Mark Birighitti – Central Coast Mariners
Birighitti has proved to be one of the most reliable shot-stoppers in the competition so far and the 29-year-old did not put a foot wrong while shutting out the Premiers to keep his third clean sheet in four games.
While he was only forced to make four saves – the highlight being a late block from substitute Jordi Swibel – Birighitti dominated his penalty area, fending off cross after cross and racing of his line to smother a number of through balls.
Birighitti - Mariners shot-stopper adamant on a clean sheet
Defenders
Ruon Tongyik – Central Coast Mariners
Matthew Comito 1611717285,1611717285
A simply sublime back-heeled goal from Perth Glory striker Bruno Fornaroli has edged out the 17 other goals scored in five fixtures to claim Goal of Matchweek 5.
The Uruguayan s inventive effort came in Glory s manic 5-4 loss to Western United at GMHBA Stadium.
An astonishing nine goals came from the contest - with eight scored in the second half - and amidst all the madness came Fornaroli s flick from a Carlo Armiento cross which left United keeper Filip Kurto no chance of keeping the ball out of the net.
Fornaroli ghosted between Andrew Durante and Ivan Vujica to be first on the scene when the cross came into the box; with his back to goal the 33-year-old allowed the ball to roll across his body before flicking an attempt on goal off the back of his left boot on the turn.
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Old enemies Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory clash this Saturday night, headlining a stacked line up of upcoming A-League fixtures.
The A-League s Original Rivalry is always guaranteed fireworks and Coopers Stadium is sure to be a cauldron of intensity this Saturday night as Adelaide chase their second win of the campaign, after beating Melbourne City last time out.
Melbourne Victory will be eager to get back out on the grass and consign a disappointing 3-1 home loss to Brisbane Roar back on January 2 - to club and new coach Grant Brebner s only match so far this season - to the history books. Victory also play Perth Glory on Tuesday, 26 January.
Western United host Perth Glory on Saturday evening with both teams aiming to get their A-League campaign up and running.
Mark Rudan's United lost to Melbourne City after their season-opening stalemate with Adelaide United.
The scalp of Perth would undoubtedly be a big boost for the Melbourne club, who posted a home draw against Glory in their second-ever A-League game last season, before beating the WA club 2-0 away.