A-League Finals: Mixed Results for World Cup Hopefuls

Topic: A-League Men

Marcus Younis' World Cup chances were hurt as Melbourne City was eliminated.

In short:

Marcus Younis' A-League season ended as Melbourne City lost to Auckland FC.

Fellow hopefuls Paul Okon-Engstler and Tiago Quintal progressed with Sydney FC.

What's next?

The two-legged semifinal ties begin next weekend.

Marcus Younis' World Cup chances took a hit with Melbourne City's loss.

Younis has been a revelation for City, netting eight goals and providing three assists.

Younis wants to force his way into the Socceroos set-up.

Younis will now hope his regular season exploits will earn him a World Cup spot.

Younis was kept quiet in Auckland as Melbourne City's season ended.

Guillermo May's header gave the Black Knights the lead, but Medin Memeti's equaliser was in vain.

The sides played out a scoreless extra 30 minutes before City's title defence ended.

Nathaniel Atkinson missed in a 14-kick shootout, and Dan Hall powered Auckland into the semifinals.

Sydney's young stars won in the Big Blue

Sydney FC downed Melbourne Victory in the second elimination final.

Paul Okon-Engstler was metronomic and one of Sydney's best.

Okon-Engstler has been a regular fixture in Socceroos squads and is poised to stamp his ticket to the World Cup.

Okon-Engstler weathered a hairy moment when he was adjudged to have illegally brought down Victory attacker Santos.

The initial penalty decision was overturned on a line-ball VAR review.

Victory was aggrieved to not be awarded a spot kick when Apostolos Stamatelopoulos pulled Jason Davidson's shirt.

Replays suggested the decision could have gone either way.

Tiago Quintal will be grateful for another opportunity to push for a World Cup call-up.

Quintal has notched five goals and three assists in a breakout season for the Sky Blues.

Quintal was for the most part peripheral before being substituted early in the second half.

Quintal's best moment came when he glided through his marker and curled a left-footed effort just wide.

It was a glimpse of the excitement Quintal could bring to international football.

Quintal was electric in Sydney's 4-1 defeat of the Wanderers in January.

Akol Akon became the youngest ever player to feature in an A-League Men's final.

Akon was thrust into the starting line-up and was well up for the challenge.

Akon used his head to force a sharp save from Victory shot-stopper Jack Warshawsky.

Akon made three assists in 294 minutes of regular season action.

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