A-League men Tackle: The Tackle: Perth in the pits, Black Knights’ perfect debut
It was a horror start to the A-League season from Perth, while Auckland made an almighty first impression and more is on the agenda as ROBBIE SLATER and MARCO MONTEVERDE go through a big first round.
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Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde go through all the major talking points from first round of the A-League men’s competition.
MATA OF MINUTES
Western Sydney coach Alen Stajcic said it was a “flip of the coin” whether to start Juan Mata in Saturday night’s derby, so it’s a shame that it ended up being heads instead of tails.
After all the hype of an opening-round clash between the A-League’s prized off-season recruit – the Wanderers’ Mata and Sydney FC’s Douglas Costa – you couldn’t help but feel somewhat let down an hour before the game when the team sheets showed that Mata was on the bench.
Of course, Stajcic sees his players every day and is best placed to decide who should start and who should be among the substitutes.
However, fans would have been disappointed not to see former Chelsea and Manchester United star Mata play from the opening whistle at the sold out CommBank Stadium.
As a result, he had limited time to make an impact on the contest.
When Mata did come in the 62nd minute, the game was in the balance at 1-1, but just a few minutes later, the Sky Blues reclaimed what was a deserved lead.
SOUND ON 🔊🔊🔊 @juanmata8 comes on for his Isuzu UTE A-League debut.
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 19, 2024
Listen to that roar!
Watch #WSWvSYD live on Paramount+, 10 Bold & 10 Play. pic.twitter.com/asjcFr0vSK
There was no doubt the visitors were the better team, with the likes of Brazilian star Costa, English winger Joe Lolley, Polish striker Patryk Klimala and classy midfielder Anthony Caceres proving the difference.
The Wanderers are a work in progress under Stajcic, but there is no doubt that Sydney FC is the favourite to win the title
PETULANCE PUNISHED
Jimmy Jeggo should be thanking every one of his Melbourne City teammates after they rallied to ensure his schoolboy act of petulance didn’t cost the club a win against the Newcastle Jets.
No matter how frustrated the former Socceroo was for whatever might have happened earlier in Saturday’s match at McDonald Jones Stadium, there was no excuse for the way he raked his studs across the back of Jets midfielder Eli Adams.
Jeggo was rightfully sent off by referee Shaun Evans, and he should get more than a one-match ban for his grubby actions.
Jimmy Jeggo sees red 🟥and Melbourne City are down to 10 men in their season opener against Newcastle Jets.
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 19, 2024
Watch #NEWvMCY live on Paramount+, 10 Bold and 10 Play. pic.twitter.com/6z2nhpnpm3
Despite being reduced to 10 men for about 25 minutes, City managed to hold on for a 1-0 win, which should be much to the relief of the 32-year-old midfielder, who let his team and his club down.
“It wasn’t easy after Jimmy got sent off,” said City coach Aurelio Vidmar, who didn’t seem pleased with Jeggo’s actions when asked post-match for his thoughts on the red card decision.
“Who knows? You’re going to have to ask him.”
Jets coach Rob Stanton had no doubt that Jeggo would be “disappointed in what he did”.
“No way in the world he’s a dirty player. Sometimes in the moment you make a poor decision,” Stanton said.
“The ref really didn’t have a choice there. It’s not a good look.”
FRUSTRATED FORNAROLI
It was hard not to feel sorry for veteran Melbourne Victory striker Bruno Fornaroli on Friday night.
After an impressive 2023-24 campaign, Fornaroli seemed on the outer at the Victory in the pre-season under the club’s new coach Patrick Kisnorbo.
The Socceroo was on the bench for the majority of the Melbourne club’s Australia Cup campaign, being forced to play second fiddle to new Victory signing, Greek marksman Nikos Vergos.
There were also plenty of rumours that the Victory would have been happy to let Fornaroli go to another A-League club if a deal that settled all parties involved could have been struck.
However, a move didn’t eventuate, and to many people’s surprise, Fornaroli started ahead of Vergos in Friday’s season-opening, grand-final rematch between the Victory and the Mariners in Gosford.
It was the 37-year-old forward’s chance to prove to Kisnorbo that he still should be regarded as the club’s first-choice striker.
And things seemed to be going to play for Fornaroli when with a nice piece of first-half skill, he lured Mariners defender Bradley Tapp into fouling him inside the penalty area.
After the referee pointed to the spot, Fornaroli made sure he was going to be the one to take the penalty, with most expecting him to bury it and give the Victory the lead.
However, much to his despair, his penalty hit the post. A shattered Fornaroli had to be picked up off the floor by Zinedine Machach, who tried to encourage his crestfallen teammate.
Making the night worse for Fornaroli was that he was replaced in the 67th minute by Vergos, with the penalty miss proving costly in the scoreless draw.
“We want a competitive team, and competition’s very healthy,” Kisnorbo said when asked about his decision to start Fornaroli instead of Vergos.
“I chose Bruno for the first game. I choose what I think will be the best starting 11, and it was that which was on the pitch for today.”
PLAYING FOR KEEPS
We’ve seen a changing of the guard with goalkeepers at Socceroos level with Joe Gauci deposing Mat Ryan, and it seems we’re also experiencing it in the A-League.
Young keepers got a chance in the opening round, and they made the most of their opportunities.
Patrick Beach, 21, was excellent for Melbourne City in its 1-0 win over Newcastle after being selected ahead of veteran Jamie Young.
Welcome to the A-Leagues, Patrick Beach - what a debut! 🧤ðŸ‘
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 19, 2024
A surprise inclusion in @MelbourneCity's XI for Round 1... and he's named Man of the Match with four saves in his first senior match.
Just 21 years old. Remember the name 🔥#NEWvMCYpic.twitter.com/h0zVvCrl1g
Dylan Peraic-Cullen, 18, was also good for the Mariners in their 0-0 draw with Melbourne Victory on Friday night, staking an early claim to be the permanent replacement for retired former Socceroos gloveman Danny Vukovic.
And while he was part of a losing side, 21-year-old Tristan Vidackovic – who was deputising for the injured Lawrence Thomas – let nobody down in the Wanderers’ 2-1 loss to Sydney FC on Saturday night.
Beach, who was adjudged player-of-the-match in City’s win, was grateful for the support 39-year-old Young had given him.
“Jamie’s a top guy and a top keeper,” Beach said.
“He has helped me so much as a person and a player. I respect him so much.”
Welcome to the A-Leagues, @fc_auckland 💙🖤
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 19, 2024
Our newest club has arrived!#AKLvBRIpic.twitter.com/dFS9s5HSLe
ADVANTAGE AUCKLAND
A-League new boys Auckland FC have the early edge over New Zealand rivals Wellington Phoenix in terms of goals, points and support.
In front of more than 24,000 fans on Saturday at Go Media Stadium, the Black Knights made a dream debut with a 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar.
The Phoenix opened their season, also at home, on Sunday against Western United.
However, despite taking a 1-0 lead through Kosta Barbarouses, Wellington had to settle for a 1-1 draw after a second-half equaliser from Western United midfielder Angus Thurgate, much to the disappointment of the 7535 supporters in attendance.
Take a bow, Auckland 🇳🇿ðŸ˜
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 19, 2024
What a way to enter the A-Leagues.#AKLvBRIpic.twitter.com/t7m23UjFiF
Auckland has another home game in round two against Sydney FC, and it will be intriguing to discover if the Black Knights can again attract a crowd of more than 20,000.
A week after that, bragging rights will be well and truly on the line in the first New Zealand A-League derby when the Phoenix host Auckland at Sky Stadium, hopefully in front of a 30,000-plus crowd.
POOR PERTH
The only thing that new Perth Glory coach David Zdrilic can be thankful for after his side’s shocking performance on Sunday is that things can’t possibly get any worse despite the season being only a week old.
The Glory produced one of the worst defensive displays in A-League history in their humiliating 6-1 loss to Macarthur FC at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
While the Bulls were good, they were aided by some horrible Perth defending that left hapless Glory goalkeeper Oli Sail brutally exposed.
It was hard not to sympathise with Sail, with his frustrations obvious as the hosts, inspired by Marin Jakolis and Jake Hollman, ran riot to lead 5-0 at halftime.
It’s SIX for @mfcbulls - and Oli Sail’s reaction says it all.
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 20, 2024
Watch #MACvPER live and exclusive on Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/Mhc4Pq9ULC
The Glory limited the damage in the second half but Zdrilic, who was appointed by Perth in the off-season after an impressive journey as an assistant coach in Australia and abroad, has a mountain of work ahead of him.
Ambitious Glory owner Ross Pelligra would be filthy with Sunday’s display, but he needs to show patience as Perth, last season’s wooden spooners, embarks on a new journey under its new coach.
Team of the week: (4-1-2-3) Patrick Beach (Melbourne City); Hiroki Sakai (Auckland FC), Brian Kaltak (Central Coast Mariners), Tomislav Uskok (Macarthur FC), Lucas Mauragis (Central Coast Mariners); Angus Thurgate (Western United); Jake Hollman (Macarthur FC), Anthony Caceres (Sydney FC); Marin Jakolis (Macarthur FC), Patryk Klimala (Sydney FC), Joe Lolley (Sydney FC). Coach: Mile Sterjovski (Macarthur FC)
Player of the week: Marin Jakolis (Macarthur FC)
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