Snapshot of round one of the A-League

A look at round one of the A-League.

THEY SAID IT - "I don't know how that's intentional when it deflects off a guy from one yard away at that speed." Mariners coach Alen Stajcic talks about the controversial penalty that was awarded against his side.

MAN OF THE ROUND - Wanderers captain Mitch Duke. He scored two goals in the 2-1 win over the Mariners and was a constant threat against his old club with his direct running.

STAT ATTACK - Central Coast Mariners have won only one of their last 25 A-League games played away from home (D5, L19).

TALKING POINT - The video assistant referee (VAR). It seems like it got most (if not all) of the decisions right over the weekend. But the time it took to get to the decisions (and actually call for the review in the first place) is under the spotlight. Sometimes, play continued for two or three minutes before an incident was reviewed.

PLUS...

In pics: Thrills, spills and dills - the best of round one action

The best from this weekend's games as the A-League kicked off with some spectacular pics.

BEAT THAT - How good was that celebration from Melbourne Victory's Elvis Kamsoba? The Burundian winger looked to have broken through for his maiden league goal but was ruled offside by the VAR. It was a shame because the call wasted a superb goal celebration by Kamsoba, who went backflipping towards the corner flag and stuck the landing with a flourish that would've done an Olympic gymnast proud.

UNDER PRESSURE - It's early days, but Wellington Phoenix were listless and non-threatening for much of Sunday's loss to newcomers Western United.

INJURIES - Tarek Erich - Wanderers (hamstring)

WHAT'S NEXT - Melbourne Victory kick off round two at home to Western Sydney on Friday night. Expansion club Western United host Perth Glory in their first-ever home game, while the Mariners take on the Jets. Melbourne City face off against Adelaide, while Sydney host Wellington in the final match of the round.

PLUS...

A-League round 1 standout stars

The A-League’s opening round had a little bit of everything, from controversial VAR calls, to sending offs and goal of the season contenders.

The top five most Tweeted moments

1 Roy O'Donovan (BRI) scores in extra time to draw the match #PERvBRI

FULL TIME | Our strong attacking pressure pays off as O'Donovan secures a point right at the death! #RoarAsOne #PERvBRI pic.twitter.com/VEBiSrs2gz
— Brisbane Roar (@brisbaneroar) October 13, 2019

90+7' | GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!

O'Donovan's header for @brisbaneroar stands following a VAR review.

1-1 #PERvBRI #ALeague
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 13, 2019

LEAVING IT LATE! 😲

Roy O'Donovan scored in the 94th-minute to help @brisbaneroar grab a point in Round 1.

🎥 @FOXFOOTBALL #ALeague #PERvBRI pic.twitter.com/sasobyKjeZ
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 13, 2019

FULL TIME: PERTH GLORY 1 – 1 BRISBANE ROAR

A last minute equaliser from Roy O’Donovan rescues a point for Brisbane Roar. #ALeague #PERvBRI
— Daniel Greenland (@d_greenland3) October 13, 2019

SCENES! O’Donovan scores in the 95th minute but seems to be offside. VAR pending. #PERvBRI
— The Football Sack (@TheFootballSack) October 13, 2019

Recap- After VAR intervention the goal stands.

Superb ball to Amadi-Holloway at the back post, whose header goes across the face to an unmarked O'Donovan who has a tap in

PER 1-1 BRI #ALeague #PERvBRI
— Brisbane Football Review (@BNEFootball) October 13, 2019

2 After a VAR review in WSW's favour, Mitchell Duke (WSW) converts the penalty to take the lead for his team 2-1. #WSWvCCM

GOOOAAAALLLL! DUKE CONVERTS!!! 2-1 #WSW #WSWvCCM pic.twitter.com/tlDHufbzQo
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) October 12, 2019

Crazy scenes as all day a Penalty now it’s 2-1 #WSWvCCM #VAR @wswanderersfc pic.twitter.com/HHXJXBzh8q
— Peter Zangari (@zangers2010) October 12, 2019

82' | GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!

Duke converts the penalty for @wswanderersfc.

2-1 #WSWvCCM #ALeague
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 12, 2019

#WSWvCCM Duke scores from the penalty spot. Western Sydney Wanderers 2 Central Coast Mariners 1
— Summer Sports Ball (@crowdiegal) October 12, 2019

How is that a penalty? Ball going away from goal, kicked by his own teammate, completely accidental. Handball rule is a joke. #WSWvCCM #ALeague
— Liam South (@themailman90) October 12, 2019

VAR gets the call correct, penalty all day. #WSWvCCM
— The Far Post Perth (@Farpostperth) October 12, 2019

3 Elvis Kamsoba (VIC) scores but the goal is disallowed after a VAR review. #MelbDerby

The goal may not have counted, but what about the celebration from Elvis Kamsoba! #MelbDerby #ALeague

🎥 @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/4vwRc9JyVK
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 12, 2019

As part of the VAR decision I feel Kamsoba should be instructed to complete his elaborate backflip celebration in reverse. It's only fair. #MelbDerby #ALeague
— Bryn (@b_thompson94) October 12, 2019

FULL TIME: @gomvfc 0 - 0 @MelbourneCity

The #MelbDerby ends in a draw after Elvis Kamsoba has a goal overruled by VAR. pic.twitter.com/xx4izSrsHG
— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) October 12, 2019

Ola Toivonen is a superstar. Offside yes but what a ball in to Kamsoba. #MVFC #ALeague #MelbDerby
— Nicholas Hughes (@Nick_Hughesy6) October 12, 2019

VAR interrupts Elvis Kamsoba’s flipping goal celebration in the #MelbDerby (2019, colourised) pic.twitter.com/rfzrwJqM1J
— Joey 🦘 Lynch (@joeylynchy) October 13, 2019

Elvis Kamsoba has first Victory goal ruled out by the VAR#MelbDerby
— Athos Sirianos (@AthosSirianos) October 12, 2019

Ohhhh man. So funny that it happened to Victory. But I feel for Kamsoba. Great effort there, and great celebration. #MelbDerby
— Cate. (@qldcate) October 12, 2019

OVERTURNED! A VAR Review has determined Kamsoba was offside so the goal is scratched.

0-0 #MelbDerby #ALeague
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 12, 2019

4 Adam Le Fondre (SYD) scores the first goal of the match and the season after converting a penalty #ADLvSYD

22' | GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!

Le Fondre converts the penalty kick for @SydneyFC.

0-1 #ADLvSYD #ALeague
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 11, 2019

RECAP | After Jakobsen's handball in the box was spotted following a VAR review, Le Fondre drills the resulting spot kick into the roof of the net.

0-1 #ADLvSYD #ALeague
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 11, 2019

Adam Le Fondre scores the first goal of the new #ALeague season. #ADLvSYD pic.twitter.com/gPKcE3jfAi
— Football 24/7 (@foetball247) October 11, 2019

And there's the first goal of the season.

Le Fondre with the opener.#ADLvSYD
— William Caldwell (@Will_Caldwell10) October 11, 2019

Kids should be taking notes on penalties from Adam Le Fondre. Blokes absolutely lethal from the spot. #ADLvSYD
— Jon (@Jon_T1996) October 11, 2019

5 Ryan Strain (ADL) is shown a red card and Adelaide goes down to 10 men #ADLvSYD

57' | Red Card #AUFC: @RyanStrain5 is dismissed but the replay suggest little contact was made on Le Fondre. 2-2. #ADLvSYD
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) October 11, 2019

Yeah, that was a pretty good start to the season. Doesn’t matter what country or league that was in, you can’t argue with five goals, a red card and a disallowed goal (well, you can argue with that decision. But a good game nonetheless) #ADLvSYD
— Gary Andrews (@gafootbl) October 11, 2019