A-League news: Late error from Melbourne City keeper gifts draw to Auckland FC
A calamitous late error from Melbourne City goalkeeper Patrick Beach has allowed Auckland FC to maintain their undefeated start to their debut A-League Men season. Get all the news from round 8 here.
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A-League Men pacesetters Auckland FC are going to have to prepare for life without key players Dan Hall and Cameron Howieson for an extended period after the pair suffered significant injuries in recent days.
Hall, who has starred in defence so far this season, fractured his ankle in a training mishap last week and is expected to miss up to three months, while Howieson will be sidelined for five weeks with a calf injury.
“He’s been amazing. Him and Nando (Pijnaker) together,” Black Knights coach Steve Corica said of Hall.
“Obviously really disappointed for him because they were starting to talk about him for the national team as well.
“He just slid in to a challenge in training, rolled his ankle and obviously there’s a fracture there.
“It’s a big blow for us but it’s that mental effect as well for the players knowing that he’s out.
“He’ll come back stronger and better but we need to get through this period while he’s out.
“I’m sure (Socceroos coach) Tony (Popovic) watches all the A-League games and he’s a good quality defender so his name’s obviously been thrown about for that.
“But he’ll have to wait for that ... I’m sure he’ll, at some stage, get that opportunity.”
In some better news for Auckland, Louis Verstraete (back), who also sat out the 2-2 draw against Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Sunday evening, is expected to fit for their next clash against Western United in Auckland.
Meanwhile, Corica said there were “no excuses” for the horror Nando Pijnaker own goal in the 79th minute which put Auckland down 2-1.
Black Knights goalkeeper Alexander Paulsen couldn’t control a fairly tame backpass from Pijnaker, which bobbled slightly, and that subtle deviation was enough for Paulsen to get his bearings all wrong. He could only watch on in dismay as the ball rolled into his net.
“We made a mistake and it cost us the goal,” Corica said.
“We probably could have cleared the ball. It went back to Alex, he obviously took his eye off the ball and it went in.”
The match saw Auckland trail an opponent for the first time in their short history. In fact, the unbeaten league leaders went behind twice, but to fight back and equalise both times pleased Corica greatly after being “bullied” in the first half.
“I’m really pleased with the performance and the character and the willingness to get back into the game and almost go on and win it,” he said.
“They fought back in the second half. It was a lot better performance, but they let themselves down in the first half because we didn’t perform the way we expected to.
“People didn’t know what to expect when we did concede a goal. Well, I think we’ve showed exactly what we’re about as well. We never give up, never give in and just keep fighting to the end.”
WANDERERS STAR BLASTS TIME-WASTING TACTICS IN ROAR DRAW
Former Roar star Brandon Borrello scored twice against his old club but it wasn’t enough to secure Western Sydney Wanderers a win over the battling Brisbane outfit on Saturday night.
Instead, the Wanderers were held to a 2-2 draw at CommBank Stadium by a Roar side still chasing its first win of the A-League season.
Pressure remains on Brisbane coach Ruben Zadkovich, whose side has lost five from seven in a so far poor 2024-25 campaign,
However, it would be Zadkovich’s Wanderers counterpart Alen Stajcic who would be more disappointed with the result, with Western Sydney blowing the chance to move into the top six.
Stajcic’s men twice led on the night, only to be pegged back on both occasions by the Queenslanders in a four-goal first-half.
Borrello gave the hosts the lead in the 10th minute after being first to react to a goal-line clearance from Roar defender Antonee Burke-Gilroy, whose effort to foil Western Sydney’s Nicolas Milanovic amounted to nothing.
However, the Roar were back on level terms just three minutes later through an own goal from Wanderers right-back Gabriel Cleur, whose clumsy attempt to clear a low cross from Brisbane winger Ben Halloran ended up in the back of his own net.
The Wanderers regained the lead in the 21st minute from an impressive free-kick from Borrello, however Brisbane goalkeeper Macklin Freke should have done better with his attempt to make a save.
The see-sawing nature of the contest was to continue 10 minutes later when the Roar’s talented teenage striker Thomas Waddingham netted his fourth goal of the season with a superb angled strike from the edge of the penalty after Brisbane had been gifted possession by Western Sydney attacker Nicolas Milanovic.
An otherwise dull and stop-start second-half that featured plenty of delaying tactics from Brisbane nearly had a dramatic ending, with Roar substitute Jacob Brazete foiled in stoppage-time by a good save from Wanderers goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas.
“It’s a bit of a tale of our season at the moment in that we’ll score a goal and then they’ll return serve quite easily,” frustrated Wanderers star Borrello told Network 10.
“We’ve had to try to win the game three times.”
Borrello also expressed his anger with what he felt was time-wasting tactics from the visitors.
“That was atrocious. Surely (the referee) can hand out a few yellow cards. If it’s a part of the game and a part of the rules for time-wasting, either add (time) on or send them off. I’m tired of it.”
Plenty of changes
Embattled Roar coach Zadkovich made five changes to the team that started in the previous week’s 4-1 home loss to Melbourne City.
Teenage defender Lucas Herrington was given his A-League debut, starting at the expense of Scott Neville.
It was one of two changes in defence, with Harry Van der Saag coming in for right-back Jack Hingert.
In the midfield, Lebanon international Walid Shour displaced Frenchman Florin Berenguer, while wingers Halloran and Adam Zimarino came in for the injured Keegan Jelacic (shoulder) and Rafael Struik, who was away on international duty for Indonesia at the ASEAN Championship.
The Wanderers, who had the bye last week, named the same 11 that started in their 2-0 win over Melbourne City on November 30, meaning that former Manchester United and Chelsea star Juan Mata again had to be content with a spot among the substitutes.
Mata entered the contest in the 70th minute as a replacement for Milanovic but couldn’t provide the inspiration Western Sydney needed to win.
Sydney blows chance to turn A-League season around
By Steven Russo
Sydney’s FC poor start to the season continued on Saturday night after squandering a halftime lead during their 4-3 loss to Western United.
Despite conceding a Noah Botic goal after three minutes, the Sky Blues dominated possession during the first half, going into the break ahead 2-1 following a double to 20-year-old midfielder Adrian Segecic.
Back-to-back goals to Abel Walatee and Rhys Bozinovski saw the visitors regain the lead heading into the final 30 minutes of the game, and while Rhyan Grant looked to have salvaged a competition point for Sydney with a headed goal in the 68th minute, Michael Ruhs sealed victory with a runaway goal in the 87th.
“It was an emotional roller coaster,” Western United coach John Aloisi said post-match.
“There were so many good moments for us and then good moments for them (Sydney).
“They’re hard to stop at times, but we thought that if we were able to play our way, we’d create chances … and we did that.
“We had quite a few senior players out and the young ones really stepped up.
“Every single player that scored was under the age of 22, I think.
“I said to them (the players), ‘just to keeping going right to the end because there will be there something there for you right till the end.’ That was the main message.”
The loss sees Sydney drop out of the A-League Men’s top six – which is particularly disappointing considering the team’s pre-season hype.
Sydney’s Defensive Woes Continue
With the likes of Douglas Costa and Joe Lolley in their ranks, there is no doubt that Sydney has some serious firepower upfront. However, some serious questions need to be asked about their defence. Despite boasting Australian internationals Hayden Matthews and Rhyan Grant, as well as the promising Alexandar Popović, Sydney FC are yet to register a clean sheet this season. They appear particularly vulnerable on the counter-attack, with three of Western United’s goals coming against the run of play.
“We need to look in the mirror, because some players are underperforming at the moment and they are not playing at the level they should be playing at,” Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay said post match.
“I have a certain expectation of certain players … and sometimes we try to play players into form, but I think players that I expect to deliver a certain product are underperforming at the moment.
“The way I see it, if personnel A can’t do it, then personnel B will come in and (hopefully) do it.
“We (also) don’t deal crosses in the box.
“We have enough numbers around the ball … (but) we don’t deal with the first phase and we don’t deal with the second phase.”
Super Sutton
Western United keeper Matt Sutton was an absolute colossus on Saturday night. Sydney created a mountain of chances during the first half; however, they were repeatedly denied by the visiting shot-stopper, who made nine saves during the opening stanza – including three from point-blank range. He was deservedly named the player of the match and earned praise from Aloisi post-match.
“He’s had to wait for his opportunity,” Aloisi said of his keeper.
“I thought he made some good saves today, crucial saves.
“He kept us in it, especially in the first half.
“That’s what you want from your keeper and that’s what you need at times, especially away from home.”
Segecic Comes of Age
Despite the result, Segecic can be proud of his efforts on Saturday night. Coming into this match, he had scored just one A-League goal for the club – however, he tripled his domestic tally with two classy finishes on Saturday evening. He could have even had a hat-trick had it not been for an incredible save on the line from Sutton.
Ouahim is the Real Marquee Man
While Douglas Costa is easily the highest-profile import in the A-League, it’s fair to say he is being outshone by a lesser-known import in Anas Ouahim. The German-born Ouahim has proven the key cog in Ufuk Talay’s attacking set-up during the season, playing a hand in numerous goals, including two on Saturday evening.
Teen sensation returns Macarthur to A-League winners list
By Ryan Rosendale
A maiden A-League goal from Dean Bosnjak has returned Macarthur to the winners list with a 2-1 victory over Wellington in New Zealand.
With scores locked at 1-1 after an entertaining first-half, the 18 year-old checked into the game in the 60th minute and didn’t take long to make an impact.
The left footer found the back of the net in the 76th minute to break the deadlock and give the Bulls their first ever win in Wellington.
After two straight draws, the victory moved Macarthur back into the top six while the defeat was the second straight for the Phoenix.
It was a perfect start for the home side after Valerie Germain found the back of the net after a saved penalty in sixth minute.
But it was all the visitors from that point on in the first half, who peppered the goals on multiple occasions with no avail.
That all changed in the 43rd minute when veteran Konstantinos Barbarouses kicked his fifth goal of the season to extend his own streak of four straight matches on the scoresheet.
Macarthur will next face Central Coast Mariners on December 23 while Wellington will look to respond against Western Sydney Wanderers on December 22.
Adelaide’s ‘Goodwin’: United’s star recruit leads Mariners hammering
By Robert Dillon
Archie Goodwin reaffirmed his reputation as one of the signings of the A-League season with a decisive role in Adelaide’s 4-0 hammering of defending champions Central Coast in Gosford on Friday night.
Born and bred in Newcastle, Goodwin debuted for the Jets as a 16-year-old and played 44 games in their top side over the course of four seasons, scoring six goals and earning selection for the Young Socceroos.
Frustrated with his lack of game time last season, Goodwin rejected a contract extension at the Jets and instead gambled on a move to Adelaide, where he has gone from strength to strength.
After opening his account with a matchwinner off the bench against Brisbane recently,
Goodwin has been starting upfront for Adelaide and he gave another glimpse of his finishing abilities in the 13th minute of Friday night’s clash.
Winning the ball in the middle of the pitch, the 20-year-old laid off, sprinted upfield, and was perfectly positioned to pounce on a pinpoint cross from midfielder Austin Ayoubi.
Adelaide doubled their lead four minutes into the second half when Zach Clough created space, whipped in a cross and Panagiotis Kikianis finished from close range.
Goodwin was the architect of Adelaide’s third goal in the 50th minute when he stole possession, drew the defence and passed to Clough, who centred for Stefan Mauk to tap in.
Adelaide substitute Yaya Dukuly made it 4-0 in the 73rd minute with a cracking strike, which he celebrated with a spectacular backflip.
ADELAIDE ADVANCING
After a lean 2023-24 campaign in which they finished eighth – seven points adrift of the top six – Adelaide are clearly intent on making amends.
While Auckland are deservedly earning rave reviews after winning their first six games, the Reds have without fuss or fanfare loomed up in their rear-view mirror.
Their win against the Mariners lifted Adelaide into outright second position on the points table, one point behind Auckland, who play Melbourne City on Sunday.
In the process, Adelaide have scored 17 goals in seven games. No rival team has put it in the net as often.
Carl Veart’s men have won five of their past six fixtures in the process and appear to be warming to their task.
SPANIARD A STAYER
Spanish midfielder Isaias Sanchez created a piece of club history for Adelaide when he appeared in his 239th A-League game.
That took him past the club record held by former goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic, and Adelaide celebrated the occasion in style with a dominant win.
The 37-year-old is expected to retire at the end of this season but will be hoping to become the first Adelaide player to go past the 250-game milestone.
CHAMPIONS STUMPED
The two-time champions are unlikely to panic at this early point in proceedings. It was only last season, after all, that they lost their first four games and recovered to win the grand final.
But there must be some concern mounting for Mariners coach Mark Jackson about his team’s lack of firepower upfront.
Central Coast have scored only five goals in seven games thus far. They need more from their strike force if they hope to challenge for an unprecedented hat-trick of titles.
SEVENTH HEAVEN
The result ended a lean few years for Adelaide in Gosford. The Reds had returned empty-handed in their previous six visits to the Central Coast.
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