THEY SAID IT: "I don't know where the game is going. If that is a penalty, then we're in trouble." - Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar was incensed by a contentious spot kick awarded to Melbourne Victory in Saturday night's derby.
MAN OF THE WEEK: Neyder Moreno. The Colombian secured himself a piece of New Zealand footballing history in Auckland FC's 6-1 smashing of Wellington, netting the first-ever hat-trick in the A-League Men's newest rivalry. Increasingly establishing himself in Steve Corica's XI, the 28-year-old has now scored in four of his side's last five games.
TALKING POINT: Vidmar and Victory coach Arthur Diles both had plenty of bones to pick with the officials after a drama-laden 2-2 derby draw. Diles said big games needed to be awarded to the best referees - indicating that hadn't happened on Saturday night, while Vidmar was fuming that Victory skipper Roderick Miranda wasn't sent off.
STAT ATTACK: Melbourne City have now gone a remarkable eight Melbourne derbies without a win, dating back to 2023.
BEAT THAT: Moreno may have grabbed a hat-trick but it was Logan Rogerson with the pick of the goals in Auckland's humiliation of the Phoenix, lasering a long-range drive to make it 5-0 in the 80th minute.
UNDER PRESSURE: The pressure is understandably piling on Giancarlo Italiano after Wellington's 6-1 drubbing. But reigning champions Central Coast weren't at the races in a 4-0 defeat to Western Sydney and now sit a full seven points outside the top six - below arch-rivals Newcastle.
UP NEXT: Third-placed Western United head north to take on Central Coast on Friday night, when Wellington host City. Adelaide United travel to take on Auckland in a tantalising top-two clash, Brisbane host Victory and Macarthur FC take on Sydney FC. On Sunday, Western Sydney host Perth.
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