Round 25 was a round of football that had at least one goal in every game. There were 21 goals scored in six matches, with Melbourne City the only team to keep a clean sheet.
Melbourne Victory were the team with a bye.
Let’s take a look at who made a difference for each team.
Brisbane Roar
Asumah Abubakar was a shining light for the Roar. Remarkably, in a 5-1 loss the Portuguese import broke the deadlock in 28th minute, with Keegan Jelacic providing the assist. In the 36th minute Abubukar nearly gave the Roar a two-goal lead, but it wasn’t to be as he hit the post.
Macarthur FC
Marin Jakolis scored three goals at pivotal points of the game; the Croatian import scored the equaliser just before the half time break, with a great one two with Tunisian import Saif-Eddine Khaoui. The same two players combined to give the Bulls the lead in the 55th minute.
The third goal scored by Jakolis made it 4-1 in the 73rd minute, which sealed the win, thanks to a pinpoint cross from Kealey Adamson.
The Bulls captain Luke Brattan gave him a glowing endorsement: “He was class tonight. He’s one of those players if he’s on he’s unstoppable.”
Marin Jakolis celebrates with Bulls fans. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Auckland FC
Felipe Gallegos was presented with a present just before half-time with Wanderers goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas passing the ball straight to him, which led to the deadlock being broken.
The Chilean also created a couple of chances in second half stoppage time; the first was for Auckland FC substitute Cameron Howieson in the 91st minute who missed the target and the other opportunity by Gallegos was put on a plate for Hiroki Sakai who shot straight at Thomas just a minute later.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Nicolas Milanovic willed himself to have an impact on the game; the winger won the most duels of any player in the match, with ten and was rewarded for his robust running with a goal via a deflection, which salvaged a point for the Wanderers with the equalising goal coming in the 51st minute.
Melbourne City
Marco Tilio is working his way towards being a regular fixture in the Socceroos squad. A set piece that was a training ground move from a free kick taken by Andreas Kuen, who passed the ball to Tilio and he didn’t disappoint producing an exquisite cross for Kai Trewin that led to Medin Memeti scoring a simple goal, which was the only goal of the game in the 29th minute. Along with that the Socceroo created three chances.
Tilio substantiated that the set piece was practiced by the team as he said: “We found the goal on a set piece that we’ve been practicing.”
Central Coast Mariners
Dylan Peraic-Cullen made four saves for the Mariners team that could’ve lost by more than a solitary goal if not for their goalkeeper; the shot-stopper made a solid save from a header by Medin Memeti that looked destined for the back of the net in the 35th minute and pulled off another save from Memeti when they were one on one in the 56th minute.
Western United
Michael Ruhs played a part, albeit off the bench in the 78th minute; the super sub worked his guts out and proved that he possibly deserves more game time manoeuvring his way through the middle of the park and providing the assist for fellow substitute Ramy Najjarine in the 86th minute, which sealed the deal for Western United.
Perth Glory
Jaylan Pearman gave some hope to the Glory, by scoring an equaliser in the 55th minute with a sublime finish. The young prospect has a massive future; Glory coach David Zdrilic echoed that sentiment: “He’s got incredible potential; he can play everywhere.”
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Adelaide United
Archie Goodwin scored a brace and put in a solid case for being picked in the Socceroos squad provided he can take more chances and his body holds up. The first goal he scored in the 46th minute made the score 1-1 thanks to good delivery by Jonny Yull.
The second goal scored by him was in the 73rd minute, with substitute Yaya Dukuly providing the assist with a pinpoint cross that Goodwin did well to head, as Sky Blues goalkeeper Hamish Devenish-Meares was in the vicinity, which made it 2-2.
Goodwin has a good head on his shoulders, as the striker was more concerned about the loss than his two goals: “Disappointed, it’s frustrating. It’s always good to score, but at the end of the day I want to be winning games.”
Goodwin celebrates with teamamtes Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
Sydney FC
Adrian Segecic put his case forward for being in the Socceroos squad as an impact player doing what he does best, which is to make an impact off the bench. The 20-year-old had a shot saved by the Reds goalkeeper, Max Vartuli in the 94th minute, but followed it up with another shot, which went into the back of the net via a touch from Vartuli and that gave the Sky Blues a 3-2 win.
Polish striker Patryk Klimala spoke about not scoring a hat trick and was grateful for Segecic scoring the winning goal: “We have our super sub and he helped me out a bit.”
Newcastle Jets
Callum Timmins put it on a plate for Thomas Aquilina in the tenth minute who missed the opportunity and passed the ball well to him again in the 45th minute with Aquilina missing another chance.
The 25-year-old provided a good cross for Eli Adams who should’ve scored in the 74th minute and another good cross to Lachlan Rose who shot straight at the Phoenix goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi in the 81st minute.
Timmins nearly scored a goal with a shot from distance, but unfortunately, Oluwayemi saved the shot in the 76th minute, which won his team a corner.
Wellington Phoenix
Kazuki Nagasawa provided a brilliant assist, with a well weighted header that led to the deadlock being broken by Kosta Barbarouses in the 34th minute. The Japanese import made it 2-0 thanks to a pinpoint cross from Tim Payne in the 41st minute. To go with that he created the most chances of any player in the match with four. Nagasawa was sorely missed, after being substituted off in the 62nd minute.
