A-League news and results: Western Sydney Wanderers beat Macarthur 2-1
A stunning first A-League goal from a Western Sydney Wanderers defender has kept his side in the finals hunt after a 2-1 win over Macarthur. See the goal here.
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The Western Sydney Wanderers remain in contention for the A-League Men’s finals series after a spectacular goal from defender Gabriel Cleur helped them to a 2-1 win over neighbours Macarthur at CommBank Stadium on Sunday night.
Cleur was left red-faced in the 57th minute when his comical entanglement with fellow defender Anthony Pantazopoulos saw the latter push Harrison Sawyer’s header into the Wanderers’ net for the opening goal.
However, the former Australian under-23 representative would soon redeem himself by setting up the equaliser for Nicolas Milanovic and grabbing the match-winner with a long-range shot that rocketed past Macarthur keeper Filip Kurto.
It was the Wanderers’ third win from nine matches at home and moved them to 25 competition points, equal to both the Bulls and sixth-placed Sydney FC.
How about that for a FIRST EVER A-Leagues goal after 43 matches 🤯
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) February 16, 2025
Gabriel Cleur, that is outrageous - and Wanderers lead!
Watch #WSWvMAC live & exclusive on Paramount+. pic.twitter.com/2JLARhj3Da
KEEPERS STAR
Despite an open and free-flowing first half, the teams went into sheds level at nil-all and that was in no small part due to the shot-stoppers.
Despite both conceding in the second stanza, Kurto and his opposite number Lawrence Thomas had fine games between the sticks. Kurto was particularly impressive during the opening 45 minutes, deflecting two dangerous shots from Brandon Borrello and Zac Sapsford. Likewise, Lawrence prevented the Sawyer from doubling the Bulls’ lead in the 61st minute when he pushed away a headed shot from close range.
SAWYER STANDS TALL
Speaking of Sawyer, while he hasn’t yet netted an A-League goal, the giant Macarthur striker is finally starting to look comfortable at A-League level. After being signed from NPL club South Melbourne during the pre-season, the 28-year-old had been warming the bench for most of the season. But with Jed Drew and Ariath Piol now plying their trade overseas, Mile Sterjovski has begun starting Sawyer up-front. Standing at 1.95 metres, Sawyer was a constant threat to the Wanderers’ goal on Saturday afternoon and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.
Newcastle cause massive upset in City of Churches
Newcastle Jets stunned A-League Premier’s Plate hopefuls Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.
Goals from Jets’ Lachlan Rose and Clayton Taylor bookended Stefan Mauk’s Adelaide equaliser in a 2-1 upset win over the title contenders.
It was Adelaide’s second loss of the season - again at home - after they had enough chances to land at least a point.
The loss keeps Adelaide in the second spot but five points adrift from table-topping Auckland.
Adelaide’s Yaya Dukuly was wreaking havoc on the left wing, but the home side failed to trouble Jets keeper Noah James as the final ball was lacking, which proved costly.
Despite Adelaide’s first-half domination Kota Mizunuma exposed a chink in the Reds’ armour.
Adelaide was caught napping on the counter-attack eight minutes before the break.
With limited space Mizunuma, the former Yokohama Marinos winger, delivered a 25m cross, which isolated Adelaide’s centre-backs before Lachlan Rose powered a neat header into the back of the net from 6m.
That lead was short-lived.
Steel City âž¡ï¸ City of Churches 🔥 Huge win in Adelaide!#BondedByGold #ADLvNEW pic.twitter.com/OFZ2qoeiB0
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC âœˆï¸ (@NewcastleJetsFC) February 15, 2025
Interim skipper Mauk equalised on the stroke of halftime when the Jets defended a Dylan Pierias cross poorly.
As the ball bobbled in the Jets penalty box Mauk had enough time to bury a half volley home from 10m to level the tie.
However, the Jets appeared revitalised after the break, with a clear plan to disrupt Pierias’s overlapping runs.
Clayton Taylor, 20, scored the Jets second goal 10 minutes after the break by exposing the home side’s frailties.
Lauded as one of the best new talents in the A-League, Taylor, sped past Adelaide’s Dutch defender Bart Vriends before he seemingly surprised United keeper Ethan Cox.
Cox was seemingly in the best possible position for Clayton’s strike which crashed into the back of the net from 10m.
“It’s exhilarating as a team and it’s great to have two wins in a row,” Clayton said.
“It’s great to find form individually as well.”
Mauk had a superb chance to equalise in the 80th minute but the attacking midfielder mistimed his shot from the edge of the six-yard box.
KOTA REPAYS FAITH
Mizunuma had been yearning to play in the A-League for more than a year and was rejected by “bigger” clubs until the Jets came calling during the recent FIFA transfer window.
The former Japanese international’s perfect cross for Lachie Rose’s opening goal was sensational.
The Jets had been knocking on Adelaide’s door despite being dominated for almost the entire first half with Rose and Mizunuma combining before the first goal of the clash.
LIFE WITH ARCHIE
Newcastle-born-and-bred Archie Goodwin, 20, played for the Jets since he was under 9.
Signed by Adelaide at the start of the season, perhaps he had nothing to prove against his old club.
However, despite scoring eight times and leading the goalscoring for Adelaide, Goodwin missed a sitter in the 18th minute.
Goodwin ended his shift in the 69th minute after succumbing to what appeared to be a knock.
YOU’RE KITTO ME
Adelaide was dealt a major blow just before kick-off when skipper Ryan Kitto withdrew from the starting 11.
Kitto was injured in the warm-up and replaced by Ryan White, 20.
Harry Crawford was added to the 18-man match-day squad for Kitto.
Ethan Alagich slotted into Kitto’s left-back position while White in his run on debut for Adelaide, started in midfield.
White was solid throughout the clash with his best moment arriving in the 26th minute.
White’s 30m drive ricocheted off the post.
Crawford, 18, who reportedly played for United’s NPL side earlier in the day made his A-League debut in the 79th minute alongside Amlani Tatu, 16, as Adelaide searched for an equaliser.
Auckland demons buried as United miss out on a top three spot.
-Marco Monteverde
Western United coach John Aloisi admitted his side missed suspended star Angus Thurgate after Auckland FC buried the demons of its most embarrassing A-League performance with a 2-0 win at Ironbark Fields on Saturday night.
United thrashed the previously unbeaten Black Knights 4-0 in December at Go Media Stadium in a result that shook the foundations of the competition.
However, United’s bid to become the first team to twice beat the A-League newcomers and leaders fell short, with the visitors delivering a clinical performance away from home.
Auckland blew the game open with two goals in the dying stages of the first-half.
HOW ON EARTH DID HE SCORE FROM THERE?! 😮â€ðŸ’¨ðŸš€@fc_auckland's Guillermo May scores a long-range banger with his left foot and it's a goal of the season contender 🔥
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) February 15, 2025
📺 Watch #WUNvAKL live and exclusive NOW on Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/zjwwyDGKR4
The first came in the 44th minute from Uruguayan striker Guillermo May, who unleashed a sizzling 25-metre left-footed strike that was too good for United goalkeeper Matt Sutton.
Perhaps sensing some deflation in the home side, the Black Knights wasted no time doubling their lead in first-half stoppage-time.
Colombian midfielder Neyder Moreno was the provider, proving too strong for teenage defender Dylan Leonard before feeding teammate Max Mata, who tapped the ball home from close range to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage at halftime.
Not helping United’s cause was the absence of midfield general Thurgate.
In career-best form that has him being floated for potential selection in the Socceroos squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China, Thurgate was unavailable for the match after an accumulation of yellow cards resulted in him being suspended for one game.
Emerging midfielder Jordan Lauton started an A-League match for the first time after being chosen as the replacement for Thurgate.
And while Lauton gave his best, United was far less dangerous without talisman Thurgate.
“We missed him because he’s such a good player for us, but I thought that Jordan Lauton for his first start was outstanding,” said Aloisi, who while disappointed with the defeat, was encouraged by his players’ effort.
“The performance was good but we just have to keep on improving.
“You have to give credit to them (Auckland). They’ve got big boys that put their bodies on the line. They were definitely up for the game as well.”
Auckland coach Steve Corica said his side’s 4-0 loss to United less than two months ago had been a motivating factor.
“It was definitely something we touched on,” Corica said.
“To lose 4-0 at home, our first loss of the season … we were disappointed.
“We didn’t turn up that day, and that was the most important thing we took out of that. We need to compete, we need to turn up every single week we play.
“We really showed up today. We wanted to try to pay them back for the loss that we had at home, and 2-0 is pretty good. We’re quite happy with that.”
United had been in third spot on the ladder entering the latest round of A-League matches, but will drop to sixth place if Macarthur FC beats Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
Frustrations boiled over after full-time in a brief melee that stemmed from tension towards the end of the match between United substitute Michael Ruhs and Auckland defender Tommy Smith.
Auckland FC’s sweet revenge over Western United
-Marco Monteverde
Auckland FC has buried the demons of its most embarrassing A-League performance by gaining sweet revenge on Western United with a 2-0 win at Ironbark Fields.
United thrashed the previously unbeaten Black Knights 4-0 in December at Go Media Stadium in a result that shook the foundations of the competition.
However, United’s bid to become the first team to beat the A-League newcomers and leaders twice fell short on Saturday night, with visitors delivering a clinical performance away from home.
Auckland blew the game open with two goals in the dying stages of the first-half.
The first came in the 44th minute from Uruguayan striker Guillermo May, who unleashed a sizzling 25-metre left-footed strike that was too good for United goalkeeper Matt Sutton.
Perhaps sensing some deflation in the home side, the Black Knights wasted no time doubling their lead in first-half stoppage-time.
Colombian midfielder Neyder Moreno was the provider, proving too strong for teenage defender Dylan Leonard before feeding teammate Max Mata, who tapped the ball home from close range to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage at halftime.
Mata’s goal made up for an earlier chance the Auckland striker should have taken in the 13th minute when he failed to hit the target with a header from close range.
United’s Japanese striker Hiroshi Ibusuki also failed to direct a header on target in the 29th minute.
Ibusuki’s countryman Riku Danzaki also had a first-half chance for United, but was denied by a good save from Auckland goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, who was otherwise rarely tested in what was a disappointing display from the home side.
United had been in third spot on the ladder entering the latest round of A-League matches, but will drop to sixth place if Macarthur FC beats Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
Frustrations boiled over after full-time in a brief melee that stemmed from tension between United substitute Michael Ruhs and Auckland defender Tommy Smith.
Star’s suspension hurts United
The absence of midfield general Angus Thurgate proved costly for United.
In career-best form that has him being floated for potential selection in the Socceroos squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China, Thurgate was unavailable for Saturday night’s clash after an accumulation of yellow cards resulted in him being suspended for one match.
Emerging midfielder Jordan Lauton started an A-League match for the first time after being chosen as the replacement for Thurgate.
And while Lauton gave his best, United looked far less dangerous and penetrative without talisman Thurgate.
Melbourne to welcome back stars
-Ronny Lerner
The cavalry appears to be returning at just the right time for Melbourne City with as many as four key players in the frame to line up against arch rivals Melbourne Victory in the local derby next week.
Andreas Kuen (hamstring), Kai Trewin (groin) and Ben Mazzeo (illness) all look set to bolster the City line-up and Samuel Souprayen (buttock) could be a chance to feature as well.
Melbourne have battled an enormous injury list for most of the season, and still have Andrew Nabbout (knee), Yonatan Cohen (knee), Jimmy Jeggo (Achilles) and Alessandro Lopane (knee) unavailable, while Steve Ugarkovic (hamstring) is in doubt after being subbed out against Perth on Saturday evening.
But they have regained Mathew Leckie, Marco Tilio and Max Caputo in recent games and after beating the Glory 1-0, and re-entering the top six, City coach Aurelio Vidmar felt as though their luck was finally changing heading into the home stretch of the campaign.
“It’s important that we’re staying amongst the pack and within the coming weeks generally having everyone (available),” Vidmar said.
“Touch wood that we don’t lose anyone else but we never know – the way we play, the way we work, we’re always at risk of something.
“But I prefer it that way because you’ve got to play with intensity, you’ve got to play with passion and that’s what we’re trying to do and I think the more times you can do that, it gives you the better chance of winning.”
Vidmar was hopeful that Souprayen would return to face Victory.
“He’s had a scan. No issue with the muscle, a little bit with the tendon, a little bit of inflammation,” Vidmar said.
“So he’s on medication and just see where it goes. Those things can settle pretty quickly or they may take a week or so.”
The enormity of next week’s derby was not lost on Vidmar with both Victory and City sitting in the top four as of Saturday night.
“We know there’s no need to discuss a game like next week,” he said.
“It’s a big game, we’re one point behind, we’re 27, they’re 28, so obviously a massive game in the scheme of things.”
A long-range screamer from teenage sensation Lawrence Wong gave City their win against Perth.
Wong’s peach of a strike from 19 yards out with his non-preferred delivered him a first A-League goal he will never forget.
The prodigy became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer at 17 years and 132 days old, and the third-youngest in A-League Men history.
“It was a nice goal,” Vidmar said.
“He’s just got to keep learning, got to keep working. We think he’s got a really bright future but he’s right at the infancy of his career.
“As long as he keeps listening, keeps learning, keeps pushing himself and then he gives himself a good chance.”
Debut goal for young City star
-Ronny Lerner
A screamer from teenage sensation Lawrence Wong has helped Melbourne City stop the rot and delivered them a much-needed 1-0 win against Perth at AAMI Park on Saturday evening.
Wong’s peach of a strike from 19 yards out with his non-preferred right foot flew into the top-right corner, giving diving Glory goalkeeper Oliver Sail no chance, and delivering Wong a first A-League goal he will never forget.
The prodigy became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer at 17 years and 132 days old. The goal capped off a fantastic performance from Wong who was very industrious on the left and generated a lot of meaningful play for the hosts before being subbed off after an hour.
After defying the odds to grab top spot a month ago while battling an enormous injury list, Melbourne lost their next three matches to drop to seventh, but they have now re-entered the top six after going goalless in their previous three games.
The hosts were the stronger team all game, and ended up with healthy buffers in shots (16-7), shots on target (7-3), possession (60 per cent), passes in opposition half (213-76) and touches in opposition box (32-14).
The win over Glory stabilised their campaign heading into a huge local derby against arch rivals Melbourne Victory next week.
3 points at home ✅#MCYvPER pic.twitter.com/z5bn8Cz49b
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) February 15, 2025
MORE INJURY WOE
However, the win looks to have come at a cost for City with Steven Ugarkovic subbed out in the 61st minute with what looked like a soft-tissue injury, potentially adding to their extreme personnel issues.
They took on Perth without Andreas Kuen (hamstring), Andrew Nabbout (knee), Samuel Souprayen (Tbuttock), Kai Trewin (groin), Yonatan Cohen (knee), Ben Mazzeo (illness), Jimmy Jeggo (Achilles) and Alessandro Lopane (knee) due to injury.
GLORY CAN’T CONVERT
The first half was an entertaining affair, and although City had the upper hand, the Glory had their chances.
In the 16th minute, Lachie Wales tried to curl it around a crowded penalty area and place it in the top-right corner from the edge of the box, but Melbourne goalkeeper Patrick Beach was up to the task with a brilliant one-handed save diving at full stretch.
Tomislav Mrcela’s header from close range just after the half-hour mark hit the crossbar after connecting with Taras Gomulka’s corner, and 12 minutes later, William Freney had a golden opportunity to equalise, but his terrible attempt from 12 yards out ballooned over the bar.
CITY SHOTS GO BEGGING
However, the hosts also had multiple opportunities to add to their goal tally in the opening period. In the 29th minute, Kavian Rahmani’s beautiful curling strike from 20 yards out was saved superbly by the diving Sail at the far post, and seven minutes later, Rahmani’s pinpoint pass found Marco Tilio at the corner of the six-yard box, but the latter’s attempt flew wildly off target.
Mathew Leckie’s powerful strike from 15 yards on a sharp angle in the 39th minute was blocked by Sail, and moments later, Melbourne momentarily thought they doubled their lead when Wong teed it up for Tilio whose shot from the right was saved by Sail, only for Caputo to tap home the rebound into an empty net, but it was denied due to an off-side ruling. The second half was far tamer with few threatening chances created.
HEAD KICKS EXCHANGED
City defender German Ferreyra appeared to be very fortunate to avoid a card in the 12th minute when he accidentally kicked Perth’s Patrick Wood in the face as the pair were contesting a ball in the middle of the park. The incident split open Wood’s forehead and delayed the match for some time.
In the 64th minute, Wood got his revenge when his boot clipped Ferreyra in the face in City’s box, and he too avoided having his name going in the book despite clearly causing discomfort for the Argentinian.
Victory starting to find their best
— Ronny Lerner
Melbourne Victory have jumped up to third spot on the A-League Men ladder after Nikos Vergos delivered them a 1-0 win over Wellington at a rainswept AAMI Park on Friday night.
Vergos broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when he sent a powerful header home from close range at the near post after getting on the end of a pinpoint Santos cross from the right which found the Greek forward in between Phoenix defenders Tim Payne and Isaac Hughes.
After going six games without a win under new coach Arthur Diles, Melbourne have now won three of their past four to emphatically put to bed the drama of Patrick Kisnorbo’s shock departure late last year.
The result extended the Phoenix’s massive winless run at AAMI Park to a staggering 23 consecutive matches, and it’s now been eight years since they’ve beaten Victory at the venue.
It also ended their four-game unbeaten run and they remain locked in 10th position. They could also find themselves eight points adrift of the top six by the end of the weekend with 10 matches to go in the season.
VICTORY CLASS ABOVE
Victory were the better and more enterprising team all night, finishing with four times as many shots on goal (16-4), while also enjoying healthy advantages in possession (57 per cent), shots on target (5-1), corners (9-2) and passes in opposition half (246-79).
The hosts had decent chances to add to their goal tally as well. In the 48th minute, Santos’ skidding attempt from 25 yards out was saved well by Wellington goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald, who steered it off target and out for a corner, and 14 minutes later Zinedine Machach unloaded a rocket from 16 yards which stung Kelly-Heald’s gloves, but the Phoenix custodian did a good job of keeping the ball out.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Bruno Fornaroli had the net at his mercy, but from 15 yards out, he sent a regulation chance wide of the right post and moments later, Kasey Bos’ cross again found Fornaroli whose close-range header was saved brilliantly by Kelly-Heald diving down to his right.
FEW PHOENIX CHANCES
Wellington didn’t produce their first shot on goal until the 70th minute, but it was almost worth the wait as Tim Payne’s magnificent cross from the right found Kosta Barbarouses in the six-yard box sandwiched between Melbourne pair Roderick Miranda and Brendan Hamill. But sliding Victory goalkeeper Mitch Langerak produced a huge save and denied Barbarouses with his knee.
Eleven minutes later, 16-year-old Luke Brooke-Smith went on a jinking run that sliced open the Victory defence, but his shot from 15 yards out flew well off target after taking a deflection.
FIRST-HALF FIZZER
The first half was a scrappy, uneventful affair that produced just five shots on goal, all Victory’s way, however, in truth, only one of them produced a semblance of jitters for the Wellington camp.
That came in the 24th minute when Reno Piscopo’s bullet from 20 yards out whizzed just over the crossbar and forced Kelly-Heald to dive at full stretch to his left.
But outside of that, there were very few highlights in the opening 45 minutes. The hosts enjoyed the lion’s share of play in the first period, with far more possession (60 per cent), corners (4-1) and passes in opposition half (147-36), but it all amounted to nothing as they failed to seriously threaten Wellington’s goal.
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Originally published as A-League news and results: Western Sydney Wanderers beat Macarthur 2-1
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