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FRIDAY AUGUST 28 2020 SPORT 49 Sydney’s five-star reward JOE BARTON regular season goals before feeling to be a part of this Adam le Fondre all made the Wellington bombed out in Ufuk Talay was acknowl- adding another in Wednesday team,” Maclaren said. starting side – with attacking the first week of the finals, but edged as coach of the year after SYDNEY FC’s historic season night’s semi-final win over But it was Maclaren’s grand dynamo Milos Ninkovic win- the outstanding pre-shutdown a remarkable debut campaign has been recognised with the Western United, picked up the final opponent this Sunday, ning a spot on the bench. form of star midfielder Ulises as head coach, turning the club boasting five players in most points from his fellow A- defending champion Sydney, Ageless Western United Davila and rising talent Libera- Phoenix into a force after the players’ association Team League players to be named which dominated the team of pair Alessandro Diamanti and to Cacace was recognised by being tipped to struggle follow- of the Year – although the team’s captain, announced the year after an outstanding Besart Berisha, who finished their peers to earn selection. ing a horror off-season. Melbourne City talisman on Thursday. season in which it delivered a third in the golden boot race Cacace was joined in defence Brisbane Roar’s Jamie Jamie Maclaren took out the “It’s truly humbling and it’s record fourth Premier’s Plate. with 19 goals, both earned by Adelaide United’s Danish Young pipped Adelaide’s Paul top honour. an amazing feeling to be voted Defenders Rhyan Grant and starts after piloting the A- import Michael Jakobsen and Izzo for goalkeeper of the Golden boot winner Ma- by the players you play against Alex Wilkinson, midfield gen- League newcomers to a Sydney duo Wilkinson and year, forcing the youngster on claren, who finished with 23 and it’s just a truly amazing eral Luke Brattan and striker stunning semi-final berth. Grant. to the bench. Vital clash against Azzurri now looms large for Rowdies GREY MORRIS and they continue to learn [email protected] every week,’’ he said. “I reckon we can get the DEFENDING Norzone job done, three points in this league champion Casuarina game and we move clear of must win tomorrow night’s Azzurri and Port Darwin, crucial Round 14 clash who could get a point against against Uni-Azzurri to have Hellenic.’’ any chance of claiming back- Port Darwin gets its to-back titles. chance against Hellenic to- The 8pm game gives Zelio night, but with John Francis’ Casimiro’s Rowdies an op- side tight in defence and elu- portunity to open up a three- sive around goals, a Blues point lead over the Azzurri in win is more likely. the race to secure third and And Mindil should have fourth on the table. too many scoring options for The champions have Darwin Hearts in to- struggled in recent weeks, morrow’s twilight game at culminating in a 5-0 thrash- Darwin Football Stadium. ing at the hands of a powerful In the WPL defending Hellenic side last week. champion Hellenic faces a But Casimiro is confident big challenge from Mindil his players can lift for what is Aces in tonight’s game at the a season-defining game football stadium. The Blues, against the Azzurri, where with the league’s top scorer three points for either side Jemma Martin on board, could mean a finals berth. must win to maintain space One negative is the ab- between themselves and sence of captain Gordon Per- Casuarina and Mindil. eira with an injured knee, but Casuarina is at short odds Casimiro knows the prize of to beat the winless Azzurri in finals football will lift his tomorrow night’s game, players. meaning a Mindil win to- “We’ve had a number of night could set up a three- young players filling more way traffic jam at the top of experienced players’ shoes the table. Mindil talisman Tayvian Ludvigsen finds a way through the Port Darwin defence. Picture: LOU REEVE List for FREE Looking to sell unwanted items? Sell it for FREE at buysearchsell.com.au ~n.aimnmn .com.au V1 - NTNE01Z01MA.

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