Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au presents the standout discussions from every round of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Continue reading to discover all the key highlights from Round 19, brought to you by Mitre.
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Black Knights aim for historical success after avenging their defeat to Western
Auckland FC set an ambitious goal for their inaugural season in the Isuzu UTE A-League, and it seems they are well on their way to achieving it.
With a commanding 2-0 victory against Western United on Saturday, paired with Adelaide’s loss, the Black Knights now sit five points clear at the top of the table. However, head coach Steve Corica remains unfazed, citing a pre-season conversation about their winning aspirations.
“We discussed our ambitions at the beginning of the season,” Corica remarked in the post-match press conference.
MATCH REPORT: Auckland extends top position as brilliant goal secures victory over top-four contenders
“Winning is our objective. That aligns with our owner’s vision—Bill Foley is a man with grand ambitions.”
“It’s one of the main reasons I joined Auckland—to share in that ambition,” he added.
Corica noted, “It’s gone remarkably well so far, but we’ve had to grind through certain matches.”
“There are still 10 matches to play, so it’s a long journey ahead. We’re in a good position but must keep our focus, continue winning games, and maintain clean sheets.”
First-half goals from Guillermo May and Max Mata clinched the victory for the visitors, who stood strong, preventing Western United any opportunity to make a comeback at Ironbark Fields, marking their 11th win of the season.
With 11 victories and a five-point cushion at the summit, could Auckland FC be on the brink of making history as the first New Zealand side to capture the Premier’s Plate? Corica is hopeful.
“It would be an immense source of pride if we manage that. We aim to be the first team to win a trophy.”
“Of course, it won’t be easy in our first season; many might not have expected us to be in this position.”
“However, our hard work and the quality of players we’ve added mean we have a real chance.”
“We’re focusing on one game at a time—it may sound clichéd, but it’s true. We turned up and delivered a strong performance today under challenging conditions.”
“Next week we face a derby, followed by Adelaide, so the challenge remains tough, but we’re keen for the derby match.”
Wanderers coach praises under-the-radar hero after crucial victory
Alen Stajcic, head coach of the Western Sydney Wanderers, has praised the influence of a fit-again Gabriel Cleur following his match-winning display against Macarthur.
The 27-year-old played a pivotal role in the Wanderers’ equaliser, providing an assist to Nicolas Milanovic before scoring a stunning goal in the 77th minute, securing three points for his team.
Cleur had made a significant impact earlier in the season with four assists across the first nine matches before injuries sidelined him.
MATCH REPORT: Spectacular first A-Leagues strike propels Wanderers to essential win over top-six competitors
“I felt we were gaining momentum and improving, especially in December and early January, before injuries hit Cleur and (Dylan) Scicluna,” Stajcic said post-game.
“Their injuries in the same match disrupted our rhythm for several matches. We didn’t lose every game, but we weren’t performing at our best.”
“Gab’s been back for three matches now; with each game, he’s improved—starting with a half, then 65 minutes, and now full 90 minutes today.”
“When he’s on the field, we’re a better team. His defensive contribution is immense; he plays with all his heart and brings an incredible spirit to the game.”
Stajcic concluded, “It’s gratifying to see good things happening for him after his hard work. He’s undoubtedly one of the hardest workers in the A-League.”
The Wanderers’ win keeps them in eighth position on the ladder, but it crucially places them level on points with Macarthur in seventh and Sydney FC in sixth.
Next, Stajcic’s squad faces a trip to Gosford to play Central Coast Mariners on February 22, aiming to edge closer to the top six against a Mariners team that will face Kawasaki Frontale in midweek.
Veart warns of potential pitfalls for Adelaide after unexpected defeat
Adelaide United’s head coach Carl Veart believes his team must heed the lessons from a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle Jets, viewing it as a potential ‘warning sign’ for the future.
Despite equalising late in the first half through Stefan Mauk, the Reds ultimately succumbed to a Clayton Taylor strike that sealed their fate.
“Newcastle put in a tremendous effort tonight,” Veart said during his post-match analysis.
MATCH REPORT: Jets’ dynamic duo shine again as they surprise Adelaide in upset victory
“They were significantly more desperate than us, which is quite disappointing.”
“We’ve put in a lot of hard work this year, yet in the matches we’ve lost, we’ve often fallen short—about 10 to 15% below our capabilities.”
“This serves as a crucial reminder that we cannot afford to operate at those levels, as we will be punished in this league.”
Following the defeat and Auckland FC’s victory, Adelaide now trails the leaders by five points.
While the loss is undeniably frustrating, Veart is most vexed by his side’s inability to capitalise on chances in the final third.
“On the bright side, we’re finding ourselves in the right positions,” he commented on the missed opportunities.
“We’ve focused on inch-perfect execution and decision-making in that final moment. We need purposeful deliveries into the box; our movement must improve.”
“Tonight, we fell short of the required standard. We had sufficient possession and chances to create danger, but our final touches and movements weren’t up to par.”
“There were numerous elements not executed correctly, which is frustrating, as the dropped points could have been avoided.”
Adelaide’s next challenge is a tough away game against fifth-placed Western United at Ironbark Fields on Sunday.
Vidmar lauds emerging talent as seasoned Socceroo sets the standard
Melbourne City broke a streak of three straight defeats in the Isuzu UTE A-League by securing a narrow 1-0 win against Perth Glory in Round 19.
Seventeen-year-old Lawrence Wong provided the decisive moment, curling in an exquisite goal in the 37th minute to become the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer.
“It was a fantastic strike,” said Vidmar, commenting on the impressive youth player during the post-match discussion.
MATCH REPORT: Coach’s astute guidance for academy prospect with a ‘promising future’ after making club history
“He’s the youngest player in the club’s history to score, which is an achievement he should cherish as he continues to develop.
“He simply needs to maintain his work ethic; we see great potential in him, although he’s still at the outset of his career.”
Vidmar added, “He’s gaining invaluable experience about hard work and what it means to be a supportive teammate.”
“He’ll face hurdles ahead, but that’s all part of the journey, and he has the right mindset. So long as he remains open to learning and pushes himself, he’ll have a strong chance.”
As one young player starts his professional journey, veteran Mathew Leckie is steadily regaining the form City supporters expect of him.
“Lecks is pivotal for us,” stated Vidmar when asked about the Socceroo’s contributions.
“I considered substituting him toward the end, but at that moment, we needed him for his experience.”
Vidmar emphasised, “He brings immense strength to the team. This might not have been his finest outing, but he consistently puts in 15 slide tackles.”
“At 34 years of age, his effort sets a benchmark for the rest—a clear message that if it’s good enough for Mathew Leckie, it should be good enough for everyone else.”
Significantly for Vidmar and City, this match marked Leckie’s first full 90-minute performance of the season—which couldn’t be better timed as they prepare for the Melbourne Derby against Melbourne Victory in Round 20.
Chiefy reflects on fine margins but stands by Nix philosophy: ‘Our approach is different’
Wellington Phoenix’s winless streak at AAMI Park now extends to 23 matches following a 1-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory in Round 19 of the Isuzu UTE A-League.
A Nikos Vergos header in the 57th minute made the difference, as Victory climbed to third place in the standings.
For Wellington, that’s a seventh loss of the season, leaving them in tenth place, six points adrift of the top six.
MATCH REPORT: Melbourne Victory celebrate 20 years with a victory while Wellington’s struggle continues
“I felt we performed well for most of the match,” Italiano stated when assessing the game.
“However, what disappointed me most was the missed opportunity by Corban (Piper) and Kosta (Barbarouses). A misplayed pass cost us a major chance, leading to a counter-attack and conceding a goal.”
“It was disheartening to concede from a situation like that, especially when it could have easily been a 1-0 win had the pass been executed better.”
Currently positioned at the bottom in terms of ‘Expected Goals’ (xG) and ‘Big Chances Missed’ this season according to Opta Data, Wellington had to wait until the last 20 minutes of the clash before registering a shot on target.
Despite their goal-scoring woes, Italiano assures that the statistics don’t accurately reflect his team’s overall performance.
“I don’t watch from the sidelines thinking that the key to scoring lies in the number of shots taken,” he expressed.
“For us, it’s about the quality of chances and effectively targeting the right spaces. Many of our goals come from cutbacks, and those efforts are deliberate.”
“I keep reminding the players that quality is paramount. Having two genuine chances can lead to a win, whereas 20 half-chances might yield only a fluke goal.”
“We’re not about that. We’re methodical in how we build and create opportunities.”
Next, Wellington faces an exciting New Zealand Derby against league leaders Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
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