Aurelio Vidmar’s team has likely secured their position in the finals, a fate that seemed uncertain just three weeks prior.
Key Statistics
Golden Boot Race
The Key Winners of Round 24
Aurelio Vidmar and Melbourne City have timed their resurgence perfectly, now firmly positioned for the finals following losses for Wellington Phoenix and Macarthur FC, extending their lead over the chasing teams to four points with only two rounds remaining.
Despite struggling to maintain a clean sheet throughout February and March, the team’s management’s trust in Vidmar has paid dividends with a five-match unbeaten streak (W4, D1) that features three clean sheets—equal to their total over the previous 13 A-League encounters.
In a post-match media briefing, Vidmar asserted that the pressure of being in must-win situations has actually galvanised both the players and support staff, creating an ideal mentality as finals commence in three weeks.
Recording three victories in just eight days has significantly boosted their title chances, albeit all were at AAMI Park against teams either out of contention for the top six. Nonetheless, their defensive setup has been impressive, boasting a full-strength back four.
With Aziz Behich and Marcus Younis excelling on the wings, and a solid backline in place, they certainly remain contenders for the title this season.
The Key Losers of Round 24
It’s almost a given that Macarthur FC and Wellington Phoenix share the unwelcome title of this week’s ‘losers’ after their finals hopes slip beyond their control.
Both managers, Sterjovski and Greenacre, referenced the dreaded ‘mathematical chances,’ with Greenacre acknowledging that once a team finds itself in that territory, their prospects greatly diminish—especially given that Melbourne City appears unlikely to drop points against both Brisbane Roar (away) and Adelaide United (home) in their remaining fixtures.
To their credit, the Phoenix have performed admirably to reach this stage of the season following a sudden managerial shift, and interim manager Chris Greenacre seems to have done enough to deserve a permanent role.
Macarthur had high hopes that the significant signing of Socceroo Mitch Duke in January would propel them into the top six. However, his status as the team’s third-highest goalscorer after only 11 appearances reflects a broader lack of attacking prowess, especially considering Harry Sawyer was previously a contender for the Golden Boot.
The Bulls are struggling, having gone 13 games without a clean sheet since a New Year’s Day win over the Wanderers—and 15 if their continental matches are included. They will need to overcome significant challenges, including a difficult away match in Adelaide next weekend.
Team of the Week
For an in-depth look at our Round 24 Team of the Week, click here.
Goal of the Week
Manager Insights
Airton Andrioli (Adelaide United): “I thought tonight’s game was excellent. It’s encouraging to see two quality teams trying to play attractive football. The match was a great showcase of the game, and I truly enjoyed it. However, I’ll likely walk away feeling frustrated that VAR is impacting our sport. It seems to be hindering the beautiful game, and while I believe referees on the pitch are doing an admirable job, the technology appears to take us backward.“
Aurelio Vidmar (Melbourne City): “It was a solid performance from the team. We anticipated a tough game, especially given the strength of the two forwards, Eze and Piper. I felt that Sammy (Souprayen) and German (Ferreyra) excelled in managing those challenges. Our team overall functioned well and we merited the victory, despite encountering some tense moments which we handled professionally.“
Michael Valkanis (Brisbane Roar): “We needed to take our chances in the first half and not allow them a window for that brief period when they gained the upper hand. I was disappointed at how we began the second half, especially because we discussed our strategy at halftime. Central Coast’s nature means they would come out with more physicality and intensify their efforts to get into the game, but we had lapses that were costly—with two shots on target resulting in two goals conceded. That has been a recurring trend this season.“
For more managerial insights from all 12 coaches, click here.
Upcoming Matches
As we approach the final round of the regular season, Macarthur, Wellington, and Central Coast are all vying for one last opportunity.
Compiled by SportArena.au
Fanpage: SportArena.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
