Who said the A-League was boring? Spectacular goals reign supreme in opening matches

Kieran Francis

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Who said the A-League was boring? Spectacular goals reign supreme in opening matches image

It's only been seven days since the A-League returned to the Australian sporting landscape with little fanfare or promotion but we've already seen some spectacular goals in the opening few matches.

Despite an entertaining 0-0 draw between Western United and Adelaide United to open the competition, the goals have flowed in every match since with 11 in four matches across the recent weekend.

Of the 14 goals scored in the competition to date, seven of the strikes showcase just what kind of quality the Australian domestic competition can produce.

Connor Metcalfe - Melb City v Brisbane (Dec 29)

The talented Olyroo scored the first goal of the A-League season after playing a one-two with Jamie Maclaren, before deftly cutting inside to curl a shot into the top corner.

Calem Nieuwenhof - Sydney FC v Wellington (Jan 2)

On debut, the Sky Blues youngster scored an early contender for goal of the season by hitting an absolute scorcher into the top corner from outside the area.

Luke Brattan - Sydney FC v Wellington (Jan 2)

The veteran playmaker has been known to score from long range and his free kick against the Phoenix is another to add to this collection.

Callum McManaman - Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar (Jan 2)

The 2013 FA Cup hero worked hard to win the ball back on the press, before bamboozling his opponents and curling a left-foot strike beyond the goalkeeper.

Dylan Wenzel-Halls - Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory (Jan 2)

With Victory pushing hard to get back in the game, Wenzel-Halls expertly ran on to the long ball and twice made the Melbourne centre back duo look silly before poking the finish home.

Daniel De Silva - Central Coast v Macarthur (Jan 3)

The former youth prodigy arrived just at the right time in the penalty area to clinically poke the pull back into the top corner.

Tomi Juric Adelaide United v Melbourne City - (Jan 3)

In a goal of great organisational beauty, Juric peeled off excellently as Louis D'Arrigo passed the set piece, and the former Socceroo drilled a low shot past the goalkeeper.

Perennial cellar dwellers Central Coast Mariners lead the competition in the early stages, while traditional powerhouse Mellbourne Victory are at the bottom of the table after a crushing defeat at home to Brisbane Roar.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.