THEY SAID IT - "Have you ever seen a more blatant penalty? A push in the back, extended arm in the penalty box. How is that not a penalty? When he wasn't speaking Spanish, yes I spoke to him (the referee). He speaks a lot of Spanish during the games and talks to the opposition a lot in Spanish. We're in Australia. I would have thought he would be speaking English most of the time so we can all hear what he's saying to his mates," Newcastle coach Ernie Merrick fumes over the decision not to award a penalty to Nick Fitzgerald against Perth.

MAN OF THE ROUND - A-League journeyman Kwabena Appiah-Kubi has had his fair share of stints in the competition. With Besart Berisha rested, he earned his first start for Western United and repaid the faith, scoring the winner against the Wanderers.

STAT ATTACK - Curtis Good scored his first goal for (the then) Melbourne Heart on March 2, 2012 against Brisbane. He scored his second goal for the club - since rebranded Melbourne City - 2807 days later against Central Coast.

TALKING POINT - The VAR continues to attract attention - and for the second time in three weeks, Daniel Lopar's goal line took the spotlight. Scott McDonald thought he'd put Western United in front against Western Sydney, but a number of different angles couldn't convince referee Alex King that Lopar had taken possession over the line.

BEAT THAT - James Troisi at his best is always something special and the Adelaide United midfielder delivered when his team needed it most against Brisbane - deploying a deft 1-2 combination with Nikola Mileusnic down the left before cutting the ball back to Riley McGree to score the winner.

UNDER PRESSURE - Robbie Fowler's Roar remain winless and never look likely to score, copping a late 1-0 loss to Adelaide. With a visit from Melbourne City on the way, Fowler needs to start finding goal-scoring solutions.

INJURIES - Western United lost Panagiotis Kone to a hamstring injury just 22 minutes into their clash with Western Sydney.

WHAT'S NEXT - It's out of the frying pan and into the fire for Victory, who face Sydney FC on Sunday at Kogarah. Newcastle travel to Geelong to face the in-form Western United, Brisbane host table-toppers Melbourne City while Adelaide have a five-day turnaround to face the Mariners in Gosford. Phoenix, Wanderers and Glory have byes.

Most Tweeted moments

VAR disallows Scott McDonald's (WUN) goal, keeping scores level 1-1 #WUNvWSW

Ulises Davila (WEL) converts a penalty after VAR confirms a handball against Ola Toivonen (MVC) #MVCvWEL

Alex Grant (PER) cops a second yellow card following a foul to Angus Thurgate (NEW) #NEWvPER

Ola Toivonen (MVC) levels things up 1-1. #MVCvWEL

Riley McGree (ADL) breaks the deadlock with a simple finish after an assist from James Troisi #ADLvBRI