Stats review: Penalty record set as Hyundai A-League goalkeepers shine

It's a record Hyundai A-League goalkeepers will love, and one the competition's spot-kick specialists will hate.

But the mark for most penalties missed in a season was broken in Round 19, as Vedran Janjetovic's stop from Craig Goodwin during Western Sydney Wanderers' win over Adelaide United set a new league record.

It was the 13th spot-kick not converted this campaign, topping the mark of 12 set in 2016/17 and the most since Opta started keeping the statistic in 2012/13.

We take a closer look at that and more thanks to Opta.

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The heroes and villains from the spot

A combination of good goalkeeping and poor penalty-taking has led to the results from the spot.

Wellington Phoenix star Roy Krishna (3) and Wanderers striker Oriol Riera (3) have endured the most struggles from 12 yards, while Adam Taggart (2) is the only other player to have missed multiple attempts of the 42 penalties taken this season.

But others have been far more clinical. Perth Glory midfielder Neil Kilkenny and Melbourne Victory marquee Keisuke Honda have converted all of their penalties – four and three respectively – this season.

The league's goalkeepers have also stepped up.

Sydney FC's Andrew Redmayne (3) leads the way, while Janjetovic, Melbourne City veteran Eugene Galekovic, Newcastle Jets number one Glen Moss and Victory gun Lawrence Thomas have each saved two spot-kicks.

Roar regular Jamie Young and Adelaide's Paul Izzo have also saved penalties this term.

Maclaren matches Villa but City denied by Jets

Jamie Maclaren joined some illustrious company at Melbourne City.

The forward scored in a 3-1 loss to Newcastle Jets to become just the second man in the club's history to net in his first two league games, joining FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League winner David Villa.

Maclaren is already having an impact at City, his six shots – including blocks – the most by a player for the club in a game this season.

But City were denied what could have been their first three-match winning streak over the Jets, who had Jair, Joe Champness and Roy O'Donovan on the scoresheet.

Newcastle are again starting to become hard to beat at McDonald Jones Stadium, where they are undefeated in four games for the first time since last season.

Glory roll on as club record is equalled

There is still no stopping Hyundai A-League leaders Perth Glory.

Andy Keogh's brace and goals from Jason Davidson and Diego Castro saw Perth beat Brisbane Roar 4-0 to extend their unbeaten run in the competition to 10 games – equalling the mark they set in 2014/15.

Perth are also setting records and their win at HBF Park saw them claim three straight victories over the Roar for the first time, with Castro starring, creating seven goalscoring chances.

For Brisbane, their struggles away from home continued, now winless in 12 games on the road.

Bonevacia boosts Wanderers in surprise win

It was the Roly Bonevacia show at Coopers Stadium.

Bonevacia created five chances, assisted two goals and scored in the Wanderers' 3-1 win over Adelaide. He became just the eighth player to be directly involved in three goals in a league game for the Wanderers, with only Youssouf Hersi (four) ever managing more in a match for the club.

Riera and Abraham Majok were set up by Bonevacia as the Wanderers claimed back-to-back league wins for the first time since February 2018.

Goodwin had a penalty saved by Janjetovic and while Ryan Kitto briefly drew the Reds level, their five-game unbeaten run was ended.

Phoenix retain Eden Park record after Victory draw

Wellington Phoenix quite enjoy taking the Hyundai A-League to Eden Park.

In front of a crowd of 22,648, Wellington held Melbourne Victory to a 1-1 draw to extend their unbeaten run at the Auckland venue to four matches.

Honda scored his first goal since mid-December for Victory to cancel out Krishna's 12th strike of the season.

Elvis Kamsoba and Kosta Barbarouses each created four chances for Victory, but Wellington held firm, with Steven Taylor making 10 clearances.

Sky Blues maintain dominance over Mariners

The Central Coast Mariners held Sydney FC to a 1-1 draw after continuing their strong first-half record this season.

Aiden O'Neill's fine opener saw the Mariners go into the break ahead for the fourth time in their past six away games, but this time they held on for a point despite Adam Le Fondre's 76th-minute penalty.

The Sky Blues have lost just one of the past 15 Hyundai A-League games between the clubs, winning 11.

But their run of victories in Sydney was ended at six after the draw at Leichhardt Oval.