1. Success Is No Miracle
Yeah, we lied. Wanderers notched up a Christmas miracle with their convincing win over title challengers Adelaide United. Mark Bridge scored a potentially world-ending hattrick, the league’s second-placed side were roundly slapped by the newcomers and Tony Popovic’s tinkering has brought about three straight wins in the A-League, comparable to half a dozen elsewhere. Highlight of the spectacular night? Mark Rudan’s “home or away” call upon Bec Hewitt gracing the Fox Sports coverage. Marvellous. 

2. Simple Satisfaction for Perth; Not So For Roar
There were of course parallels between 2011/2012’s Grand Final and this second rematch of the season - but this time Glory fought hard and actually earned three points with importance beyond this fixture. The chance for Brisbane's first-team players to redeem themselves in the eyes of new coach Mike Mulvey passed at full-time. Reversing the form of a number of key individuals will be his first priority and, if the rest of the playing group can follow Erik Paartalu's example, Mulvey’s bright pre-match assessment of Roar’s ails could still prove accurate.

3. Small Sanchez Delights Wellington
The Mariners might make an entertaining basis for a football documentary, what with the club being in the business of winning football matches and that. But given their relentless consistency, it was a surprise Wellington managed to nick a late point on Saturday. Still, despite the absent intensity in defence which cost them two points, we suspect the goal was less a commentary on them and more on Phoenix. Specifically, Dani Sanchez. The diminutive midfielder rose above Josh Rose to record a feat managed by a similarly small pool of players: heading a goal against the Mariners defence. It was really very simple – amazingly simple given the parties involved – but it nonetheless screamed ‘talisman’. With the out-of-form Paul Ifill absent, the recently returned Sanchez is exactly the player Wellington need – a creative mind capable of spreading the play to their rich stocks of wide attackers, advancing from the sound defensive platform. 

4. Counter Key for Sydney FC
Finally Gary van Egmond indulged and put Craig Goodwin and James Virgili in the same starting XI.  The duo conducted the Jets’ attack - Goodwin glided around the pitch, meeting every touch and shot with the sweet timing of his opener while Virgili sliced through another opposition fullback, embarrassing Fabio on the way to Heskey’s winner. Frustrating for Frank Farina is that he already has a forward pair of his own that could achieve that kind of damage with the assistance of a competent defence. Del Piero to Yau was an ever-present counter-attacking threat with the combination unlocking Newcastle for a first just prior to the break, and the two almost conjured an equaliser after it. The Panamanian is doing well enough at the tip of the Sky Blue garbage heap to say the incoming Joel Griffiths would be a squad number better used on a defender. Hopefully Sydney have options – plural – identified for the transfer window.

5. Rojas, Derby Great, Hearts denied
Aside from learning that Marco Rojas is the equal of any attacker in the league, the Melbourne Derby came under inevitable scrutiny and comparison with last weekend's electric Sydney derby. We’re going to sidestep picking a favourite and simply pay tribute to Saturday night’s showpiece – a fixture of such magnitude that the football community needed Sunday free to rest. Melbourne Heart could draw a single figure crowd the rest of this season and they would still be worth their place in the A-League just for the buzz generated by this derby. Fred may have spent much of this season being as useful as a poster on a wall as far as winning matches is concerned, but he sprung to life in the second half. The difference with Rojas could not be more pointed - he's been a livewire all season, and was key again, scoring the first and setting up Archie for the last gasp winner. And shock horror, the officials got a crucial call absolutely spot on. Gosh. Who needs goalline technology after all, eh Michel?