Andrew Durante set a new and extraordinary record on Saturday, becoming the first player to reach 300 A-League appearances. After setting the record as the first player to reach 250 appearances for Wellington Phoenix earlier this season, Durante reached the triple century after 13 seasons in the domestic competition for two clubs – Newcastle Jets and the ‘Nix.
Durante, prior to taking the pitch in an incredible come-from-behind win over Central Coast Mariners on Saturday evening, said that despite his individual achievements, his focus has always remained on team performance.
“It is nice to hit those personal milestones, but it is about the team and the performance, it is not about me. It is about us continuing our good run, and maybe after the game, we can celebrate with a beer, but it is about the team tomorrow.”
Following Phoenix’s incredible 3-2 win over the Mariners – after trailing 0-2 – there’s no doubt Durante would have enjoyed the occasion, especially given that Phoenix set a new club record of eight games without a loss.
“I’ve been able to reach this milestone, and I’m just excited that the club has transformed completely from last season both on the pitch and off the pitch. It’s a completely rejuvenated place at the moment, and I’m loving it, and I’m sure the fans are as well.”
Wellington Phoenix’s Andrew Durante
Another A-League stalwart, PFA President Alex Wilkinson, achieved a significant milestone on the weekend, reaching 250 A-League appearances in Sydney’s 2-1 win over Adelaide United at Jubilee Oval. Wilkinson joins Durante as one of the nine players to have reached the 250 club.
Wilkinson commenced his career in Round 1 of the inaugural A-League season for the Mariners, where he made 172 appearances. Wilkinson added 10 appearances for Melbourne City during a mid-season transfer in 2016 from K-League side Jeonbuk Motors . Following that short stint at City, Wilkinson joined Sydney FC where he has been pivotal to their recent success, including winning the A-League with the Sky Blues during the 2016/17 season and the 2017 FFA Cup.
Impressively, Wilkinson’s 120 A-League career wins are the second most for any player.
In the W-League, 20-year-old Emily Condon has already hit 50 games for Adelaide United. Having become the youngest ever female player to pull on a Reds jersey at 15 years, four months and four days for her debut back in 2014, Condon has made quick work of reaching the milestone – considering the short length of the W-League season.
“It’s a really special moment for me, having played 50 games in the W-League. It’s always been a goal of mine to reach W-League standards ever since I started playing. To be able to do that and play my 50th game, especially for Adelaide United, for my home city, is something really special.”
During a frenetic Sunday evening shoot out in the West, four A-League players scored their first goals – either in the A-League or for their new club – as Perth Glory secured a stunning and dramatic 4-3 win over the Wanderers at HBF Park.
Ivan Franjic netted his first goal for the Glory since making the off-season switch from Brisbane Roar, while former Roar man Kwame Yeboah bundled in his first goal in the competition in over five years. Yeboah opened the scoring in his first start since returning to the A-League with the Wanderers, having spent the previous five seasons in Germany.
He has made an immediate impact with the Wanderers, scoring the first then providing two assists as the Wanderers looked to upset the home side. He set up Roly Bonevacia and also Abraham Majok– who scored his first A-League goal – either side of DiegoCastro’s goal.
But it was another milestone maker – Spanish midfielder Juande– whose decisive penalty secured three poins for the table-topping Glory in the 86thminute in one of the comebacks of the season.
Other recent milestones
- Sydney FC’s Adam Le Fondre broke former Sky Blue striker Bobo’s goal-scoring record, becoming the fastest player in A-League history to score 10 goals. He now has 11 in 13 matches
- Jamie McLaren’s opener for the Socceroos in Australia’s 3-0 win over Palestine in the Asian Cup last Friday was his first goal for the green and gold. McLaren made his debut in May 2016 for the Socceroos, but hadn’t scored until his 10th appearance on Friday night
- Apostolos Giannou scored his first Asian Cup goal and his second career goal for the Socceroos – scoring a late header in the second group match. His first goal came in the 4-0 friendly win over Kuwait last October
- Employed in an unconventional position as a central striker has paid dividends for traditional right-back Ritchie De Laet’s strike on Friday evening to give Melbourne City a 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar was his fourth goal of the campaign – a career high for the Belgian for any club he has represented to date.
