Catch up on the Isuzu UTE A-League Team of the Week, powered by Opta.
The 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series continued at pace over the weekend as Auckland FC, Adelaide United, Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets all took to the field in the semi-final first legs.
In what was a Super Saturday in the Isuzu UTE A-League both gamed finished in 1-1 draws meaning the second legs this weekend will be nail biting to the very end.
Not for the first time, this week’s star performer was Newcastle Jets forward Eli Adams, who bagged the all important equaliser for his side at Allianz Stadium.
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE SEMI-FINALS
This season, Opta will power the Isuzu UTE A-League Team of the Week using Opta Points – a comprehensive player metric that evaluates a player’s overall contribution to the game. Each Monday, the Isuzu UTE A-League Team of the Week will be displayed in a 4-3-3 formation, highlighting the best-performing players.
*Editor’s Note: The Team of the Week features matches played from Monday to Sunday – some teams may play more than once.
Joining Adams in the attack is Sydney FC goalscorer Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who scored the opening goal of the game at Allianz Stadium, and fellow Jets forward Clayton Taylor, who just edged out Adelaide United’s Yaya Dukuly.
In midfield it’s a trio of Sydney FC’s energetic youngster Wataru Kamijo, Newcastle Jets’ Player of the Year Max Burgess and Adelaide United’s midfield lynchpin Luke Duzel, who put in an all-action display during the Reds’ 1-1 draw with Auckland.
In defence, Sydney FC duo Alexandar Popovic and Jordan Courtney-Perkins are joined by Auckland FC captain Hiroki Sakai and Newcastle Jets impressive young central defender Mark Natta.
Finally, your goalkeeper in the semi-finals Team of the Week is Newcastle Jets shot-stopper James Delianov, who once again had an assured performance between the sticks.
MUST READ: He said what? A-Leagues coaches react to semi-final first legs
Opta Points is a system where points are given to players for certain on-field actions. Players who complete the full game duration on the field typically end up with a point total ranging from 10 to 40 points. (View the full breakdown of Opta Points below).
Explained: Opta’s Team of the Week using Opta Points
The scoring system distinguishes only between field players and goalkeepers, assigning the same number of points to all field players for corresponding actions. A distinctive feature of this system is its exclusive focus on in-game actions, refraining from awarding points for post-game performances, such as securing a victory or allocating bonus points for maintaining a clean sheet.
Positive actions (goals, passes, tackles, etc…) will add to a player’s score and, conversely, negative actions (cards, own goals, goals conceded) will reduce a player’s points total. Theoretically, a player’s points value is unlimited, and players can conclude a game with negative points. However, players who complete the full game duration on the field typically end up with a point total ranging from 10 to 40 points.
Goals, Shots on target, shots off target, blocked shots, own goal, assists, passes, crosses, tackles, interceptions, fouls won, fouls conceded, offsides, yellow cards, red cards, goals conceded, penalty won, saves, penalty saved are included in Opta Points.
