The youth will set us free
There wasn’t much joy in watching the Wellington Phoenix stutter to a 3-0 defeat against the Newcastle Jets. Such a limp finale to such an amazing season. But despite the dour display, there was that one shining light. Liberato Cacace.
Easily the best left back in the league, Cacace’s prowess was best displayed in the 72nd minute. Wellington were down 1-0, and with the Saint Patrick’s product being the steam engine that he is, Cacace ran through six separate defenders and would have walked the ball into the net had it not been from the goalie managing to just, just get down low at the very last moment.
In searching for the clip of Cacace’s run to rewatch, II accidentally found other moments of the left back’s brilliance. A pitch perfect cross which led to a shot. His switch of the play to Callan Elliot who would have won a penalty had it not been for a referee error.
Cacace has come on leaps and bounds since his debut under Darjie Kalezić of all people. The teenager - yes, he is somehow that young - famously turned Keisuke Honda inside out. Sending a Japanese football legend to the turf thanks to fancy footwork could have been the A-League peak of a lesser player yet Cacace continues to do nothing but improve. He scores now as well, hitting three goals in his time with Wellington; an impressive number for a full back. Every time I watch him I feel awed and privileged to view him in all his glory because he is just that good. But I’m incredibly sad, too. Depending on how the Phoenix do in the final series, he has at maximum three games left in a Wellington shirt. Hell, clubs from the Championship want him.
When Liberato Cacace turns another player inside out, the world gets a little better. Liberato Cacace is what’s right with the A-League. Yet he’s not the only one.
The Newcastle goalie who somehow kept Cacace out? His name is Noah James. He is what’s right with the A-League. He’s seven months older than Cacace, and the 3-0 win was his first professional outing. And it was one to remember. Wellington peppered his goal and would have won handily had it not been James’ transformation into a brick wall. His debut was one for the ages. ]
Callan Elliot is what’s right in the A-League. Pre-lockdown the Nelson born right back had a grand total of zero minutes in the A-League. Now? His recent performances have elevated him to first choice right back while the much more experienced Louis Fenton has been left to eat dust. Pre-lockdown, everyone expected a quiet end to his contract and with it probably his professional career. After the last few weeks, Ufuk Talay would be insane not to demand a new contract for his best right back.
Dylan Wenzel-Halls. Mirza Muratovic. Jordan Courtney-Perkins. Louis D'arrigo. Mohamed Adam.
Alou Koul and Dylan Ruiz-Dias. Louis Lawrie-Lattanzio. Aaron Anderson. And so many who I haven’t mentioned.
The Toure brothers, for crying out loud! Mohamed Toure is younger than I am and he’s scored a goal in the A-League!
What is the point of this article? To gush about the youngsters the A-League is producing? Yes.
I have a separate article half written right now, speculating on what the future of the A-League could look like. Spoiler alert: it’s bleak. But my thoughts kept coming back to Cacace’s run past six defenders. Negativity is so often the default setting for us long suffering A-League fans, and why wouldn’t it be? Like the rest of us, I’m deeply worried about the future.
But with precious little football left to be played in the 2019/20 season, I feel as if now more than ever it’s important to get lost in the pure beauty of Dylan Ruiz-Diaz scoring a brace or Cacace doing Cacace things. The youth in this league are bloody amazing and amidst my apprehension and fear of the future, I’m damned hyped. What will come will come, but the future of so many youngsters across the Tasman has never felt brighter.
There’s time later to be pessimistic. Enjoy the A-League now.
Photo credit: Cameron McIntosh