A dramatic 95th-minute strike from 22-year-old forward Justin Vidic handed Brisbane Roar a thrilling 2-1 victory over Macarthur FC at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. The late winner preserved Brisbane's unbeaten record and knocked the Bulls from the ranks of the undefeated heading into the international break. Alongside a rampant Sydney FC display led by an Al Hassan Toure hat-trick, the weekend round established sharp movement near the top of the A-League Men ladder.
What the Tournament or Event Is
The A-League Men competition is Australia's premier men's domestic football tournament, featuring clubs competing across regular-season rounds to secure finals positions and AFC Champions League qualification. As the season approaches the international break, early results carry substantial weight in shaping squad morale, tactical continuity, and standings stability. Round four brought decisive encounters between rivals attempting to solidify early claims to top-six ladder positions.
With Macarthur FC and Brisbane Roar meeting in Campbelltown, both squads entered the fixture defending unbeaten records. Simultaneously, Sydney FC hosted the Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium in a high-profile showdown between perennial heavyweights looking to steer their domestic momentum before the league paused for national team fixtures.
The Main Contenders
Brisbane Roar have mounted a resilient campaign under coach Michael Valkanis, remaining one of only two unbeaten sides in the competition. The Queenslanders sit third on the table with a game in hand over their closest rivals, driven by back-to-back stoppage-time heroics. Macarthur FC, guided by coach Sasa Ognenovski, held their ground near the summit until their defeat to the Roar ended their unblemished run.
Meanwhile, last year's grand finalists Sydney FC climbed to second place on the ladder with a 2-1-1 record after dismantling the Mariners. Central Coast, under new manager John Hutchinson, find themselves slipping to 11th place with a 0-2-2 record, still searching for their first domestic victory after defensive transitions unravelled in Sydney.
The Key Storylines to Watch
Justin Vidic provided the weekend's sharpest dramatic twist by breaking a 1-1 deadlock in the dying seconds. After Sabit Ngor opened the scoring for Brisbane in the 48th minute off a route-one ball from George Plusnin, Macarthur answered through Apostolos Stamatelopoulos in the 64th minute following a setup from Musa Toure. Vidic shielded the ball from defender Nathan Paull inside the penalty area with seconds remaining, carving out room to slip his finish past goalkeeper Alex Robinson.
We've been speaking throughout the week about a journey and creating memories every week. I think we're going to remember that one for a while because it was a tough afternoon, there's no doubt about it.
The clash in Campbelltown was also marred by first-half chaos when Brisbane enforcer Milorad Stajic suffered a head knock in the 38th minute, avoided the grasp of medical staff, returned to the pitch, and tangled with Bulls captain Liam Rose. Stajic avoided a red card before being quickly substituted off under concussion protocols.
Over at Allianz Stadium, Socceroo Al Hassan Toure stole the headlines by netting a brilliant hat-trick in Sydney FC's 4-1 rout of the Mariners. Captain Rhyan Grant marked his 350th A-League Men appearance by rattling the crossbar early before Toure opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 30th minute following a Noah McCann handball. Toure finished off sweeping counter-attacks in the 42nd and 51st minutes, before substitute Gabriel Popovic struck an 85th-minute fourth. Central Coast earned a consolation through an Oliver Lavale penalty in the 90th minute after Ben Garuccio fouled John-Kymani Gordon.
Great win, some great goals, but we could do a lot better, I think. We need to improve in everything.
Schedule and Format
The competition operates on a home-and-away league season, where clubs earn three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero for a loss. Round four fixtures concluded across the weekend before the scheduled international break:
- Sydney FC 4-1 Central Coast Mariners: Played at Allianz Stadium on Friday, 6 November, kicking off at 7:40pm AEDT in front of home supporters.
- Macarthur FC 1-2 Brisbane Roar: Hosted at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Sunday, 8 November, wrapping up round four proceedings.
League play pauses briefly for international commitments before fixtures resume across Australian venues in round five.
What to Expect
Expect Brisbane Roar to enter the break with immense self-belief, having proved their ability to grind out decisive late points in consecutive weeks following Tom Aldred's 95th-minute equaliser against Auckland FC. Valkanis will need to monitor Stajic's recovery after his head knock and concussion protocol substitution.
For Sydney FC, head coach Patrick Kisnorbo highlighted that physical conditioning work with Toure is delivering rewards, though he continues to demand higher efficiency from his squad across full matches. Conversely, Central Coast coach John Hutchinson faces immediate tactical repair work in transitional defence to lift the Mariners off the lower rungs of the ladder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Brisbane Roar sit on the A-League Men ladder?
Brisbane Roar sit third on the ladder heading into the international break. They remain one of only two undefeated teams in the competition and hold a game in hand over their rivals.
Who scored the winning goal for Brisbane Roar against Macarthur FC?
Justin Vidic scored the winning goal in the 95th minute of play. The 22-year-old shielded the ball from Nathan Paull inside the box before driving his shot past goalkeeper Alex Robinson.
How many goals did Al Hassan Toure score against Central Coast Mariners?
Al Hassan Toure scored three goals, completing a hat-trick with strikes in the 30th, 42nd, and 51st minutes. It marked his second career hat-trick for Sydney FC.
What milestone did Rhyan Grant reach in round four?
Sydney FC captain Rhyan Grant recorded his 350th A-League Men appearance during the 4-1 win over Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium.
