The Roar's A-League Men tips and predictions: Round 26 - the jostle for finals positions is on in earnest
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Isaias has hailed Adelaide United’s maiden A-League grand final triumph as the biggest moment of his football career.
The Spanish midfielder was awarded the Joe Marston Medal as best on ground in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Western Sydney, after he lit up Adelaide Oval with a sublime first-half free-kick to put the Reds on course for their maiden title.
Isaias was granted an opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet after Wanderers captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley was shown a yellow card for a foul on Bruce Kamau.
Both the 29-year-old and fellow Spaniard Marcelo Carrusca stood over the subsequent dead ball but it was the former who took it, striking a peach of a shot that lifted over the wall and swerved into the top-left corner.
“It was a little bit lucky, but it was a beautiful goal,” Isaias said.
“I want to say thanks to all of my teammates, they help me a lot to play well.”
The former La Liga player was an integral part of an overall superb Reds performance.
Guillermo Amor’s side had the edge over the Wanderers in the first half, and stubbornly resisted them in the second before substitute Pablo Sanchez sealed the result with a 90th-minute strike.
An elated Isaias described it as the biggest moment of his 10-year senior career.
“Yes, 100 per cent,” he said.
“This is a special moment in my career … I’m so proud of my teammates, I’m very happy for all the staff, for all the fans and the city – for everyone.”
JOE MARSTON MEDALLISTS
2016 – Isaias (Adelaide United)
2015 – Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory)
2014 – Thomas Broich (Brisbane) and Iacopo La Rocca (Western Sydney)
2013 – Daniel McBreen (Central Coast)
2012 – Jacob Burns (Perth Glory)
2011 – Mat Ryan (Central Coast)
2010 – Simon Colosimo (Sydney)
2009 – Ton Pondeljak (Melbourne Victory)
2008 – Andrew Durante (Newcastle Jets)
2007 – Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory)
2006 – Dwight Yorke (Sydney)
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
It was not too long ago that it was no guarantee that the best youth talents from South Australia would make their A-League debuts…
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
A 10-man Macarthur FC have scored twice in the final 10 minutes and goalkeeper Filip Kurto saved an added-time penalty to defeat Adelaide United…
Clubs have cited regulations claiming players who decline national team call-ups ought to be prevented from featuring at a domestic level.