Hyundai A-League Weekend Wrap
We’ve reached a third of the way through the season and I don’t think anyone in their right mind would have predicted what has happened so far this season. Melbourne’s pre-season form was patchy at best, but they sit nine points clear at the top of the table after seven straight wins and showing no sign of letting up.
Results ADELAIDE UNITED 3 bt Central Coast Mariners 1 PERTH GLORY 1 bt New Zealand Knights 0 Sydney FC 1 drew Queensland Roar 1 Newcastle Jets 0 lost MELBOURNE VICTORY 2
Game Wraps An undermanned Adelaide United put last week-s thrashing at the hands of Sydney FC behind them with a well-deserved 3-1 win against Central Coast Mariners. The Mariners started well, but went behind after 25 minutes through a Carl Veart headed goal. Mariners short-term signing, but Adelaide local Damian Mori continued his amazing record at Hindmarsh Stadium, by pulling a goal back before the break to have the team level going into the second half. Adelaide started the second half the hungrier of the two teams and with the momentum behind them, Kristian Rees guided a header home and Qantas Young Socceroo striker Nathan Burns rounded it off with a smart finish in injury time.
Perth Glory closed the gap on the top four with an expected, but very hard fought 1-0 win over New Zealand Knights. A Stuart Young header after 37 minutes decided the encounter, a match which saw New Zealand make a game of it and push Glory right to the wire in the second half. Young-s goal was his fourth of the season.
Joint second-placed teams Sydney FC and Queensland Roar could not be separated at Aussie Stadium, finishing 1-1. On what was a very blustery day, which made playing good football difficult, Queensland took the early lead, when Spase Dilevski blasted his free kick through the wall and past the hapless Clint Bolton. Sydney struggled to break down the well-drilled Queensland defence ands needed a wonder goal from Alvin Ceccoli to draw them level. Nikolai Topor-Stanley nodded down Steve Corica-s free kick and from all of 25 metres, Ceccoli hit his shot into the top near post corner. Neither side really created too many clear cut chances for a winner in a frustrating second half.
Melbourne Victory once again showed their mettle as potential champions, winning, as they say, ugly, in the 2-0 win over the luckless Newcastle Jets. Drastically undermanned Jets showed character in giving the league leaders a tough match, but the final result and how it came about, was probably typical of where the two teams are situated at the moment, top and bottom. Despite dominating possession, the Jets struggled to create too many chances and one could always sense that if Melbourne got forward they sneak a goal or two and that is exactly what Daniel Allsopp did. Twice he was able to break clear and both times he finished clinically past Ben Kennedy. That made it seven from seven and needing just 4 more wins to secure a finals spot.
Highlights There is nothing better then seeing a long range shot come off, so Alvin Ceccoli-s strike was worth the admission price alone.
Weekend Goals Tally: 9
Card Count: 10 yellows - 0 reds
Attendance/Average: 39,711 / 9,928
Goal of the Week There are not too many players in the Hyundai A-League that hit a ball any sweeter than Alvin Ceccoli. He scored one of the goals of the season last year and has another contender this year with his 25-metre rocket that left Queensland keeper Tom Willis flapping at thin air. His half volley never looked like missing from the moment it left his trusted left boot, nestling in the top left corner and almost breaking the back of the net. Great strike and very timely, because it was the last kick of the first half.
Player of the Week Defenders rarely get the plaudits they deserve, but the form of Rod Vargas has been one of the main reasons behind Melbourne Victory-s great start to the season. Vargas, signed from the Victorian Premier League during the off-season, has been rock-solid at the back and was again one of their best in their win over Newcastle. Set up the second goal with a terrific long ball for Allsopp to run onto and finish.
One to Watch Luka Glavas captured the headlines earlier this year when in the NSW Premier League Grand Final, he scored all four of Sydney United-s goals in their big win. He was quickly snapped up by Ron Smith at Perth Glory and while he has taken some time to find his feet, he is definitely one player to watch out for as the season progresses and he gets more experience.