The competition is as exciting as ever, with late drama, a feisty Melbourne Derby, and a coaching change adding to the excitement. Here are the A-League Round 9 talking points.
Brisbane Roar manager Ross Aloisi has decided to take up a position in the Chinese Super League, becoming the assistant to ex-Melbourne Victory man Kevin Muscat. This comes after two straight losses for the Roar. Luciano Trani, Aloisi’s assistant, will take over for the remainder of the season. It remains to be seen whether Aloisi’s move will be beneficial for him, as the CSL has made changes that may affect foreign players.
Jamie Maclaren thought he had won the first Melbourne Derby of the season for City with his fifth goal, but it was disallowed due to a foul on Leigh Broxham. The match ended in a scoreless draw, but the boisterous scenes at AAMI Park added to the excitement of the game.
Alen Stajcic’s tenure as Perth Glory manager got off to a rocky start, but a late win over Macarthur could be a turning point for the team. The win, where they came back from two goals down, showed the team’s potential. Glory needs to start living up to their potential.
The champions, Central Coast, are back in the mix following their third win of the campaign, putting them just a couple of points behind Adelaide in sixth place. Wellington stands at the top of the ladder, with Kosta Barbarouses in excellent form and Alex Rufer delivering a quality assist. Adelaide also bounced back from a three-match losing streak with a 3-1 win over Newcastle Jets. Meanwhile, Sydney FC emerged victorious against Western United in a 4-2 win at Allianz Stadium.