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Jamie Samuel
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A-League Round 5 Update
Macarthur Stay Top Whilst Roar & Glory Game Called Off
It's time for the Round 5 update from the A-League and it was yet another thrilling week of football around Australia. Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory saw their game postponed due to COVID-19 and a 10-man Macarthur FC stayed top of the pile in the fifth week of what is already shaping up an incredible season.
Western United moved up to second place at the end of round five, following their 1-0 win over Adelaide United on Friday night. It was Connor Pain’s strike in the 43rd minute that would prove the decisive blow. Western United will face old nemesis Melbourne Victory on Saturday night, looking to avenge their round 1 defeat. Whilst Adelaide United will look to rebound when they host Perth Glory Cooper Stadium.
Central Coast Mariners kept up their winning form, moving up to an impressive fourth place on the table, after their 2-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers. The deadlock in the 57th minute, after a strike from Cy Goddard, hit the crossbar and went in for the opening goal of the contest. In his 100th match for the Central Coast, Oliver Bozanic would settle the contest with a stunning free kick in the 96th minute. Central Coast will walk to continue their winning form when they host Wellington next week, whilst WSW will look to rebound against the Newcastle Jets next week.
Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory played out possibly the game of the season so far- a thrilling derby that ended in a 2-2 draw. It was the Victory who got the perfect start. From a quickly taken free-kick, Francesco Margiotta tapped the ball into the bottom corner to break the deadlock. In the second half, City would get the game on their terms. Jamie Maclaren would equalize for Melbourne City on the hour mark, before Andrew Nabout would head the ball in at the back post in the 63rd minute, much to the anger of his old fans, as City took the lead for the first time. Melbourne Victory’s moment would come in the 81st minute when Nicholas D’Agostino’s shot would trickle slowly over the line following a parry from Tom Glover, City’s keeper. City almost stole the game in the 95th, with Aiden O’Neill’s shot being blocked from 10 yards. Melbourne Victory will host Western United for the next Melbourne Derby on Saturday night, whilst City will face a trip to Brisbane against the Roar on Monday night.
Macarthur FC moved into top position at the end of round five following their 2-1 win over Newcastle, in a fiery affair. Macarthur’s goalkeeper Filip Kurto got sent off in the 18th minute following a nasty challenge outside the box, Boumal had put the ball into the net following the challenge, but referee Alex King didn’t pay advantage and the goal didn’t stand (appallingly). Newcastle, however, broke the deadlock in the 34th minute, following a stunning free-kick from Beka Mikeladze, a lead which they would take into halftime. Macarthur’s equalizer came within two minutes of the restart, a stunning volley from Daniel De Silva. De Silva would then set up the winner off his free-kick. His cross found the head of James Meredith in the 84th minute, to seal a famous win for Macarthur FC as they move to become the table leaders. Macarthur will look to continue its amazing form when they host Sydney FC on Saturday night, while Newcastle will look to rebound from this defeat when they host the Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.
Sydney FC finally got themselves on the winner's list in season 2021– 22, after a thrilling 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix. Elvis Kamsoba opened the scoring in the 19th minute. After controlling a cross, he slammed it into the bottom right corner. Adam le Fondre double Sydney’s advantage in the 56th minute after a low cross from Anthony Cáceres. Ben Waine would pull back what would prove to be a consolation goal in the 82nd minute after the VAR cleared him of an offside position. But Sydney FC was finally well enough to get their first win of this year after five games. They face a tough challenge in Macarthur FC next week, whilst Wellington will look to rebound against Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.
Here's how the table sits after 5 matches in the 2021/22 version of the Isuzu-Ute A-League Season
Another great weekend of football. The season is really taking shape now and we are finding the in-form teams. We look forward to more thrilling football action over the coming weeks.
Jamie Samuel is our Aussie sports expert here at ThePyrrhic.com and will be covering the A-League throughout the season
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