In the newest segment of ‘Another Week of Peak (A-League)’, we delve into three impressive victories for the Victorian clubs participating in the league, while successful outings for both Sydney FC and the Wanderers have widened the gap in the standings.
The standout performers of Round 22 were…
Western United, who achieved their third straight win with a 4-1 triumph over Wellington. This victory not only brought them two points closer to league leaders Auckland FC but also allowed them to maintain their second-place position despite wins from both Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.
Guided by Matthew Grimaldi, who scored his first career brace within just ten minutes, United showcased improved ball control and play efficiency.
In off-field news, they also drew a larger crowd to Ironbark Fields (3,993) compared to the attendance at Melbourne City’s Friday night match against Macarthur (3,569). This marks a small but significant stride for Melbourne’s newest club as they aim to shake off their ‘little sibling’ reputation.
The biggest disappointments of Round 22 were…
Wellington Phoenix, whose head coach Giancarlo Italiano has accepted that playoff qualification is no longer feasible, following their fourth consecutive loss.
“Finals are over for us,” Italiano stated to the media post-match.
“Even if we were to win all seven remaining games, we wouldn’t make it to the finals. Now, it’s all about playing for pride for the club.
“I expect the players to lift and show our fans something to be positive about.
Though Italiano’s expectations may seem overly ambitious for players who feel their season is over, it’s often said: beware of the team with nothing to lose.
And how are the A-League’s finances looking?
Last weekend’s matches in Melbourne attracted a total of fewer than 16,000 spectators—a figure that barely surpasses Melbourne Victory’s average crowd from the previous season (13,108).
The Victory managed to gather only 8,500 fans for their convincing 3-0 win over Central Coast Mariners, possibly attributed to the traditional decline in sport attendances during long weekends when people tend to travel. Additionally, Melbourne City’s match clashed with a Billie Eilish concert at Rod Laver Arena and the inaugural night of the AFL season broadcasted on TV.
If the former is indeed accurate, it raises questions regarding the scheduling that saw all three Melbourne clubs play at home within 24 hours of each other.
Adding to the embarrassment for City and the A-League was the attendance at BT Connor Reserve in Preston, where the NPL Victoria match between Preston Lions and South Melbourne reportedly drew the largest crowd (outside of Australia Cup clashes) since the inception of the A-League, with 9,000 fans filling the stands and many more turned away.
Goal of the Week: Eli’s stunning strike
Opening the scoring against league leaders Auckland is impressive, especially since it’s only the fourth instance in 19 matches that the A-League’s latest franchise has found themselves down 1-0. However, doing it with such flair makes it all the more remarkable.
Check out this stunning effort from Newcastle Jets’ Eli Adams, starting from his own half, evading Felipe Gallegos, and sending a powerful shot past a defenceless Alex Paulsen.
On a side note, Paulsen was acknowledged as the top-rated player of the match after successfully saving six out of seven shots on target.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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