Unite Round delivered plenty of drama and excitement; 28 goals scored in six matches, which included two score draws and Western Sydney Wanderers being the only team to keep a clean sheet. Incredibly, three out of the four teams that claimed three points had less possession than their opponents.
Take a look at who made a difference for their team in Round 12.
Macarthur FC
Ulises Davila showed why he’s so highly regarded by many football experts; the Mexican maestro scored a hat-trick to help the Bulls claim a draw in a game that they deserved to lose.
The 32-year-old scored the equaliser twice and gave his team the lead once. He put on a show as he usually does and in Round 12, he was clinical in the final third.
Even opposition players appreciate his talent as Ben Garuccio said post-match: “Look, Davila scored a hat-trick, you’ve got to take your hat off sometimes.”
Western United
Daniel Penha scored two goals in an 11-minute period in the second half in the 74th and 85th minute.
The Brazilian magician scored a sublime goal to give what looked like the three points to Western United with a freakish strike in the 85th minute.
Daniel Penha of Western United and Aziz Behich of Melbourne City contest the ball. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Melbourne City
Curtis Good prevented two goal-scoring opportunities; the first in the 54th minute when he was one-on-one with Nicolas Milanovic and on the second occasion in the 61st minute, he stopped Marcus Antonsson from possibly scoring a goal.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Dylan Pierias performed well; it appeared as if Pierias played with a point to prove, he wants to be permanent part of the Wanderers’ starting 11.
The 23-year-old scored the only goal of the game in the 27th minute and used his pace to good effect, as he made many a marauding run down the right-hand side.
His post-match interview was intriguing with regards to taking his chances: “It’s probably more mental than physical.”
Central Coast Mariners
Max Balard gave Central Coast Mariners a point as he threaded through a pass that substitute Jing Reec put into the back of the net, in the 90th minute!
The 23-year-old provided good delivery from set-pieces and tracked back to win the ball back for the Mariners.
Melbourne Victory
Daniel Arzani gave the Victory the lead with a calmly taken penalty in the 33rd minute.
The 25-year-old still harbours ambitions of furthering his career: “I feel like I want to get back into the Socceroos.” Along with that Arzani conveyed the mood within the Victory team: “We want to be at the top.”
Adelaide United
Hiroshi Ibusuki was involved in all four goals scored by Adelaide United; the Reds striker scored a hat-trick and provided an assist.
The 32-year-old vindicated that at his best he should be a permanent part of the Adelaide United starting 11.
The Japanese striker summed up the late drama that nearly saw Adelaide United cough up a three-goal lead: “I’m very happy to get the three points.”
Sydney FC
Joe Lolley endeavoured to bring the Sky Blues back into the game, when the deficit for them was three goals; he scored their second and third goal and was unfortunate not to score a hat-trick as he hit the post in the 89th minute.
The 31-year-old Englishman made the deficit for his team two goals in the 76th minute and his second goal came in the 95th minute, which made it 4-3 in favour of the Reds.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Perth Glory
Adam Taggart gave Glory the start that would’ve been aiming for, as he scored a cracking headed goal in the seventh minute.
The 30-year-old tried hard to get a result for his team, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.
Wellington Phoenix
Kosta Barbarouses continued his purple patch, scoring two goals and providing an assist for a goal from Phoenix right-back Tim Payne.
The New Zealand international made the score 1-1 in the 29th minute, which breathed life into his team and scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 73rd minute, as it gave Phoenix a 4-3 lead.
The 33-year-old gave an honest appraisal of the performance put in by his team: “I thought we were really great in patches.”
Brisbane Roar
Jay O’Shea stepped up when the Roar needed a spark with a goal that made the score 1-1 in the 61st minute.
The 35-year-old was calm and composed when he slotted what proved to be the winning goal from the penalty spot in the 90th minute, which gave the Roar a character-building 3-2 win.
The Irishman summed up the importance of the game well: “We needed that win big time.”
Newcastle Jets
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos scored the opening goal of the game in the 18th minute thanks to a clinical finish by the Jets striker.
The 24-year-old created three chances, most notably he provided a cut back that resulted in Trent Buhagiar hitting the bar in the 47th minute, which would’ve given his team a two-goal lead.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Thank!
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
WP have 7 wins, while MV have 6; https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/01/08/there-are-still-signs-of-life-in-the-a-league-men-despite-the-bureaucratic-nonsense-of-the-apl/
coolncold
Roar Rookie
I do not know why Wellington Phoenix is leading in the ladder. Both WP and Victory have got 24 points after 12 matches, but Wellington Phoenix has rank 1. WP: GF 22, GA 15, GD 7 Vic: GF 25, GA 14, GD 11 Mathematically, WP is leading because of less goals conceded seemingly. Is this the new rule? Or, has Google made a mistake? Anyone can explain?
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
Davila was exciting to watch. Key player of match.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
The entire Brisbane Roar team was the problem in the first half with the exception of Freke. O’Shea made the first goal look easy. He had to be calm and composed to slot the penalty into the back of the net. As Waz said: ‘honourable mention’ to Caletti. Having said that, I have to narrow it down to one player per team.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Melbourne Victory Arzani should have centered but instead had a shot from an angle, is one penalty enough, no one stoodf out, Folami maybe did more than others. Lolley came through at the end but his second goal was going wide and got deflected in, I thought he wasted a lot of ball in the first half. Caceres did very well with the little ball he saw, maybe it was because Adelaide left JCP completely unmarked even in the area that he hardly received the ball. Taggart did the great header but then every touch he had for the rest of the half he lost the ball, Perth were full of Jekyll and Hyde players. Carluccio at the end would be my pick. Roar Oshea was the problem in the first half for Roar no intensity out of position , maybe Gomulka drifting to the sideline affected him and then he didnt track back well either. If it hadn't been for poor Newcastle finishing the match would have been lost . Caletti when he come on was they looked a different team if he covers the gaps then it makes Oshea better . Apostolos he got one goal and his header caused the fumble for the other goal, but wasted plenty of other chances. I suppose the alternative Ingham who overlapped well gave away the penalty.
Waz
Roar Rookie
I understand why O’Shea gets the nomination for Roar but equally the whole team stepped up from “disinterested” in the first half to “let’s actually play” in the second half. Calletti off the bench at half time wasn’t the difference but deserves an honourable mention for his best 45 minutes in forever.