Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au presents your go-to source for the most significant discussions from every round of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Continue reading to discover the key highlights from Round 24, brought to you by Mitre.
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What sparked for Macarthur in a 3-3 thriller
In a crucial moment, Harrison Sawyer emerged as the hero for Macarthur Bulls, rescuing a point in spectacular style, much to the joy of his head coach.
Coming off the bench, Sawyer netted two goals, including a last-gasp equaliser in the 95th minute, to help Macarthur secure a thrilling 3-3 draw against Newcastle Jets on Friday night.
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The former Newcastle Jets player achieved his first two A-Leagues goals more than eight years after his debut, leading the Bulls to overturn a two-goal deficit in Campbelltown.
Sawyer, known for his diverse travels in football, had to wait patiently for his chance as the Bulls adjusted to his style of play, especially after the exits of Valere Germain and Ariath Piol.
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“I’m really pleased for him. He puts in an immense amount of effort,” Macarthur head coach Mile Sterjovski remarked.
“He’s a fantastic professional within our club. I’m delighted he could score his first two goals for us.”
“Scoring two goals will greatly boost his confidence,” added the retired Socceroo.
“Our players are now learning how to utilise him. It’s taken time – we’ve been experimenting with different strategies. Tonight, things really clicked in the second half, particularly when he came on.”
“He showcased his strength.”
Do Western Sydney still have top two aspirations?
Following an engaging 2-2 draw away at Wellington Phoenix, Western Sydney Wanderers’ Alen Stajcic was questioned about his team’s chances of finishing in the top two.
Nicolas Milanovic, aiming for the Golden Boot, found the net in the 89th minute to salvage a point for the Wanderers. However, this result left Western Sydney sitting fifth in the standings after Round 24.
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A victory for Western Sydney, who entered the match with four consecutive wins, would have brought them within a point of second-placed Western United.
“Absolutely,” replied head coach Stajcic when asked about their chances. “I believe we can take down anyone. I stated this even when we weren’t necessarily on a winning streak.”
“We can defeat any team on any given day. Honestly, the top six or seven clubs are all in a similar position.”
“The league is incredibly tight. Teams not in the top seven are barely a step behind. Wellington demonstrated that today, as they did against Sydney.”
“We’ve seen Brisbane and Perth achieve results, and while their points tally is lower, they’re not lacking in talent on the pitch.”
City’s surprising saviour after a long-term injury that ‘could’ve gone either way’
Alessandro Lopane, whose career was almost cut short by injury, made a remarkable return for Melbourne City in spectacular fashion on Saturday.
Back in the A-Leagues for the first time in 328 days following knee surgery, Lopane scored in the 61st minute to secure a 3-2 victory over Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium – marking City’s first win at this venue in a decade.
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“He suffered a serious knee injury that could have drastically impacted how long he would continue playing,” City’s head coach Aurelio Vidmar shared after the match, during which the team climbed to third in the standings.
“Psychologically, the first few tackles in training and initial shots can play on your mind.”
“But he put in a tremendous effort and positioned himself well. After a year away, to perform as he did tonight is a testament to his character.”
City’s youth players Medin Memeti and Max Caputo also scored, as they frequently exchanged leads in a thrilling match against Sydney, who are seeking a finals berth.
“This is hugely important,” Vidmar praised the club’s youth program. “Our academy has been doing excellent work for many years.”
“Though I’ve only been here for a short time, witnessing the development and consistent performances of these players is exciting.”
“Due to numerous injuries this season, we’ve often relied heavily on them.”
“It’s fantastic to depend on these young talents and to see them shine in critical matches.”
Adelaide coach’s perspective on a decision that transformed the ‘whole game’
Penalty or not? That was the contentious issue following a dramatic moment in the Original Rivalry on Saturday night at AAMI Park.
Melbourne Victory claimed a thrilling 5-3 victory over Adelaide United, thanks to substitute Nikos Vergos’ goals in the 88th and 90th minute.
However, a significant focus was on a controversial moment involving Victory’s Daniel Arzani and Adelaide defender Panagiotis Kikianis.
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Adelaide was leading 3-2 after coming from behind when referee Shaun Evans was prompted by VAR to consult the pitch-side monitor for a review of Kikianis’ tackle on Arzani.
Socceroo Arzani hit the ground following a challenge from Kikianis inside the box. Despite pushing for a penalty, none was initially awarded. However, after reviewing the incident, Evans changed his mind, which left the young Adelaide centre-back baffled, as he believed he had touched the ball.
Arzani converted the penalty, and Adelaide head coach Carl Veart expressed his frustration afterwards.
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“That decision turned the game on its head,” Veart said after the match, leaving Adelaide hanging on to sixth place amid a seven-game winless streak.
“I’m not sure what was discussed between the referee and VAR, but the on-field judgement was that Pana touched the ball, resulting in a corner. That’s what was awarded initially.”
“You can clearly see on television, and even in real-time, that he got a touch on the ball. He reviews it, then states the reason for the penalty is that there was no contact with the ball.”
“He won the ball, it went out, and the contact is irrelevant. He won the ball. So, no penalty should have been given. If he didn’t touch the ball, I would agree with the penalty, but he clearly did.”
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“I really can’t understand why he was called over to review and subsequently changed his mind when there was evident contact on the ball. An explanation would be appreciated. It’s frustrating to see officials influencing the game in such a manner.”
“This turned the momentum of the match upside down. We were 3-2 up. Yes, we were not at our sharpest, but we had control – with only 15 minutes to go, and that changed everything. It gave them the momentum and allowed them to go ahead.”
As for Victory’s counterpart Arthur Diles, he stated: “There was contact in the box, and it’s clearly a penalty for me. It’s pretty straightforward.”
‘Come on’: Mariners chief’s confident response to query
Central Coast Mariners are not throwing in the towel regarding their top six ambitions just yet.
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The Mariners currently sit in 10th place but are situated eight points adrift of Adelaide, and their head coach remains optimistic.
“You never know. Until it’s mathematically settled, anything is possible, right? Come on,” Jackson told journalists when questioned about the chances of breaking into the top six.
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“We’re believers. No one expected us to clinch the treble last season, but we did.”
“Anything can happen in football.”
“All we can do is maintain our performances at a high level, build upon today’s achievements, and see where that takes us.”
“By the end of the season, we’ll either be in or out. If we find ourselves out, we want to ensure we finish strongly.”
‘They’re growing under pressure’
This season has proven to be a test for Brisbane Roar, but head coach Ruben Zadkovich is pleased with the progress of his “young talents.”
Brisbane, sitting second from the bottom, faced a 2-0 defeat against league leaders Auckland FC on Sunday, but Zadkovich believes the club’s youth prospects continue to build valuable “momentum.”
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While Zadkovich acknowledged the need for reinforcements in the transfer window, he expressed confidence in the club’s future prospects and hinted at possible “one or two” debuts for players from their NPL side.
“Our team selection this season has shown a clear shift,” he explained to reporters.
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“The squad has a mix of seasoned players nearing the end of their careers and an influx of youth creating momentum for the club. They’re thriving in a challenging environment. It’s been a complex season for various reasons.”
“However, there are remarkable bright spots and positives. The young Queensland players we’ve introduced, along with talents from Sydney like Nathan (Amanatidis), Braz (Jacob Brazete), and PK (Pearson Kasawaya), are developing at an impressive rate to be honest. This will undoubtedly benefit the club in the future.”
“Yet, it’s clear we need to strengthen with each transfer window.”
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