek, whilst Brisbane Roar took ownership of third spot by following up a 2-0 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers with a 2-1 win over Perth.
Newcastle Jets were superb in a 2-0 F3 Derby triumph over Central Coast Mariners whilst Sydney FC flexed their attacking muscle with a 4-1 win over Adelaide United.
The Reds are the only team in the top six under threat of losing their Finals Series place in Matchweek 24. Wellington Phoenix’s 2-2 with Perth leaves Ufuk Talay’s side three points off the Reds with one game to play.
Read on to see which 11 players make the cut in a 4-4-2 formation for Team of the Week, presented by Bunnings Warehouse.
READ: Thursday night preview: Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers
MORE: Sixth spot still up for grabs as five teams confirmed for Finals Series
Goalkeeper
Daniel Margush – Western Sydney Wanderers
The Wanderers notched a 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar in Matchweek 24, and it was Margush in goals who was largely responsible for the clean sheet display.
Margush made six saves from six shots faced as he kept the Roar at bay.
MW23 REPORT: Wanderers stay alive as Ibini, Kamau strike in vital win over Roar
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6256630804001
Defenders
Lucas Mauragis – Newcastle Jets
A standout performance from Newcastle’s energetic teenager operating at wing-back in his side’s shock 2-0 F3 Derby win.
The Mariners had no answer for the speedster as he scored the goal to put the Jets two goals ahead in the second half after helping turn the ball over in midfield.
Alen Stajcic brought right-back Stefan Nigro off at half time, replaced by Lewis Miller who went head-to-head with Mauragis throughout the second 45. But the Jets teen won out on the night, helping to secure an impressive clean sheet on the road.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6256894503001
Mark Milligan – Macarthur FC
The Bulls captain scored a goal to savour in his side’s 2-1 win over Western United before announcing his retirement from football days later in a memorable weekend for the Socceroos legend.
Milligan played twice in Matchweek 23, first as a central defender in a 2-1 loss to Central Coast before shining in midfield against the Green and Black. Milligan added 76 passes at 88.2% accuracy to his one goal and three successful tackles in Macarthur’s Monday-night victory.
MW23 REPORT: Milligan strike helps Bulls clinch 2-1 win over fast-finishing United
MILLIGAN RETIRES: Marking the end of a fine career
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6256766728001
Nigel Boogaard – Newcastle Jets
Flanked by Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Lachlan Jackson, Jets captain Boogaard led a sturdy Jets back three to a fantastic F3 Derby win in Matchweek 23.
None of the Mariners’ attacking weapons managed to trouble Newcastle’s defence in Gosford. Besides a Daniel Bouman strike ruled out for offside, Boogaard helped his defensive line keep goalkeeper Jack Duncan well protected as the Jets ended their 14-game winless run in impressive fashion.
Rhyan Grant – Sydney FC
Before departing to join Graham Arnold’s Socceroos camp, Grant put on one last stellar shift for Sydney FC against Adelaide United.
The Sky Blues notched a 4-1 road win sparked by an early Adam Le Fondre goal which Grant assisted with a perfectly-weighted cross off the right flank. Grant created three chances, played six crosses, won five of his eight duels and added three clearances and interceptions to his game at Coopers Stadium.
HOW TO WATCH: A-League Matchweek 24
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6256541926001
Midfielders
Elvis Kamsoba – Melbourne Victory
Kamsoba scored his first A-League brace as Victory put on a performance to remember against United at AAMI Park.
The Victory forward brought out the backflip as he celebrated putting his side three goals ahead before making it 5-1 in the second half, playing a one-two with Callum McManaman and firing his shot through a number of bodies to rattle the back of the net for the second time on the night.
MW23 REPORT: Sky Blues fire warning to top-six rivals with 4-1 win over Reds
MW23 REPORT: Kamsoba at the double as Melbourne Victory smack Western United for six
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6256401067001
Cameron Devlin – Wellington Phoenix
Wellington’s midfield workhorse got his hands dirty in a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Perth Glory at Eden Park.
Devlin committed to 12 attempted tackled and 36 duels throughout the game, passing 43 times at 95.3% accuracy and winning possession 10 times as he refused to let Perth get on top in the centre of the park.
MW23 REPORT: Phoenix and Glory’s finals hopes on edge after thrilling draw in Auckland
Jacob Butterfield – Melbourne Victory
Butterfield showed out in Melbourne Victory’s incredible 6-1 win over Western United.
The Englishman created four chances notching an assist and scoring a goal of his own, crunching his side’s sixth goal of the night into the top-right corner to put the exclamation point on a massive win for the league’s second-bottom side.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6256405332001
Ben Folami – Melbourne Victory
Folami produced one goal and an assist in Victory’s 6-1 mauling of United in the Battle of the Bridge.
It seemed too easy for Folami at times as he displayed his dribbling prowess and pace to get into dangerous positions, creating four chances including an assist for Kamsoba and netting his side’s fourth goal in Victory’s best attacking display of the season.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6256398697001
Forwards
Marco Ureña – Central Coast Mariners
The Costa Rican put on arguably his best performance in a Mariners shirt in his side’s 2-1 victory over Macarthur FC in Matchweek 23.
Despite suffering a deflating defeat to the Jets later in the Matchweek, Ureña’s sparkling show against the Bulls helped the Gosford side clinch the vital three points which ultimately sealed their place in the Finals Series. The Mariners went a goal down but clawed their way back into the game – Ureña played a heavy hand in setting up Jack Clisby to score the equaliser before assisting Daniel De Silva’s second-half winner.
Ureña was everywhere for the Mariners in a classy display as his stellar maiden A-League campaign rolled on.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6256234136001
Adam Le Fondre – Melbourne Victory
In an ominous sign for all Finals Series contenders, Le Fondre’s combination with Bobô was in full swing for the first time this season in Sydney FC’s 4-1 win over Adelaide United.
Le Fondre bagged two goals on the night before setting up Bobô to make it 3-0 in the second half, sending the Sky Blues cruising to victory. After Premiers Melbourne City lost Jamie Maclaren to Socceroos duty, the Sky Blues now appear to possess the deadliest strike force in the league heading into the Finals Series.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6256544899001
