The saying is that defence ultimately wins a championship, and with 20 goals scored this weekend alone, players will need to continue to rise to the challenge heading into the final round.
"Defences [are on] top for the first time all championship [with] five clean sheets reflected in the defensive line,” Australian Championship Commentator Alex Molchanoff said.
The fifth Team of the Week features a 5-4-1 formation, demonstrating the importance of these defensive players who will ultimately decide who plays in this season's quarter-finals.
Jordan Lampard and Dredon Kelly feature in their third Team of the Week, the most out of any player in the Australian Championship. Elsewhere, there are many debutants in this week's team, including Canberra Croatia’s Sebastian Arranz in goals and Gloire Amanda up top from Sydney Olympic
Here is the Australian Championship Team of the Week for Round 5.
Australian Championship Team of the Week for Round 5
Goalkeeper: Sebastian Arranz (Canberra Croatia)
Arranz was busy in the Croatia net on Sunday, earning his side a vital and tournament-saving point against Preston. The Canberra shot stopper faced an onslaught in the net and made fantastic and noteworthy saves to ensure his side's first clean sheet of the tournament
Defender: Jordan Lampard (South Melbourne)
“Jordan Lampard's goal-scoring records are as impressive as his defensive contributions in this tournament,” Molchanoff told us. Scoring in back-to-back weeks, the Hellas fullback got his name on the scoresheet once again, this time in the pouring Melbourne rain in his side's 2-0 win that ended Broadmeadow Magic's chances of finals. South Melbourne secured a fifth consecutive win and a home quarterfinal next weekend.
Defender: Anton Mlinaric (Marconi Stallions)
“Anton Mlinaric's selection caps a fine campaign amongst Marconi's defence both in this Championship and during their NSW League Season - the goal for 'The Warden' underlined another sterling display,” Molchanoff told us. Away at South Hobart, Mlinaric contributed at both ends of the field, scoring the opener in the tenth minute before helping the best defence in the tournament to a third clean sheet.
Defender: Dredon Kelly (Wests APIA)
It’s back-to-back weeks that the Canadian centre-back has featured in the Team of the Week, his third all-time. The Wests APIA defender proved the difference in his side's 2-1 away win at Sydney United 58 on Friday night. On the stroke of half-time, Kelly used his physical presence to disrupt Vedran Janjetevic in the United net and poke home the eventual winner.
Defender: Jack Peraic-Cullen (Canberra Croatia)
Beating out his captain, Mathew Grbesa and joining his teammate Sebastian Arranz in this week's Team of the Week, Peraic-Cullen played out a 0-0 draw at Preston’s Genis Steel Stadium on Sunday. The young defender ensured his side would still be in the hunt for a top-two spot come this final weekend with a standout performance on the road.
Defender: Jackson Walls (MetroStars)
In a do-or-die game for Metro at home against undefeated Bayswater City, Walls was immense down the right-hand flank, proving pivotal in his side's 2-0 win. Opening the scoring in the 52nd minute, cutting in off the wing, Walls got some help via a deflection, but ultimately gave his side the lead and a crucial three points at home.
Midfielder: Seiya Kambayashi (Wests APIA)
Kambayashi was in the thick of things once again for Wests Apia, giving his side the lead in their Friday night Sydney Derby against Sydney United 58. It was a wonderfully worked one-two movement with Presley Ortiz that led to the opener and their eventual win.
Midfielder: Christian Sotira (MetroStars)
With probably the goal of the round, Christian Sotira scored a spectacular goal at T.K. Shutter Reserve that powered his side to a 2-0 win. With under 20 minutes left to go in their do-or-die game, Sotira caught the ball sweetly on the half volley and from 20 yards scored a special goal to lock up all three points.
Midfielder: Yitayew Towns (Avondale)
Towns was ever-present in the heart of the Avengers’ midfield. From providing a crucial cutting ball in the lead-up to the game's only goal, to defending valiantly against the NSW Premiers. The win was enough for Avondale to lock up a home quarter-final next week.
Midfielder: Joe Scott (Moreton City Excelsior)
Coming off a brace last weekend, Scott picked up from where he left off and got his name on the scoresheet once again against Sydney Olympic. Down 2-0 heading towards half-time, Scott provided the spark of quality that Moreton City needed with a curler in off the left-hand post that ultimately led to Excelsior rescuing a point away from home.
Forward: Gloire Amanda (Sydney Olympic)
Amanda gave Sydney Olympic the perfect start in their Group A clash against Moreton City Excelsior, scoring just four minutes into the contest. Utilising their high press, Olympic were able to catch Excelsior out, and Amanda couldn’t miss from the edge of the box. It was “a well-earned selection on the back of his best performance in an Olympic shirt so far,” Molchanoff told us.