The football fixtures are coming thick and fast, with plenty to discuss as many teams are still in holiday mode. Here are the A-League Round 11 talking points.
Victory earn important three points on the road
Melbourne Victory’s win over Perth on Saturday evening was the kind of game champion teams win. Despite going down 1-0 in the first half and being pegged back to 2-2 late on, Victory showed character to leave WA with all three points. Bruce Kamau’s red card hardly helped Glory’s cause, and the eventful evening at HBF Park saw youngsters Eli Adams and Kaelan Majekodunmi both score their first A-League goal. Daniel Arzani had a forgettable moment early on, but redeemed himself by setting up Zinedine Machach’s well-taken goal. The game was a missed opportunity for Glory, and Ben Folami’s late goal sent Victory top of the table.
Tulio leaves departing gift for Mariners faithful
Mariners’ Marco Tulio scored the only goal in Saturday’s win over Western Sydney before departing for Japan. His departure is another blow for the Mariners, who have already seen key players leave after their 2023 championship victory. Despite the losses, the Mariners have recovered from a poor start to the season and are beginning to resemble last season’s championship-winning team. However, there are concerns about holding on to players such as Jacob Farrell and Josh Nisbet in the future.
Western United set stadium target
Western United chairman Jason Sourasis revealed in an interview with ESPN that the club’s new stadium is set to be ready for A-League football by the commencement of 2026-27. The club has been quiet on the stadium issue, and their nomadic existence has been less than ideal. However, they are supposedly moving into a new training facility before the end of the season, which will provide them with much-needed stability.
Quick Hits
– Macarthur duo Valere Germain and Tomislav Uskok showed good sportsmanship by consoling Philip Cancar after he conceded a late penalty, allowing the home side to snatch a point.
– Macarthur’s crowds are slowly increasing, which will improve the perception of the club in the long term.
– Wanderers had to go outside the box for their reserve keeper on Saturday, with 20-year-old defender Anthony Pantazopoulos filling in due to injury.
Overall, the A-League Round 11 brought plenty of action and talking points as the teams continue to compete at a high level.