PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEKEND – SYDNEY FC

Well, in the week that they finally wrapped up the premiership, Sydney FC also made good on their performance despite the absence of two key players. Rhyan Grant and Danny Vukovic were on Socceroos duty but that didn’t seem to matter to Sydney.

Despite being away from home and with very little pressure on them, Sydney took the game to Perth, hardly allowing them anything. Struggling to get over 40 percent possession, the home side also struggled to break down Sydney’s defence.

Two goals just before half time capped off a dominant half for Sydney with the visitors not allowing their opponents to get much from the game at all. With rumours he is set to move to Sydney next season, Diego Castro was kept quiet during the game, finding just one shot on target all game.

Perth’s five shots were well outmatched by Sydney’s fourteen and perhaps it could have even been said that Sydney were just not as clinical as they should have been, despite their domination. They are now a whopping 14 points ahead of Melbourne Victory and despite their casualties, delivered a fine performance.

It has been one of the greatest seasons for an A-League side ever and Sydney just confirmed this weekend, why they are in the position they are. An outstanding game and a great performance from the Sky Blues.

PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND – BRENDON SANTALAB

Who would have though Brendon Santalab would be able to turn it on for a second week in a row? Maybe some optimistic Wanderers fans. The striker is continually proving to many that he is still one of the biggest forces to be reckoned with in the A-League.

A hattrick is a huge deal for any player, but the aggression and timeliness that Santalab used to find those goals was perfect. At 34 years of age, some strikers may be thinking of retiring but the veteran is showing that he is still a force to be reckoned with.

What may have been the best thing about his hattrick is that he only took four shots to make it. All three of those that were on target were put into the back of the net. To put three goals away from such limited chances against a keeper that played in the Premier League for 16 years is no easy thing but Santalab made it seamless.

He scored his first goal just after the 22nd minute and then backed it up just past the hour mark, scoring two in quick succession to give him the three goals. Despite the Wanderers position in the A-League, he is the 4th best scorer this season, just one behind Jamie Maclaren.

Santalab showed every this weekend that he is still one of the best strikers in the A-League and his hattrick is further proof that no goal is safe from the Australian. A great performance this weekend.

GOAL OF THE WEEKEND – JAMIE MACLAREN

If there was a clear way to send a message to Ange Postecoglou, Maclaren has done it. With four goals in three games, Maclaren was again able to prove why he is ready for the step up with a stunner of a goal.

He showed off his strength and aggression, as well as his eye for goal. With the ball being blasted well inside the Victory’s half, Maclaren was forced to battle for the ball with two defenders. With Nick Ansell standing back, Maclaren was able to wrestle the ball off Alan Baro before releasing a beautiful shot almost immediately. Finding Lawrence Thomas off his line, the ball looped beautifully over the keeper, landing in the back of the net.

A goal from nowhere, Maclaren was able to show off his full skill set in this goal and continue his fine form this season. His goal would prove to be the decisive and only goal in the match, giving Brisbane a huge win and awarding Sydney the premiership for the season.

A beautiful goal from Maclaren and this week’s goal of the weekend.

FLOP OF THE WEEKEND – NEWCASTLE JETS

If you’re a Jets fan, you’re probably hugging yourself under a cold shower right now. Having had their chance against a team placed just above them in the table, Newcastle now look unlikely to make the finals.

Needing to win every single game for the rest of the season and facing Sydney away from home in the final week does not bode well for them.

On paper, Newcastle and Wellington seemed very well matched. In fact, Newcastle have 18 shots to Wellington’s 21 with the Phoenix grabbing just one more shot on target than the Jets. The problem was how lacklustre Newcastle’s defence looked.

Wellington were able to take shot after shot with the Jets defence at times looking lazy, leaving Jack Duncan helpless in the goal. Duncan made just two saves all game although you could hardly blame him as many of the shots he faced were well shot thanks to the Jets poor defending.

With Glen Moss away on international duty, Lewis Italiano was put between the sticks but a combination of some solid saves and poor striking by Newcastle meant that the serial second choice goalkeeper was able to keep a clean sheet.

Even Mark Jones at the end of the game struggled to justify Newcastle’s game and that won’t be very comforting for Jets fans. A big flop this week and it’s hard to see Newcastle turning it around in time for next week.