A-League, Round 1 results, news: Sydney is Sky Blue: Klimala steals show as stars shine
All eyes were on Douglas Costa and Juan Mata coming into the the Sydney derby, but it was Polish forward Patryk Klimala that stole the show during Sydney FC’s win over the Wanderers.
All eyes were on Douglas Costa and Juan Mata coming into the 39th instalment of the Sydney derby, but it was Polish forward Patryk Klimala that stole the show during Sydney FC’s 2-1 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers at Commbank Stadium.
Not only did the former Celtic star score the goal that sealed victory for the Sky Blues, but it was his looping header that provided Joe Lolley with the game’s opening goal after 17 minutes.
Despite dominating for most of the game, Sydney FC were staring down the barrel of a 1-all draw to their arch rivals after Aydan Hammond levelled the scores in the 56th minute. However, Klimala grabbed the game-clencher six minutes later, when Hayden Matthews nudged a Costa cross into the path of the striker, who calmly headed the ball past Wanderers keeper Tristan Vidakovic.
CLASSY COSTA
Despite being overshadowed by Klimala, Sydney’s FC Brazilian superstar still showed touches of class during his A-League debut.
Aside from playing a role in the build up to Klimala’s goal, his precision passing in the midfield caused plenty of headaches for the Wanderers’ defence.
The former Juventus and Bayern Munich star was not afraid to attack the goal either, forcing three saves from Vidakovic across the 90 minutes, including a long-range effort from a free kick midway through the first half.
MIXED NIGHT FOR YOUNG GUN
20-year-old Hammond showed he could be a star of the future for the Wanderers when he scored a second half equaliser.
However, the promising winger will rue two wasted chances during the opening stanza.
On the first occasion, he was denied after his attempt on goal was cleared off the line by Sydney FC centre-back Alexandar Popovic.
He also would have been looking for a hole to hide in after he skied a simple shot over Andrew Redmayne’s goal in the final play of the first half.
WHAT’S THE MATA?
While Sydney FC’ imports Costa and Klimala shone in their first A-league appearance, it was a different story for the Wanderers’ main man.
Alen Stajcic opted to start the 2010 World Cup winner on the bench and the sold-out crowd had to wait until the 61st minute for him to take the field.
The Spaniard’s last competitive outing was a 10-minute stint for Japanese side Vissel Kobe back in 2023, and he certainly looked like a man lacking game time, with very limited impact during his time on the pitch.
MAX BURGESS SEES RED
The one dark spot for the Sky Blues came in the 87th minute of play when substitute Max Burgess received a straight-red card from referee Alex King driving his boot into the shin of Ben Holliday.
AUCKLAND FC’S DREAM DEBUT
by Marco Monteverde
The A-League’s newest club has made a dream debut at the expense of one of the competition’s former powerhouses.
In front of a crowd of about 25,000, Auckland FC beat three-time A-League champions Brisbane Roar 2-0 on Saturday at Go Media Stadium.
The Black Knights took the lead in just the eighth minute courtesy of an own goal from Brisbane defender Harry Van der Saag.
A second-half goal from New Zealand international winger Logan Rogerson sealed what was a deserved win for the hosts, who became the third A-League expansion club to claim a victory in its first game.
The Roar, winners of the A-League in 2011, 2012 and 2014, lacked a cutting edge in attack despite some encouraging signs from recent signing Neicer Acosta, an Ecuadorian under 21 international winger.
Another recent addition, Netherlands-born Indonesia international striker Rafael Struick, came on as a second-half substitute but failed to have an impact for the visitors, who had earlier gifted Auckland its first A-League goal.
Afforded far too much space in Brisbane’s penalty area less than 10 minutes into the contest, Black Knights captain and Japanese star Hiroki Sakai rifled a low cross across the face of goal.
Despite having no Auckland players near him, Van der Saag perhaps panicked in sticking a boot out attempting to deal with the cross.
However, much to his despair, his attempt to clear the danger resulted in him turning the ball into his own net.
The Black Knights had chances to increase their lead in the second half through striker Guillermo May and attacking weapon Liam Gillion.
Their second goal eventually came in the 74th minute through Rogerson, who produced a controlled finish at the far post after being left unmarked by Brisbane’s defence.
Roar skipper Jay O’Shea said his team “played well in patches”.
“In the second-half when we had probably played our best patch, they went and scored a second goal, and that was a sucker punch for us,” O’Shea said.
“We need to go back on the training ground, and work a lot harder to be better in the next couple of weeks.”
DEFENSIVE DILEMMA
Brisbane’s defensive resources were stretched, with left-back Corey Brown unavailable due to a suspension hanging over from the red card he received Brisbane’s previous competitive match, a 4-2 Australia Cup playoff loss to Perth Glory on July 23.
Former American under-20 international defender Marcus Ferkranus also didn’t make the trip across the ditch because of a knee injury.
It led to a reshuffled backline that included Lebanese international midfielder Walid Shour playing as central defender alongside another of the Roar’s off-season recruits, former Adelaide United and Sydney FC centre- back Ben Warland.
JEGGO SEES RED, CITY BESTS JETS
Melbourne City overcame the loss of midfielder James Jeggo to a send-off to open the season with a businesslike 1-0 win against Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.
The former Socceroo was involved in a clumsy challenge in the 70th minute that left Newcastle’s Eli Adams sprawled face down on the turf.
Jeggo landed on top of him, and as he tried to regain his feet, he appeared to knee Adams and then tread on his back.
Jimmy Jeggo sees red 🟥and Melbourne City are down to 10 men in their season opener against Newcastle Jets.
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After consulting with the VAR, referee Shaun Evans issued Jeggo a red card and the 32-year-old trudged off, with the condemnation of an 8032-strong crowd ringing in his ears.
Despite being a man down for the final 20 minutes, City defended resolutely to bank three handy points on the road.
CITY LOOK SLICKER
City’s win was a warning shot that will have been heard across the A-League.
The long-time heavyweights - champions in 2020, 2022 and 2023 - are looking to bounce back from a disappointing sixth-placed finish last year,
They made their intentions obvious from the outset when Marco Tlio delivered their first goal of the season in the second minute, after a goalmouth scramble.
BEACH PARTY
Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar produced a selection surprise by choosing 21-year-old debutant Patrick Beach in goal ahead of Jamie Young, a veteran of more than 200 A-League games.
The bold gamble paid dividends in the 30th minute when Beach blocked a powerful volley from Jets defender Aleksandar Susnjar, after a Daniel Wilmering corner kick.
Beach follows Central Coast Mariners 18-year-old Dylan Peraic-Cullen as the second gloveman to make his A-League debut in round one.
NO LECKIE, NO WORRIES
Socceroos striker Matthew Leckie was expected to lead the attack for City this season after the off-season departures of the A-League’s leading scorer Jamie Maclaren and German import Tolgay Arslan.
But injuries forced Leckie and Matt Caputo to sit out the season opener, raising the question of who was going to deliver the goals for City.
Tilio took only 90 seconds to answer that in emphatic fashion.
YOUNG TALENT TIME
An off-season exodus resulted in a host of Newcastle’s senior players disappearing out the back door.
Stalwart Jason Hoffman retired, while leading scorer Apostolos Stamatelopoulos headed overseas.
Former Premier League defender Carl Jenkinson, midfielders Brandon O’Neill, Reno Piscopo and Trent Buhagiar and young striker Archie Goodwin have all moved on.
Jets coach Rob Stanton is relying on the youngest squad in the A-League to fill those boots, as evidenced by the debut off the bench of 17-year-old local junior Will Dobson, who is still in year 11 at high school.
WELL WELL WELL
The Jets are hoping Brazilian import Wellissol Santos de Oliveira can provide some South American flair.
He showed some promising signs on the ball in his 61 minutes of game time and will presumably continue to improve as he settles into his new surrounds.
The 26-year-old forward will, however, be disappointed with a 53rd-minute shot that he blasted over the crossbar.
VAR the star in stalemate
by Robert Dillon
The A-League season kicked off in unprecedented fashion at Industree Group Stadium on Friday night when the Video Assistant Referee got one right. And then a second.
True story. Believe it or not.
With Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory still searching for the first goal of their grand final rematch, referee Alireza Faghani issued a straight red card to Victory defender Jason Geria for a clumsy challenge on Alou Kol in the 28th minute.
But as Geria lay on the ground in obvious pain and Victory coach Patrick Kisnorbo protested to match officials, the VAR reviewed the decision.
“I honestly think that is a harsh call on Jason Geria … I’d be disappointed if this isn’t overturned,” commentator Andy Harper declared.
“I don’t think he’s done anything particularly wrong.”
Fortunately for Geria, a Socceroos defender, the VAR agreed with Harper and overruled Faghani, downgrading the red card to a yellow, allowing Geria to continue playing.
The VAR was required again in the 60th minute when Victory skipper Roderick Miranda received a yellow card for a high boot that struck Brazilian import Mikael Doka in the head, drawing blood.
“He’s going to get his marching orders here … it’s just dangerous,” Harper said.
Sure enough, the VAR overruled the booking and Miranda was sent off for the second time in three games against the Mariners.
Victory, who had been on top until Miranda’s dismissal, then defended resolutely with 10 men to hold the two-time champions to a 0-0 draw, to head home with a hard-earned point.
ROOKIE PLAYING FOR KEEPS
Mariners coach Mark Jackson handed 18-year-old goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen his A-League debut.
Replacing retired skipper Danny Vukovic between the sticks, the Young Socceroos representative produced a crucial reflex save in the 29th minute to avert an on-target shot from midfielder Jordi Valadon.
Peraic-Cullen then faced a daunting first-up assignment when Mariners defender Bradley Tapp conceded a penalty in the dying seconds of the first half for a crude challenge on veteran striker Bruno Fornaroli.
Fornaroli appeared at short odds to score the 108th goal of his A-League career, but he slammed his shot into the right-hand post, prompting wild celebrations from the rookie gloveman.
Three minutes into the second half, Peraic-Cullen made another quality save after a shot from newly capped Socceroo Nishan Velupillay.
A clean sheet was no less than he deserved.
STARTING FROM SCRATCH
The Mariners somehow won the championship last season, despite losing their first four games. So they are unlikely to be worried by another tardy start.
But up until Victory had their captain sent off and were reduced to 10 men, they clearly had the better of the game, especially during the first half, when they had 60 per cent of the ball and produced seven strikes to two.
“Very, very dominant start by Melbourne Victory … a very impressive start to the season,” Harper observed.
The home team’s starting line-up included seven of last season’s grand final-winning XI.
Overseas imports Vitor Feljao (Brazil) and Alfie McCalmont (England) had little impact for the Mariners.
LEAP OF FAITH
Fornaroli delivered one of the goals of the season at Gosford last season, and he attempted another “speccy” to open the season.
Unfortunately the veteran’s legs and reflexes aren’t what they once were, and his ambitious overhead kick came up with nothing more than an air swing.
YOUNG TALENT TIME
As well as Peraic-Cullen, the Mariners blooded another young tyro in 16-year-old midfielder Haine Eames, who became the club’s youngest player when he came off the bench late in the second half. Eames earned his start after scoring a screamer against Wellington Phoenix in a pre-season friendly.
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