The 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series progressed over the weekend with Auckland FC, Adelaide United, Sydney FC, and the Newcastle Jets competing in the semi-final first legs. Both matches concluded in 1-1 draws, setting the stage for an exciting second leg this coming weekend.

Standout Performers

Newcastle Jets forward Eli Adams was once again a key player, scoring the crucial equaliser at Allianz Stadium. Joining him in the Team of the Week is Sydney FC's Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who netted the opening goal in the same match. Clayton Taylor from the Jets also made the cut, narrowly surpassing Adelaide United’s Yaya Dukuly for a spot in the attack.

Midfield and Defence Highlights

The midfield features a dynamic trio, including Sydney FC's promising young talent Wataru Kamijo, Newcastle Jets' Player of the Year Max Burgess, and Luke Duzel from Adelaide United, who delivered a strong performance during the Reds' draw with Auckland. Defensively, Sydney FC's Alexandar Popovic and Jordan Courtney-Perkins are joined by Auckland FC captain Hiroki Sakai and Newcastle Jets' emerging central defender Mark Natta. The goalkeeper for this week's Team of the Week is James Delianov from the Jets, who showcased his reliability in goal.

This season, the Isuzu UTE A-League Team of the Week is powered by Opta Points, a metric that assesses a player's overall contributions during matches. Each Monday, the best-performing players will be highlighted in a 4-3-3 formation. The scoring system rewards players for various on-field actions, with full match participants typically earning between 10 to 40 points. Notably, the system focuses solely on in-game actions and does not award points for post-match outcomes.