Central Coast Mariners crowned 2007/08 Premiers
After a thrilling final round of the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 season, the Central Coast Mariners have been crowned the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 Premiers after finishing the competition ahead of local rivals the Newcastle Jets by a one goal difference.
With the top four teams going into the final round of the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 season all locked on 31 points, it was the Newcastle Jets who got off to the ideal start on Friday night by defeating Perth Glory 2-1 in front of 16,212 fans at EnergyAustralia Stadium. On Saturday night the Central Coast Mariners then backed up with a 2-0 victory over the Wellington Phoenix which moved them to the top of the ladder.
Today, Sydney FC needed to defeat Melbourne Victory by a two-goal margin or win by scoring four goals or more. But at the final whistle, a resolute Melbourne Victory clawed back a 2-all draw to deny their opponents attempt at leap-frogging the Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners into the top position. As a result Sydney FC had to settle for third place.
Later in the evening, Queensland Roar began their match against Adelaide United in the knowledge that a win by any margin would secure the Premiership. Unfortunately for the Queenslanders, the South Australians had other ideas and recorded a 2-0 win to deny the Roar the Premier-s Plate and place them in fourth.
The Hyundai A-League 2008 Finals Series will now commence from next week with the Hyundai A-League 2008 Minor Semi-Final - 1st Leg between Sydney FC and Queensland Roar to be played at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday 25 January 2008 (Kick-Off 8:00pm AEDT) and the Hyundai A-League 2008 Major Semi-Final - 1st Leg between the Newcastle Jets and the Central Coast Mariners at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday 27 January 2008 (Kick-Off 6:00pm AEDT).
The Hyundai A-League 2008 Minor Semi - 2nd Leg between the Queensland Roar and Sydney FC will be played at Suncorp Stadium on Friday 8 February 2008 (Kick-Off 7:00pm AEST (8:00pm AEDT)) whilst the Hyundai A-League 2008 Major Semi-Final - 2nd Leg will see the Central Coast Mariners host the Newcastle Jets at Bluetongue Stadium on Sunday 10 February 2008 (Kick-Off 6:00pm AEDT).
Football Federation Australia (FFA) tonight also confirmed the ticketing details for the Hyundai A-League 2008 Finals Series.
Hyundai A-League Club Members & Football Family members will again have access to preferential purchasing periods from 9am (local time) on Monday (21 January 2008) & Tuesday (22 January 2008), respectively with the general public able to purchase their Hyundai A-League 2008 Finals Series tickets from 9am Wednesday (23 January 2008).
Ticketing information for the Hyundai A-League 2008 Preliminary Final and the Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Final will be released after the completion of the second legs of the Major & Minor Semi-Finals and will be available from the Hyundai A-League website (www.a-league.com.au).
Hyundai A-League Television partner, Fox Sports, will broadcast every Hyundai A-League 2008 Final Series match “Live and Exclusive” including an extended one-hour pre-match coverage of the Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Final.