Five things we learned from A-League Round 11

Marquee mediocrity, foul officiating and one Turkish-like delight completed what was a rather controversial weekend of A-League football.

Oriol Riera (L), Kurt Ams (C) and Nick D'Agostino Source: Getty Images

La Liga quality? No thanks

Poor, improved, rinse and repeat – that’s the pattern the Western Sydney Wanderers have developed this season, and yet, one thing remains the same.

Despite boasting the best goal-to-game ratio in club history, Oriol Riera has done little to please a frustrated fan base yearning for a turnaround.

The Spanish striker, who has missed three penalties this season, was justifiably stripped of his duties during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Melbourne Victory.

With just seven goals to show from a league-high 40 shots on goal this season, such inconsistencies have cost the Wanderers on several occasions, and coach Markus Babbel could not hide his frustration.

“I feel really sad for the boys because the performance was top,” Babbel said.

“They had 3-4 chances, they scored. I don’t know how many we had, 6-7 big chances; we couldn’t score.”

Alexander Baumjohann’s converted penalty could not spur a positive result in the end, typified by Riera’s inability to test goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas in all four of his attempts.

For a former La Liga frontman earning a sizeable marquee salary, you would expect better, and with his contract set to run out at season’s end, perhaps it’s time to roll with new signing Kwame Yeboah.

Up in Ams

Newcastle Jets fans were feeling a strong sense of injustice after their 2-1 defeat to Melbourne City on Sunday night and it appears they had every right.

Referee Kurt Ams’ decision to send Ronald Vargas off midway through the first half via a second booking brought City straight back into the contest and, within 10 minutes of the Venezuelan’s dismissal, they had the lead.

Such a decision, allegedly a result of dissent, was brought into further disrepute after replays confirmed the yellow card on its way after the initial incident, an unintentional handball.

This standard of officiating was one of several stains witnessed throughout the contest, with Nikolai Topor-Stanley notably unfortunate to avoid a deserved penalty in the second half.

It’s not the first time Ams has found himself in hot water with the whistle, having received a one-match suspension from Football Federation Australia for a costly penalty blunder in round one’s Melbourne Derby.

Former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich branded Ams’ actions “disgraceful” on the night, and after Sunday’s iteration, he wasn’t the only one.

Bristanbul

It just goes from bad to worse for Brisbane Roar.

The three-time A-League champions surrendered a 2-0 lead and defender Daniel Bowles on Sunday in what proved to be a nightmare at Suncorp Stadium.

Bowles’ straight red card allowed Perth Glory to kick-start a four-goal-filled second half and eventual 4-2 victory – not exactly AC Milan’s Champions League capitulation, but you get the point.

John Aloisi’s resignation has since seen two defeats in three matches for the Roar, who appear to have replaced their poor starts with even poorer finishes.

For the Glory however, the incredible comeback win returns them to the top of the league ladder ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Sydney FC, and coach Tony Popovic was full of praise for his players.

“We’ve shown real character and quality to come back from 2-0 down,” he said.

“It’s very satisfying because it’s always difficult here… we’re delighted to have come out of two difficult back-to-back away games with six points.”

Oh Mandi

Not even Barry Manilow would want a piece of Wellington Phoenix midfielder Mandi after his reckless act against Adelaide United.

The 29-year-old received a straight red card for kicking out at a defenseless Vince Lia while he was on the ground challenging for the ball.

Such a nonsensical act prompted United to pepper the Phoenix goal to the tune of 32 shots, but they were ultimately unable to break a resolute Mark Rudan-coached defence down.

The 0-0 draw extended the Nix’s unbeaten run to six matches thanks, in large part, to goalkeeper Filip Kurto, who saved seven shots on target.

“He was a beast in between those sticks, an absolute beast,” Rudan said.

The rookie coach will now hope for a more disciplined performance on Tuesday against the Western Sydney Wanderers – without Mandi.

Let the records show

Sydney FC rewrote the record books on Friday following their 5-2 battering of the Central Coast Mariners.

A red card to Kalifa Cisse midway through the first half hampered the Mariners’ hopes of victory at Jubilee Stadium and the Sky Blues duly took advantage.

Alex Brosque’s maiden A-League hat-trick helped the home side on their way, as did marquee striker Adam Le Fondre, who found the back of the net for a record tenth time in his first 11 matches.

The result, Sydney’s fourth straight victory, also set an A-League record for the most consecutive home games with a goal (28), dating back to the 2016-17 season.

Such a run of form has led the defending Premiers to remain near the summit of the competition, level with Melbourne Victory in second place, and they are showing no signs of slowing down.

In fact, for all the doubt surrounding Steve Corica’s credentials as Graham Arnold’s replacement, the rookie coach has quickly followed suit, already amassing just five points fewer than last season’s unassailable start.