There were 19 goals in six games, with 12 scored in the first half, one draw and two out of 12 teams kept a clean sheet, in Round 5.
In four of the five games where a team claimed three points, the winning team had less possession than their opponent.
Let’s take a look at who made the difference for each team.
Adelaide United
Ryan White was brought on in the 65th minute and played in a position foreign to him as a No.9. The Reds were down to ten men and he adjusted to playing as a striker like a duck to water, which was down to his attitude. When speaking about the change of role made by his coach, White wasn’t fussed: “Wherever Airton feels he needs me.”
White’s work rate was there for all to see; he seized on an opportunity to make the score 3-1 in favour of the Reds, winning the ball off City substitute Benjamin Mazzeo and beating Socceroo goalkeeper Patrick Beach in the 79th minute at his near post, with an exquisite finish, which was his first goal in the A-League. White nearly made it a brace five minutes later, as his shot hit the post. Fortunately, fellow substitute Jay Barnett pounced on it, scoring his first goal in the A-League.
The 21-year-old’s post-match comments were interesting: “It’s everything I’ve dreamed of. We’ve got the belief. It’s about grit and fight in these types of games.”
Melbourne City
Andreas Kuen was one player for City who put up a fight. The 30-year-old won the most duels of any player, with a total of ten for the match, seven in the first half and three in the second. The Austrian was the most fouled player in the match, with seven, four in the first half and three in the second.
In the 52nd minute, Kuen produced an exquisite cross that was pinpoint, which found Besian Kutleshi in acres of space, but he failed to hit the target. That passage of play summed up City’s night: It was one to forget.
Wellington Phoenix
Josh Oluwayemi made four saves; the Nigerian was at his best with two of his four saves one on one with the Bulls Sime Grzan, the first in the 61st minute and the second in the 87th minute.
Phoenix captain Alex Rufer summed up the performance of Oluwayemi: “He kept us in the game.”
Macarthur FC
Harry Politidis had a great game at left-back, making many a marauding run forward, which he did with purpose, creating three chances for his team and the decisive assist, that Bulls substitute Harrison Sawyer, which broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute.
Politidis’ work rate was impressive, as the former City player always looked like he had had a hunger for the contest.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Kosta Barbarouses gave the Wanderers a 2-1 lead in the 11th minute, in a game that the Wanderers simply had to win, with a high-quality finish from a deflected cross by Angus Thurgate.
The Kiwi international held his nerve to score from the penalty spot, as Mariners goalkeeper, Andrew Redmayne, is tough to beat, which gave the Wanderers a two-goal lead midway through the first half. Paramount+ commentator Glen Lauder made a good summation of Barbarouses’s performance: “The 35-year-old in game number 355 getting the job done.”
Kosta Barbarouses of the Western Sydney Wanderers (Photo by Texi Smith).
Central Coast Mariners
Alfie McCalmont put in a good shift for the Mariners. The 25-year-old played well and helped the Mariners stay in the game. To put it simply, McCalmont was up for the fight. He took the responsibility of taking the penalty and made it a one goal deficit in the 39th minute.
McCalmont cleared the ball in the 87th minute when it was all hands to the pump for the Mariners, which showed that he worked hard when they were under pressure.
Paramount+ pundit Daniel Garb described the 25-year-old’s value to the Mariners team: “He was the one driving it.”
Sydney FC
Joe Lolley pulled the strings and put on a show, finding pockets of space and making meaningful runs forward. Goals change games and that’s exactly what happened in The Big Blue; Lolley broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, thanks to a great cut back by Joel King.
The 33-year-old had his tail up and was determined to score a second which he did, 12 minutes after scoring the opening goal of the game, running from his defensive half and finishing with a peach of a goal!
It was clear to see why the Englishman played for Nottingham Forest, as Lolley displayed his humility: “We’re full of confidence as a team. You can’t win without a team being close.”
Melbourne Victory
Juan Mata created the most chances of any player in the match, with six, for the second game in a row. Most notably, near half time, Mata passed the ball to Jason Davidson whose shot was saved by Sky Blues goalkeeper, Harrison Devenish-Meares.
The 37-year-old took a brilliant free kick that led to Davidson having another chance to score in the 68th minute, only for him to header off target.
Mata proved that his still got quality, but unfortunately there was no one who could finish off his good work.
Auckland FC
Lachlan Brook produced a moment of magic in the 18th minute, scoring from a free kick taking from distance, that proved too good for Roar goalkeeper, Dean Bouzanis who got a hand to it. That was one of two shots on target for Auckland FC, in a game they were fortunate to claim a point.
Brook comments were perceptive: “We could’ve been better especially in the first half. One point isn’t the end of the world. We’re not to upset about it.”
Auckland FCs’ coach Steve Corica summed up the performance of his team: “The only really positive that came out of it was Lachie’s goal.”
Brisbane Roar
Lucas Herrington performed admirably; the 18-year-old justified why he going to the MLS for a club-record fee in the 2026 January transfer window.
Herrington won all six duels that he contested in the game. Most notably, a crucial intervention from a cut back by Auckland FC that looked destined to lead to a goal in the 95th minute, which secured a point for the Roar.
The 18-year-old shows maturity beyond his years and is destined to be a future Socceroo.
Newcastle Jets
Max Burgess was instrumental in a lot of the Jets combination play. The former Sky Blue was the architect of the first goal of the game scored by Xavier Bertoncello in the 15th minute.
Burgess was involved in most of the good work done in the middle of the park, but unfortunately the Jets failed to profit from his good work, besides the goal that they scored, Hopefully, the playmaker can keep this form up, as he’s fighting hard for the team.
Perth Glory
Brian Kaltak put in an epic display of defensive resistance and resilience; the Vanuatu captain prevented Lachlan Rose from scoring in the 32nd minute, with Glory goalkeeper Matthew Sutton caught in no man’s land. The ensuing corner was pinpoint, but thankfully Kaltak was in the right place and cleared the ball off the line.
The 32-year-old summed up the win meant for the Glory: “It’s a big relief for us, that’s what we need to keep the confidence going. I’m really proud of the boys today. It’s not easy.”
Doran Smithhttps://https://ift.tt/C7zrTuR difference makers Round 5: Good golly, Joe Lolley, White all right on the night
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