3 minute read
A snapshot of week 11 action from the A-League Men, as Wellington, Perth, Melbourne City and Adelaide all claimed wins.
THEY SAID IT: "The frustrating thing for a coach is we say things will change with international breaks and they never do ... it's great to see that our players are getting picked but we still have to play a game." - Melbourne City coach Patrick Kisnorbo is frustrated the league champions will have to play without Jamie Maclaren, Mat Leckie, Marco Tilio, and Connor Metcalfe for the next two weeks after the quartet received Socceroos call-ups.
MAN OF THE WEEK: Craig Goodwin claimed a double in Adelaide's 3-1 win over Brisbane at Moreton Daily Stadium on Sunday. The winger, who is set to join up with the Socceroos ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers against Vietnam and Oman, scored a first-half penalty and then sealed the points late with his fifth goal of the season to sign off before international duty in style.
BEAT THAT: The Mariners may have been undone by City but Costa Rican international Marco Urena continues to show his class. The 31-year-old scored a delightful goal in the 41st minute of Sunday's game in Gosford when he stepped past Aiden O'Neill and curled a left-foot shot past Tom Glover from the edge of the penalty area for his third goal in six games this year.
TALKING POINT: Just when will Perth Glory be able to return home? Richard Garcia's team may have claimed a gutsy 2-1 win over Sydney FC on Saturday but the WA government's decision to renege on a decision to reopen the state's border on February 5 means the Glory, who haven't played a home game since November, are facing an indefinite time on the road.
STAT ATTACK: He may have missed out on a Socceroos call-up but Andrew Nabbout's goal against Central Coast means no-one has more score involvements than the Melbourne City winger this season. Nabbout has now scored four goals in 2021-22 as well as three assists.
MEDICAL ROOM: Ex-England striker Daniel Sturridge got his longest run yet for the Glory with a half-hour cameo off the bench against Sydney but clutched at a hamstring after Perth's second goal. Coach Richard Garcia described the niggle as "tightness" but said the injury-prone star will have to be assessed before Wednesday's clash with Macarthur FC.
UNDER PRESSURE: Three games in a week without a win is not the standard Sydney FC have come to expect from themselves. The Sky Blues were held to a draw by Brisbane before losing an FFA Cup semi-final clash against Central Coast. Perth's 2-1 win on Saturday means Steve Corica's mean are sixth on the ladder with just two wins from eight matches this season heading into Tuesday's Big Blue against table-topping Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.
WHAT'S NEXT: Melbourne Victory will look to extend their lead at the top of the ladder when they host Sydney FC in a Big Blue at AAMI Park on Tuesday while Macarthur return from a COVID-19 hiatus on Wednesday against Perth. Next weekend's action pits Western United against Melbourne City and Brisbane hosting Western Sydney on Saturday before Sydney host Central Coast and Newcastle take on Adelaide on Sunday.
