A-League Highlights: Sydney FC Climbs to Sixth After Dominant Home Victory Against Adelaide

The defeat suffered by Newcastle last weekend has likely narrowed down the competition for the 2024/25 season to just eight teams, with five clubs now jostling for two coveted spots in the finals.

Major Triumphs of Round 25…

Macarthur Bulls have emerged as the standout performers, amassing goals consistently over the past three weeks to keep their campaign alive, following disappointing losses to Sydney FC, Melbourne City, and Western Sydney that had many questioning their prospects.

Though they’ve played one more match than the seven clubs above them, they certainly find themselves under pressure. However, the striking partnership between midfielders Marin Jakoliš and Saîf-Eddine Khaoui has been nothing short of electrifying. Their recent output, with seven different players hitting the net in their last three matches, indicates that their attacking prowess is hitting its stride just in time.

Their impressive 5-1 victory against Brisbane Roar has improved their goal difference to +8, a crucial advantage now that the league has reinstated goal difference as the primary tiebreaker. The atmosphere at the club has brightened significantly following the announcement that head coach Mile Sterjovski has signed a new three-year contract. If they can secure victories in their upcoming ‘must-win’ matches against Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney, don’t rule out their chances, especially with Sydney FC reportedly setting their sights on the AFC Champions League 2 for potential prize money.

Disappointing Outcomes of Round 25…

Adelaide United, and particularly head coach Carl Veart, have faced a troubling setback.

After their 3-2 defeat to Sydney, it is believed that board members have privately expressed their dwindling patience regarding the team’s dismal form, which has seen the Reds suffer six losses in their last ten A-League outings, consequently dropping them out of the top six on goal difference.

Only Perth Glory, languishing at the bottom of the table, possess a worse defensive record than Adelaide’s, who are conceding an average of over two goals per game and have managed just one clean sheet in their 14 fixtures since Christmas Day.

Veart acknowledged in a post-match interview that one of Adelaide’s persistent challenges in 2025 has been their tendency to make excessive mistakes, a frustrating issue for any football manager to rectify.

Golden Boot Stakes

On a brighter note for Adelaide United, Archie Goodwin has provided fans with something to cheer about, finding the net in each of their three consecutive defeats, and positioning himself at the forefront of the Golden Boot race.

Goal of the Week: Round 25

Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano may have previously admitted that hopes for a finals run were dashed weeks ago, yet the squad continues to impress, highlighted by a stunning display involving Kosta Barbarouses, Tim Payne, and Kazuki Nagasawa, which left Newcastle reeling.