Hyundai A-League Weekend Wrap
Over 60,000 fans watched live an enthralling weekend of Hyundai A-League action, with Melbourne and Queensland continuing on their winning ways and opening up significant gap on the rest of the teams. Adelaide showed it’s back to its best with another good home win, while Colombian Milton Rodriguez marked his arrival to the Hyundai A-League with a
Results QUEENSLAND ROAR 5 bt New Zealand Knights 0 ADELAIDE UNITED 3 bt Perth Glory 0 Sydney FC 2 drew with Newcastle Jets 2 MELBOURNE VICTORY 1 bt Central Coast Mariners 0
Game Wraps Queensland Roar once again showed it-s newly found ruthless streak with an emphatic 5-0 demolition of New Zealand Knights at Suncorp Stadium. After taking an early lead thanks to a good finish by Matt McKay, the Roar was tested by the Knights for the remainder of the first half. But it was all one-way traffic in the second half, with Reinaldo winning and converting a penalty, Simon Lynch, Ante Milicic and then McKay again adding further goals in the rout. It was a slick and at times scintillating performance by the Roar and beyond doubt, proved they will be a force this season. The match also marked the debut of former Chinese international Yuning Zhang, who was instrumental in the goals for Milicic and McKay-s second.
Adelaide continued its resurgence with a comfortable 3-0 win over Perth Glory at Hindmarsh Stadium. Leading the way again was Brazilian striker Fernando, who grabbed the first goal with a smart finish from 10 metres. Travis Dodd made it 2-0 with a piledriver that gave young Perth keeper Aleks Vrteski no chance. The match was sealed early in the second half, when a Fernando shot took a wicked deflection off Jamie Coyne and Vrteski was well beaten. The win moved Adelaide up into third position.
Newcastle grabbed its second point of the season, coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Sydney FC at Aussie Stadium. Sydney took the lead in the 33rd minute, with Steve Corica coolly slotting home from the penalty spot. Five minutes later David Zdrilic made it 2-0 after he capitalised on hesitant defending by the Jets. The pivotal point of the match came just seconds before half time, when a sweeping move saw Rodriguez score for the Jets. The match was all level just after the hour when a quick free kick caught the Sydney defence napping and Rodriguez from an acute angle, shot powerfully, with the ball squeezing underneath Clint Bolton-s body at the near post. Corica was sent off shortly after for dissent and in the dying minutes Newcastle-s Matt Thompson came closest to a winner, striking the corner frame of the goalmouth.
Melbourne Victory made it four wins on the trot to maintain its two point lead of the competition table, with an Archie Thompson goal proving to be good enough for the points against Central Coast Mariners. The Mariners barren spell in front of goal continues, but they had chances in the match, although Victory fully deserved their win, with a good performance. Melbourne dominated the first half, but the best chance of the half fell to Jamie McMaster, who was one-on-one with Michael Theoklitos, with the Victory keeper blocking the Mariners midfielders shot. The breakthrough came when Danny Allsopp capitalised on a mis-kicked clearance by Paul O-Grady, nodding the ball over Danny Vukovic and Thompson was on hand to make sure it went in from just centimetres out.
Highlights More strong attendance figures is a good indication that the Hyundai A-league is obviously providing football fans with good entertainment, which on the evidence of this weekend-s games, must be rating at a high level. Queensland-s win came courtesy of some terrific attacking football, with Miron Bleiberg-s team once again setting the standards in terms of entertaining football. This year though there is a difference, they have more players capable of taking their chances and getting the results their football deserves.
Weekend Goals Tally: 13
Card Count: 13 yellows - 1 red
Attendance/Average: 60,096 / 15,024
Goal of the Week Tough choice this week with several high quality team goals. But in terms of pure strikes, it-s hard to go past the goal by Travis Dodd, whose rocket from 20 metres had Perth keeper Aleks Vrteski flapping at thin air, such was the power and speed of his shot.
Player of the Week Making your debut is never easy, especially after you have only just arrived in the country, can-t speak the language and haven-t played a competitive game since May. But Milton Rodriguez has given Australian fans a glimpse of what is to come, after coming off the bench to inspire a comeback by the Newcastle Jets after they fell two goals down after 30 minutes. His goal right on half time, was a classy finish and while his second goal had a helping hand from Sydney goalkeeper Clint Bolton, it nonetheless showed, if given a chance he will generally take it.
One to Watch Obviously Milton Rodriguez is one to watch out for in the coming months, but up north at high-flying Queensland, one of the unsung heroes in the early rounds has been rugged defender Sash Ognenovski. There was some surprise when Miron Bleiberg took on the 27-year-old Victorian defender, but he has proven a tough, solid and very intelligent signing, who will also cause problems at set pieces in attack.