Round 18 was full of drama with 18 goals in six games. There were four score draws and two out of 12 teams that kept a clean sheet.
The highlight was the Sydney Derby, which was a game that will go down as one of the best in the history of the A-League, with the Sky Blues scoring two late goals to snatch a draw.
Auckland FC were the only team with the bye.
Let’s take a look at who made a difference for each team.
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Wellington Phoenix
Isaac Hughes showed his wares with a solid display in a game where the only thing missing was a goal; the 20-year-old scored a goal, which broke the deadlock in the 61st minute and the defender delivered with a headed goal from a quality corner taken by Hideki Ishige.
The young prospect made 12 passes into the final third, won all seven duels and made a couple of tackles.
The Kiwi youth international revealed the secret to being in the right space mentally: “I work with a sports psychologist; I find it really beneficial.”
Brisbane Roar
Keegan Jelacic came off the bench shortly after the Roar conceded the first goal of the match scored by Phoenix and didn’t disappoint. The 22-year-old outlined the instructions given to him and the other subs: “Just work hard and try and make an impact.”
The Roar substitute changed the game by providing an assist for the goal scored by Henry Hore to help his team claim a point. “Thankfully my ball through to Henry stuck and he did the rest and put it away.”
Adelaide United
Archie Goodwin broke the deadlock with a phenomenal header in the 61st minute from a corner taken by Zach Clough; the No.9 rose high and made a solid connection with the ball.
Goodwin celebrates with teamamtes Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
The Reds striker made some perceptive comments: “The first half was tough. I feel like we created more chances second half.” The former Jet also outlined the work he puts in with Dutch defender Bart Vriends on set pieces at training: “We work on it in training a lot.”
Melbourne City
Samuel Souprayen helped contain the Reds attack for most of the game; the Frenchman won all eight duels and was rock solid in the 72nd minute when he prevented Goodwin from scoring a brace after City lost the ball in midfield. The 35-year-old kept his team in the game, as he had plenty of ground to make up restricting Goodwin to a tame effort on goal, which ended up being a regulation save by City goalkeeper Patrick Beach.
Despite being on opposite teams, post-match Goodwin was full of praise for the City centre-back: “He’s definitely a strong player.”
Perth Glory
Nicholas Pennington willed himself to get Glory a win, but it wasn’t to be; the Glory midfielder was everywhere producing a performance to sit back and take notice of. The 26-year-old created two chances, made 11 passes into the final third and won seven duels.
Pennington made a good summation on the game and where the club is at: “We dominated the game for most of the first half. We definitely lost some points there for sure. The fans deserve more from us. It just comes down to hard work. Hopefully the results will turn.”
Central Coast Mariners
Haine Eames had a good game for the Mariners, especially considering he’s only 16 years old; the midfielder was a part of most of the positive moves that his team had, working tirelessly.
The young prospect got reward for effort, fortuitously through an error from Glory goalkeeper Oliver Sail, which made the score 1-1 in the 61st minute. Despite getting a lucky goal with a shot from distance straight at Sail; as the great Johan Cruyff said: “You have got to shoot, otherwise you can’t score.”
Newcastle Jets
Lachlan Rose changed the game for the Jets. It was a game of two halves, with Victory controlling the first half with nothing to show for it and the Jets dominating the second half finishing with a three-goal win, in part due to Rose being brought off the bench at half-time.
The Jets attacker won a penalty in the 78th minute, which led to the deadlock being broken by Kosta Grozos in second half stoppage time, with the penalty delayed due to a medical emergency in the crowd.
The 25-year-old substitute combined with fellow substitute Kota Mizunuma, who provided a pinpoint cross leading to Rose scoring the Jets third goal; remarkably all three Jets goals were scored in second half stoppage time.
Melbourne Victory
Roderick Miranda put in a good shift; the Victory captain created two chances, made 22 passes into the final third, had the most tackles of any player in the match with three and the Portuguese centre-back also winning the most duels of any player in the match with ten.
Sydney FC
Douglas Costa showed his class; the Brazilian was brought off the bench in the 57th minute helping his team claim a point with a great assist for Adrian Segecic and a well-placed corner just minutes later that caused chaos in the penalty area, leading to a goal scored by Anthony Caceres, which helped the Sky Blues salvage a draw.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Zac Sapsford was the difference between the teams until being substituted out of the game in the 77th minute; the 22-year-old scored a brace and was involved in the second goal scored by the Wanderers through an own goal from Rhyan Grant, which came from a cross by Sapsford.
The attacker summed everything up well from a Wanderers perspective: “I think it’s really disappointing, because at 3-1 in the 87th minute you’re expecting to win the game. We really wanted to win today. I should’ve at least scored three or four.”
Macarthur FC
Filip Kurto was the difference between the Bulls claiming a point and leaving empty handed; the shot-stopper stood up when called upon making two saves when the deficit for his team was one goal from shots by the two Japanese imports, Riku Danzaki and Hiroshi Ibusuki in the 72nd minute. Macarthur FC scored the equalising goal just seven minutes later.
Paramount commentator Phil Moss said: “Filip Kurto had some game.”
Western United
Ben Garuccio led from the front, providing the assist for the opening goal of the game with a pinpoint cross headed into the back of the net by Noah Botic.
The Western United captain created the most chances of anyone in the match, with four.
Garuccio put the ball on a plate for Danzaki, whose shot was superbly saved by Kurto. The left-back wasn’t only good making marauding runs forward, he put in a solid display, making two tackles and winning eight duels.
Doran Smithhttps://https://ift.tt/DBXY5U9 shows class in cameo: A-League players who were the difference in Round 18
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