Stats review: Brisbane Roar on the verge of unwanted club history
It has been close to eight years since Brisbane Roar were a Hyundai A-League run this bad.
Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Sydney FC saw the three-time Champions slip to their fifth straight loss for the first time since 2011.
It is a streak unbefitting of the Hyundai A-League giants, who have had goalkeeper Jamie Young to thank throughout the campaign for preventing the Roar’s season slipping even further away.
Young was again worked overtime in Saturday’s defeat, making six saves – the third time in eight games he’s been kept that busy.
Opposite number Andrew Redmayne was also given a firm test in the Sydney FC goal, making five saves for the first-time season.
There were some positive attacking signs to go alongside another sterling display from Young, with Eric Bautheac creating five goal scoring chances.
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Glory shatter Gosford record, deepen Mariners’ malaise
Brisbane aren’t the only Hyundai A-League team currently in poor shape.
Central Coast Mariners’ struggles continued following a dismal 4-1 loss to Perth Glory. Mike Mulvey’s side are winless in 16 league matches – their worst ever run.
They won just one league fixture in 2018, and must arrest their downfall in an intimidating clash against Sydney FC this Friday.
For Perth, the match underlined just how far the club has come under Tony Popovic. Glory had won only two of their previous 20 matches in Gosford, but blew that record out of the water as Fabio Ferreira broke a 23-month goal drought with a brace.
Galekovic gigantic as City end away Wanderers wait
Eugene Galekovic was the hero as Melbourne City beat Western Sydney Wanderers away from home for the first time in 10 meetings with a 2-0 victory at ANZ Stadium.
Galekovic was enormous in goals, making six saves – including denying Oriol Riera from the penalty spot late on.
That extended a poor run of form from 12 yards for the Spanish striker, who has now failed to convert three of his four spot-kicks this season.
Riera and the Wanderers will aim to bounce back against Melbourne Victory next Saturday, but they’ll have to snap a three-match losing streak at ANZ Stadium to do so.
Jets' holiday woes continue as Adelaide improve Newcastle record
Talk about a Christmas hangover. Newcastle Jets just hate playing late in the year, and that trend continued in a 2-1 loss to Adelaide United.
Incredibly, the Novocastrians are the only team in Hyundai A-League history to have never won a game between Boxing Day and New Year's Day – their record now standing at two draws and 13 losses.
Their latest defeat came after another dominant performance at home, spearheaded by their twin midfield maestros Dimitri Petratos and Ronald Vargas.
Petratos attempted a massive 21 crosses – beating the previous most this season by six – and created six chances, while Vargas teed on five.
Unfortunately for the Jets, they ran into a goalkeeper in invincible form. Paul Izzo made seven saves – the equal most by any shot-stopper this season – as the Reds won at McDonald Jones Stadium for the first time since March 2015.
Milestone for Valeri as Victory, Phoenix play out thriller
Carl Valeri made his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance, but Melbourne Victory were held to a 1-1 draw by Wellington Phoenix.
David Williams scored for the second straight game with a fine curling effort, only for the Phoenix to be denied a first four-game winning streak since March 2015 by Ola Toivonen.
Victory are now unbeaten in eight games as Toivonen delivered once more, turning in a Terry Antonis effort. The Swede has scored or assisted in each of his seven Hyundai A-League games.
Antonis created five chances against the Phoenix, who had goalkeeper Filip Kurto make five saves for just the second time this campaign.
