A look at round 15 of A-League action in which referee Kate Jacewicz made history and Western Sydney suffered more pain which ultimately cost their coach his job.
THEY SAID IT: "Today I think God was on God's side with Robbie Fowler," Ufuk Talay laments his team's luck after a 1-0 loss to Brisbane Roar in which the Wellington Phoenix hit the crossbar twice and failed to convert numerous other half-chances.
WOMAN OF THE ROUND: Kate Jacewicz made history on Saturday night when she became the A-League's first female referee. Jacewicz turned in an impressive performance with the whistle, including promptly dealing with a difficult handball decision that required VAR a referral.
BEAT THAT: Dylan Wenzel-Halls has been on the periphery at Brisbane Roar for some time. But on Saturday evening, the young Queenslander was the hero in a 1-0 win over Wellington Phoenix. Wenzel-Halls flicked the ball around Phoenix skipper Steven Taylor then finished with aplomb - and his celebration was just as good.
STAT ATTACK: With their 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United have now won four consecutive games against their arch-rivals.
TALKING POINT: More misery for the Wanderers, who lost 1-0 to Perth on Sunday night. Reports emerged in the second half it would be coach Markus Babbel's last game in charge of the side – and so it was.
INJURIES: Roy O'Donovan missed Brisbane's win over Wellington with a groin complaint. Western United skipper Alessandro Diamanti limped off less than half an hour into Sunday's game against Central Coast.
UNDER PRESSURE: Markus Babbel. The Wanderers could not pull off a much-needed win over Perth on Sunday night and so the end was inevitable.
WHAT'S NEXT?: Perth Glory will look to extend their six-game winning streak when they play Melbourne City. A win for Tony Popovic's side will put them in second place on the ladder.
Most Tweeted moments*
*Pre-Markus Babbel's sacking...
The match ends with Adelaide taking home the win after Nabbout misses a chance to steal a goal in extra time #ADLvMVC
Andrew Nabbout is literally inconsolable after the full time whistle, and pushes a team mate away on his way down the tunnel. Wonder if there's more to it than just missing those two late chances #ADLvMVC
— Geoff Koop (@GKoop93) January 17, 2020
Andrew Nabbout in front of goal! #ADLvMVC pic.twitter.com/trGTQreJzF
— Sneaky Pete (@macgyverpete) January 17, 2020
Damning assessment of Nabbout. #MVFC #ADLvMVC pic.twitter.com/5DBL7vkyN7
— Ben Williams (@BenitoWill) January 17, 2020
Nabbout distraught, at least he actually cares #ADLvMVC
— Ryan Rothschild (@rothy_judd) January 17, 2020
Bruno Fornaroli scores the first goal of the match #WSWvPER
⚽️ GOAL: Bruno Fornaroli (7') ⚽️
— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) January 19, 2020
From the referee's notebook to the scoresheet! Brimmer intercepts a poor pass at the back, slips in Fornaroli, the Uruguayan's deflected strike bobbles over an outstretched Lopar into the back of the net.
(0-1) #WSWvPER #OneGlory
Goal. 0-1. Perth open the scoring through Fornaroli #WSW #WSWvPER
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) January 19, 2020
Bruno's really starting to find his feet with @PerthGloryFC #WSWvPER
— paul gallagher (@perthovalman) January 19, 2020
Bruno gives us an early lead!
— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) January 19, 2020
There is just no keeping @bfornaroli off the scoresheet at the moment...@ALeague (0-1) #WSWvPER #OneGlory pic.twitter.com/PzapYs8TBM
Kwame Yeboah's goal to level the score is overturned by VAR #WSWvPER
Boos ring out around BankWest Stadium as a VAR check rules out what Wanderers fans believed to be Yeboah’s equaliser.
— Chris Curulli (@ChrisCurulli) January 19, 2020
Markus Babbel can’t catch a break #WSWvPER #ALeague
At least Yeboah still has his modelling career #WSWvPER
— Lou (@hisaflog) January 19, 2020
It seems VAR protocol changes every week. There didn’t seem to be enough evidence to overturn that Yeboah goal. #WSWvPER
— Andrew Prentice (@apaway501) January 19, 2020
an own goal followed by a wrongly disallowed goal is the story of Perth's season. #WSWvPER
— Samantha Lewis (@battledinosaur) January 19, 2020
4. Wenzel Halls snatches the first goal of the match #BRIvWEL
Thank you Wenzel. #BRIvWEL pic.twitter.com/hp5Cguiq8R
— Steven P (@steeviepee) January 18, 2020
WENZEL-HALLS IS MAGIC #BRIvWEL
— Tiernan Walker (@TiernanWalker) January 18, 2020
Amazing what happens when Wenzel-Halls is on the pitch. Take notes Robbie! - Ben #BRIvWEL https://t.co/s0deSE9aZe
— The Roarcast (@TheRoarcast) January 18, 2020
No idea why Wenzel-hall hasn't played much.. he's proven himself time and time again, and just did it again! Give him more games!#BRIvWEL
— Dale Stevens (@Sui1977) January 18, 2020
5. Besart Berisha taps in his second goal, Western United are up 3-0 just 21 minutes into the first half #WUNvCCM
Young attackers want to score more goals? Watch Besart Berisha’s movement in & around the box. Loses defenders with ease especially the ones that ball watch. #WUNvCCM
— John Grimaud 🇦🇺⚽️ (@grimaud_john) January 19, 2020
I'm not one to praise him in anyway usually, but that is a fantastic header from Berisha #WUNvCCM
— Neil Harper (@nharper021) January 19, 2020
Besart Berisha doing what he does best ... #WUNvCCM https://t.co/6IMibds8ur
— Robert Smith (@OnyaDon) January 19, 2020
That Diamanti delivery. That Berisha header. That was a beautiful, beautiful goal 😍 #WUNvCCM
— Gary Andrews (@gafootbl) January 19, 2020
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