Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City, 1-2
Sweet irony for Melbourne City that the player who prevented them reaching the final last season would give them the win in the opening game this season. Riley McGree made an intelligent run through the middle of the park after being brought on and scored off a perfect through-ball from Luke Brattan, all the while holding-off Keisuke Honda. No mean feat.
Of course, and unfortunately, it wouldn’t be the A-League without a VAR controversy and there was one that led to a penalty for Melbourne City (missed, but Ritchie de Laet scored on the follow-up) which brought them equal. Kevin Muscat says it wasn’t the VAR’s fault but the referee who initially called the foul – described by some as “very generous” in the first place – as occurring outside the box, but declared it happened inside the box after referee review. The referee didn’t ask the VAR to review the foul.
The match marked the A-League debut of many newcomers (rated in the link), not least being Keisuke Honda with whom Muscat was very pleased. Both Honda and de Laet looked “a class above” most on the park, according to Robbie Slater and Simon Hill on the FOX Sports broadcast.
It’s worth noting, in light of Malcolm Knox’s article yesterday which suggested thtat Melbourne City had no commitment to Australia, and which we referenced here, that Melbourne City has seven players absent on international youth duty, and with Dario Vidosic laid low with a virus, and captain Scott Jamieson ruled-out at the last minute with injury, they had 15-year-old Idrus Abdulahi on the bench.
Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets, today 3pm AEDT, 5pm local
Ronny Vargas promised so much for the Newcastle Jets in the first three matches of last season – until a routine challenge in a match against Brisbane Roar went horribly wrong, and he was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery. He returned for the final matches of the season but was restricted in movement due to a screw in his ankle – even so, he turned on “some trickery”, and now the screw has been removed, he’s ready for the 31-year-old Venezuelan is ready for a new start.
One new recruit who knows what he’s getting into with his new club and the competition is Steven Taylor at Wellington Phoenix. He used to watch A-League highlights when he’d get in early to the dressing room at Newcastle United where he played for 13 seasons. He says he wants to help “leave a legacy” at Phoenix by helping to turn the club around and that is up to players.
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners, today 5pm AEDT, 4pm local
After receiving a 2.5 year suspended sentence for involvement in alleged match-fixing last year, Avraam Papadopoulos, who claimed all along that he was innocent, appealed the decision and his appeal was upheld. Good to see an innocent man cleared – because it doesn't always happen that way.
Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers, today 7pm AEDT, 4pm local
We read it yesterday also, but Tony Popovic is on a mission in the west and that is to turn the club around. He says the most difficult challenge so far has been to get the players “in the right mindset” with Popovic intent on “creating new memories for a fantastic club”. Popovic still talks with Western Sydney Wanderers’ CEO John Tsatsimas and academy director, Ian Crook, as they are “two of his closest confidantes” but “just as friends”.
W-League
The W-League season starts next week – and it’s a big season ahead with the Women’s World Cup in June next year and players vying for spots. Anthony Colangelo writes that Melbourne City is trying for their fourth successive title while Melbourne Victory is hoping to make the finals for the first time in five years. Their opening games are against Canberra United away, and Adelaide United at home, respectively.