Paulo Retre and Wellington Phoenix team-mates celebrate his goal during their A-League match in Wellington, Dec 28, 2024. Photo: Photosport
Nobody is perfect, and sometimes the best Christmas presents can come slightly later than planned. After last weekend's humbling outing for New Zealand's A-League Men's teams, both got back to winning ways this past matchday, and with a special festive treat involved.
Wellington Phoenix held their nerve to beat Newcastle Jets 2-1 at Sky Stadium while Auckland dispatched of Central Coast Mariners across the ditch, winning 4-1 at Gosford.
Already, a gift enough, but both popped the bow on the wrapping with goal of the season candidates from two of their star players.
Kosta Barbarouses loves hitting the back of the net in December, but he's rarely scored one as good as this. After retrieving possession inside the centre circle he was instinctively aware of Ryan Scott's elevated field possession and pinged an arrow straight strike over the comically Superman-esque dive from the Jets goalie.
As Scott tumbled around a net he was now entangled within, Wellington's talismanic forward wheeled away celebrating a special 99th A-League goal - with the 100 club now beckoning.
Not to be outdone, Auckland's Jake Brimmer then produced some magic of his own later in the day. His nonchalant self-assisted volley from the edge of the box was done with an almost petty disdain for what was a poor first touch. It was a deft demonstration of the mercurial talents Brimmer possesses. It looks increasingly like Auckland have a version of the 26-year-old more akin to the 2021-22 Johnny Warren Medal winner than last season's spectre at the Victory feast.
There hasn't been an A-League Goal of the Year winner from a New Zealand side since Shane Smeltz's superb strike v Melbourne Victory back in 2008-09. So could the two New Zealand clubs also be rivalling for that honour this year?
In a word, no. Unfortunately for them, Macarthur's Ariath Piol probably has that on lock with his gravity defying acrobatics against Sydney last month.
Ariath Piol's insane bicycle kick: the A-League's answer to Wayne Rooney?!
But having two players capable of such instinctive brilliance is a massive coup for both sides. It's this type of enigmatic ability to create something from nothing that make Barbarouses and Brimmer two of the A-League's best attacking talents.
It is also why both have multiple Australian football honours in their cabinet - something both Wellington and newbies Auckland currently lack. Both will help to guide each side toward brushing out the cobwebs of their own respective trophy shelves.
In other football news
Chris Wood was at it again this weekend, with the All Whites skipper helping his Nottingham Forest side to an astonishing second-placed position in the Premier League. He scored a beautiful lob before setting up Forest's second in a 2-0 win at Goodison Park.
Wellington Phoenix's women saw their recent unbeaten run come to an end, but not after they pushed the league leaders Melbourne City all the way in a 2-1 defeat.
Can anyone catch Liverpool in the Premier League. West Ham were dealt a hefty hammering on their own turf as a Mo Salah inspired Reds swept to a 5-0 win.
Manchester City are back on the winners board, following a 2-0 win over relegation battler Leicester City.
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