Hyundai A-League Weekend Wrap
The Melbourne Victory juggernaut continued on, as they skipped four points clear at the top of the table with its fifth win on the trot after eclipsing Perth. Queensland also remains undefeated in second spot after a thrilling 0-0 draw with Adelaide. Defending Champion Sydney FC got back into the winner’s circle with a hard fought win against New Z
Results New Zealand Knights 0 lost SYDNEY FC 1 Queensland Roar 0 drew Adelaide United 0 Central Coast Mariners 1 drew Newcastle Jets 1 Perth Glory 1 lost MELBOURNE VICTORY 2
Game Wraps Sydney FC put another week of turmoil behind them with a narrow win over New Zealand at North Harbour Stadium. Captain Mark Rudan scored, what he described as the best goal of his career, with a magnificently hit volley from just inside the edge of the penalty area. Malik Buari had a golden opportunity to level it just minutes later but put his shot over the bar from 10 metres. Sydney held on for the win, which moved them up into third place on the table.
Whoever said 0-0 draws are boring should take a look at Queensland-s scoreless draw with Adelaide United, as an example of one that was exactly the opposite. This was a thrill-a-minute match, with most of the entertaining coming from a Queensland side that did everything but score. It was reminiscent of Queensland last year, where they often battered teams into submission, without actually getting the goals to get the three points. The biggest moment of the match came in the 58th minute, when Chinese import Shengqing Qu was sent off for headbutting Chad Gibson. Robert Bajic was outstanding in goal for Adelaide.
The one real local derby of the Hyundai A-League lived up to expectations, with a tough, but thoroughly entertaining match at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford. Central Coast and Newcastle finished at one apiece, the result doing little to help their positions at the rear of the table. Full credit must go to the Jets, who fought back from a goal down and then reduced to 10-men after Paul Okon was sent off. Instead of going into their shell, they rebounded scored a deserved equalising goal by Joel Griffiths, who was later to be sent off in the dying minutes, after going down in the box, with the referee giving him a second yellow for diving. John Hutchinson ended over 500 minutes of Mariners misery by scoring their first goal of the season and they almost snatched a dramatic last minute winner with Adam Kwasnik hitting the post.
Melbourne Victory showed the mettle of potential champions, with a 2-1 win over Perth at Members Equity Stadium in Perth, to increase its lead at the top of the table. After an ordinary first half, where Perth dominated, but did little to seriously test the Melbourne goal, the visitors stepped up a gear in the second half and record what was a fairly comfortable win. Former Perth player Adrian Caceres came back to haunt his old side by coming off the bench to put Melbourne in front early in the second half and then Kevin Muscat scored his fourth goal of the season with yet another calmly converted penalty kick. David Tarka did give the home side fans some hope however with a late goal, but ultimately it was all too late.
Highlights The goalkeeping performances of Robert Bajic and Danny Vukovic were outstanding on a weekend, which ensured their sides at least got a point from their respective matches.
Weekend Goals Tally: 6
Card Count: 13 yellows - 3 reds
Attendance/Average: 35,329 / 8,832
Goal of the Week Not many to choose from this week, but Mark Rudan-s strike was a worthy match winner. After a long throw-in was left by Nikolai Topor-Stanley, the ball bounced invitingly for Rudan who swivelled and hit a waste high volley that rocketed past a stunned Michael Turnbull in the Knights goal. A special mention to John Hutchinson-s goal that ended the Mariners unwanted record-streak of minutes without scoring with his 12th minute strike. It won-t be remembered as one of his better ones, but it could be a turning point in the Mariners season.
Player of the Week Two players will get a special mention this week and they are both goalkeepers. Adelaide-s Robert Bajic and Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic were simply outstanding this week. Under extreme pressure Bajic was solid as a rock, producing 12 saves, some of which were magnificent, as Adelaide somehow kept Queensland scoreless. Vukovic wasn-t under the same severe pressure, but when called upon he produced some breathtaking saves that were out of this world. He unfortunately could do little to stop Joel Griffiths equaliser though late in the match.
One to Watch Mark Bridge has certainly turned a few heads this season at the Jets, with his all-action displays netting him two goals so far, after what can only be described as a horrendous first year in the Hyundai A-League. Missing the 2005 World Youth Championships hit Bridge hard and he hardly played last season, but with the 2008 Olympics qualifiers on the horizon, he has recaptured his form and looks sharp near goals.