Round 21 Summary | A-League Mens

The A-League Season is entering the home stretch. The Top 6 is tighter than ever before. Lets dive into what was Round 21 of the 2024-25 Isuzu Ute A-League Season.

Friday Night Failure in Wellington. | WEL v MCY

Melbourne City travelled across the ditch to Sky Stadium to face Wellington Phoenix. Wellington Phoenix have struggled with form this season, only narrowly missing the 2023-24 Isuzu Ute A-League Grand Final after an extra time goal against Melbourne Victory brought their magical season to an end. Wellington were slow and unable to pace Melbourne City who’s youth this far have shined and been crucial to their success. A slow first half with a few chances for Melbourne City still resulted in the scores being level 0-0 at halftime. Wellington slightly behind Melbourne City were unable to catch up after the main break and conceded six minutes into the second half with Marco Tilio scoring with an assist by Andreas Kuen. Melbourne City were able to defend their lead and doubled their lead in the 92′ minute with an own goal which was ruled out by Kate Jacewicz in the VAR booth.

Round 22 Predicted Final Ladder

Based on 10,000 A-League season simulations this is our predicted ladder for the end of the season.
1 – Auckland FC – 99.99%
2 – Adelaide United – 91.03%
3 – Melbourne City – 87.03%
4 – Western United – 83.99%
5 – Western Sydney Wanderers – 77.10%
6 – Melbourne Victory – 69.10%
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7 – Sydney FC – 58.99%
8 – Macarthur FC – 16.91%
9 – Newcastle Jets – 11.97%
10 – Central Coast Mariners – 2.07%
11 – Wellington Phoenix – 1.82%
12 – Perth Glory – 0.00%
13 – Brisbane Roar – 0.00%

Mathematically Perth Glory are the only team unable to make the 2024-25 Isuzu Ute A-League Final Series.

First Gosford Win for Western United | CCM v WUN

The second game on Friday Night was the Central Coast Mariners and travelling side Western United. The Champions of the 23-24 season have had the biggest drop than any other team in the competition. Multiple moves in the offseason have left the Mariners lost. Statstically a close game and very good game but the Mariners when it mattered when just unable to take their chances and get the ball into the back of the net. A slow first half had most thinking of a boring game but just seven minutes after the main break Noah Botic was able to get to the back of the net and get Western United up 1-0. The greatness lasted just twenty minutes when in the 76′ minute Western United conceeded an own goal squaring the game all back up. Western United responded quickly with bringing Striker Luke Vickery onto centre stage and snatching the lead back in the 81′ minute. The last minutes of the game were slow with Western United trying to see it out but a late counter attack in the 97′ minute with flashbacks of Josh Nisbet’s disaster counter attack back in April last year against Melbourne Victory almost occurring again but Michael Ruhs was able to get the ball into the left corner of the net and Western United hit the freeway with all three points. Claiming their first ever win in Gosford.

Game. Of. The. Season? | AKL v ADL

Saturday got off to a start in Auckland with third placed Adelaide United travelling to Go Media Stadium in Auckland for a top of the table clash. Last time these two faced off five weeks again it ended in the most dramatic circumstances. 16,000 people made their way into Go Media Stadium and were treated to argubly the game of the season. A 4-4 draw, back and fourth game with non stop action. The greatest A-League talent shown and shined, Adelaide United undermanned and underpowered were doubted coming into this fixture with their young stars away for the U20’s AFC Final but the spots were filled and the game was not one to leave the minds of A-League fans in the future, Auckland FC and Striker Guillermo May got Auckland away fast with two quick back to back goals in the 10′ and 14′ minute. The game looked likely to be gone until Adelaide United defender Jordan Elsey got a goal in the 30′ minute and it was game on. Both teams went to the sheds with Auckland FC up 2-1 at the main break but the second half was INSANE. 7 minutes after the main break Logan Rogerson restored Auckland’s two goal advantage and Auckland went up 3-1 with Adelaide seemed to be gone and out of power. In the 58′ minute Referee Daniel Elder was called to the VAR screen for penalty that wasn’t given. After a lengthy review Referee Daniel Elder awarded Adelaide United the penalty for a trip at the top of the Penalty Box and Zach Clough in the 61′ minute scored giving Adelaide United a much needed boost. Adelaide United were never going to give up and in the 79′ minute equalised with Zach Clough converting another penalty and Auckland FC fans would be getting nervous. In a final eight minutes you could not script Hiroki Sakai in the 90+2′ was the man of Auckland giving Auckland the lead 4-3 but Auckland’s miracle day was short lived with Adelaide United defender Bart Vriends levelling the game in the 90+8′ minute at the death. This will be THE matchup to watch come May.

Smiles, Tears, Anger & Happiness. Windy Brisbane causes a stir. | BRI v MVC

Melbourne Victory travelled north to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane to face last placed Brisbane Roar. A Brisbane Roar outfit who have been developing over the last few weeks searching for their second win of the season had a challenge against fifth placed Melbourne Victory. The game started slow and remained that way for the full ninety minutes. The game never picked up and for fans was a hard game to watch in general. Melbourne Victory needing a win to just push them up the ladder started very slow and Brisbane Roar took advantage with Brisbane Midfielder Henry Hore getting the first of the afternoon at the 20′ minute mark. Melbourne Victory never seemed to respond and still 1-0 down in the 96′ minute Melbourne Victory youngster Kasey Bos knocked a goal in at the death to equalise the game and sighs of relief from the travelling fans they could leave with a point was the best thing to happen all day.  Brisbane Roar players fell to the ground as two points had just been robbed off them in the dying seconds.

Record Attendance in Campbelltown and Sydney FC run over Macarthur FC | MAC v SYD

Saturday Night’s prime time slot was the “Other” Sydney Derby between Macarthur FC and travelling side Sydney FC. A record attendance of 8,032 made their way through the gates of Campbelltown Stadium. Two teams desperate to get three points for their final stretch for the top six was for a big game. Sydney FC dominated the fixture with 26 Shots compared to Macarthur’s mere 6. Macarthur only managed to get one goal on target whilst Sydney managed to get six. A battered Macarthur team was unable to withhold Sydney FC after half time with Patryk Kilmala scoring the first of the match in the 58′ minute followed by Adrian Segecic’s 72′ minute goal to double down their lead.

Two Back 2 Back Massive Wins for Western Sydney, Disaster for the Glory | WSW v PER

Western Sydney Wanderers made their way back home to CommBank Stadium to host Perth Glory on Sunday afternoon. A confident Western Sydney side were looking likely to dominate after their demolition job last weekend in Gosford. The Perth side looked confident early with Adam Taggart able to seal a goal inside five minutes however the excitement for Glory fans didn’t last long with Aydan Hammond sending one through to the back of the net in the 14′ minute making it all square and that was just the start of Western Sydney’s surge, Hammond sent one past Oli Sail again in the 39′ minute giving Western Sydney a one goal advantage at the main break with Perth Glory still fighting in the contest but a quick goal by Oscar Priestman in the 50′ minute doubled the Wanderers advantage which was shortly followed by Bozhidar Kraev sealing the final goal of the afternoon in the 66′ minute putting the Wanderers up 4-1.

Two words to describe every ALM team:
Adelaide United: Relentless Finishers
Auckland FC: Dynamic Players
Brisbane Roar: Struggling Season
Central Coast Mariners:  Future Focus
Macarthur: Adjusting Absense
Melbourne City:  Solid Form
Melbourne Victory: Consistently Inconsistent
Newcastle Jets: Surging Late
Perth Glory: Dismal Year
Sydney FC: Impressive Style
Wellington Phoenix: Directionless Drift
Western Sydney Wanderers:  Big Wins
Western United: Youthful Excellence