Opinion
The football in Round 9 was of a decent standard considering the weather. There were some standout performers who warranted selection in the team of the week.
Goalkeeper: Filip Kurto (Macarthur FC)
Filip Kurto made four saves, including a pivotal one where he stopped Joe Lolley from scoring in the seventh minute of the game. He stopped a raid forward from Sydney FC in the 23rd minute, where he intelligently went out of his box and headed the ball away from danger following a long pass by Joe Lolley.
When asked about Filip Kurto in his post-match press conference, Dwight Yorke said: “I do believe that I’ve got the best goalkeeper in the business here. He is instrumental to our success and his proved that yet again today.”
Filip Kurto (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Right Back: Josh Risdon (Western United)
Josh Risdon played extremely well and he scored the only goal of the game. The goal scored by him was during a pivotal time in the game, as it was in first half stoppage time.
He made many marauding runs down the right hand side and his endeavour never wavered, despite Western United being down to ten men for the majority of the game. In his post-match interview, he articulately summarised everything: “It was just being resilient. I’m just trying to enjoy it.”
Centre Back: Tomoki Imai (Western United)
Tomoki Imai played an outstanding game marshalling the defence. The manner in which he played never wavered; he worked his guts out, with the team went down to ten men after a red card to Nikolai Topor-Stanley in the 32nd minute.
His work in defence to stop the attacking raids that Melbourne Victory endeavoured to make in the final third, was impeccable.
Centre Back: Mark Natta (Newcastle Jets)
Mark Natta played well as he curtailed the influence of Hiroshi Ibusuki. He contributed to the Newcastle Jets keeping a clean sheet. His past-match interview summed up his great attitude: “All the boys in the back really helped me out, in the end it’s a team effort. We kept a clean sheet and that’s our job.”
Left Back: Jordan Bos (Melbourne City)
Jordan Bos put in a great shift; he didn’t stop working as he made many runs down the left hand side for Melbourne City.
The forays forward for City were often started by him as he worked tirelessly and passed accurately. He orchestrated the move forward that led to the only goal of the game scored by Jamie Maclaren in the 39th minute. Along with that, Bos was also solid defensively.
Centre Midfield: Jake Hollman (Macarthur FC)
Jake Hollman helped curtail many of the attacking forays that Sydney FC endeavoured to start in the middle of the park. He was calm and composed, which vindicated Dwight Yorke selecting him in the team ahead of Kearyn Baccus, which would’ve been a tough decision.
Centre Midfield: Richard van der Venne (Melbourne City)
Richard van der Venne helped Melbourne City control the tempo of the game in the middle of the park. He worked tirelessly, as he showed create endeavour and football intelligence, despite the hot conditions. He provided the assist for Jamie Maclaren in the 39th minute and did well to draw the foul for the penalty that Melbourne City won in first half stoppage time.
Attacking Midfield: Ulises Davila (Macarthur FC)
Ulises Davila had what was probably his best game for the season. He scored a pivotal goal that made the score 2-nil in favour of Macarthur FC in the 71st minute. Along with that his passing was exquisite and he was unfortunate not to score at least one more goal, as Sydney FC goalkeeper, Andrew Redmayne made two good saves from him, one in the 23rd minute and another in the 39th minute.
Davila finished the game with 20 passes in the final third, six shots, three on target and five touches in the opposition box. He summed everything up well in his post-match interview: “I think the team did a great job, so I’m very happy for the boys.”
Attacking Midfield: James Troisi (Western United)
James Troisi passed the ball exquisitely; it was a joy to watch. He provided the assist for the only goal scored in the game by Josh Risdon in first half stoppage time. He helped Western United prevent the Melbourne Victory from controlling the tempo of the game, despite Victory playing with one extra player for the majority of the game.
Forward: Oliver Bozanic (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Oliver Bozanic was instrumental in many of Western Sydney forays forward. Three of their four shots on target for them was from him. He broke the deadlock in the 18th minute.
His experience that he brings to the team can’t be measured. In his post-match interview he stated: “We want to come here and get three points and unfortunately we didn’t do that tonight, so got to go back the drawing board and work hard at it.”
Forward: Bachana Arabuli (Macarthur FC)
Bachana Arabuli scored a brace; he was the missing piece of the puzzle as all that has been lacking from Macarthur FC is end product in the final third. He made it look easy scoring in first half stoppage time and in the 89th minute to ensure a 3-nil win against Sydney FC.
He showed that he is a team-first player he is in his post-match interview: “For the team it was a very important game.”
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