3 minute read
A look at round 24 of the A-League Men competition where Central Coast and Wellington secured top-two spots while Melbourne City humiliated Perth Glory.
THEY SAID IT: "Ultimately, all you can do is apologise to everyone who supports the club because it's a pretty poor performance overall." - Perth Glory coach Alen Stajcic wasn't making excuses after his charges suffered an 8-0 drubbing from Melbourne City.
MAN OF THE WEEK: With City's finals hopes on the line, Tolgay Arslan stepped up big-time. The playmaker scored a wonderful hat-trick and had an assist against the Glory. Leo Natel also scored two goals and had two assists himself in the extraordinary rout.
TALKING POINT: Nestory Irankunda is always in the headlines. Overlooked for the Olyroos, then reportedly sounded out as an injury replacement call-up, reports that Irankunda had rebuffed that interest had put some rival clubs on high alert. Those outfits, including the Central Coast Mariners, enquired with Football Australia as to whether he should be stood down during the U23 Asian Cup. An independent review cleared Irankunda to play as he was never officially called up. The young gun scored a wonder goal then had a penalty saved in his final game at Coopers Stadium as Adelaide lost to Macarthur 2-1.
STAT ATTACK: Melbourne City have scored 47 goals this season and 23 of them (48.9 per cent) have come in three games: the 8-0 rout of Perth, an 8-1 win over Brisbane and a 7-0 thrashing of Western Sydney.
BEAT THAT: Jaiden Kucharski's Sydney derby winner was a moment to remember. A 96th-minute Zac Sapsford header sent Wanderers supporters into a state of delirium. But two minutes later, Kucharski's half-volleyed, half-scuffed shot bounced past the reach of Lawrence Thomas to secure victory for Sydney.
UNDER PRESSURE: Wooden spoon candidates Perth will rue a dirty day in Melbourne. But finals-wise, the Wanderers are just clinging on to sixth place, with City just a point behind them. They could have sealed a finals spot a while ago but instead have suffered two losses on the bounce - ahead of facing City.
WHAT'S NEXT: Western United host Adelaide on Tuesday. But the big day is next Saturday, when the Wanderers host City, Victory play Brisbane while Macarthur face Sydney FC.
