Hyundai A-League Weekend Wrap
The top four is almost confirmed, with only the fourth-placed position still up for grabs and the minor premiership still very much anyone’s guess.
Results - Round 19 Wellington Phoenix 0 lost SYDNEY FC 2 NEWCASTLE JETS 2 beat Adelaide United 1 Queensland Roar 1 lost MELBOURNE VICTORY 2 Perth Glory 1 drew Central Coast Mariners 1
Game Wraps Sydney FC-s dramatic rise up the competition table continued unabated, with a 2-0 win over Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. With Wellington needing a win to stay alive in the competition, the match started off fairly cagey, with both defences dominating. Both sides had half chances with Tony Lochhead driving a shot wide, while Reuben Zadkovich had the best opportunity of the half right on the stroke of half time, but couldn-t direct his header goalwards from directly in front. The second half started off in sensational fashion, when Richard Johnson was penalised for a handball in the box, but Phoenix keeper Glen Moss came to his rescue, saving Ufuk Talay-s spot kick. The match was decided in a hectic four minute spell late in the match, when first Terry McFlynn audaciously flicked Talay-s low ball into the penalty box, past an unsuspecting Moss and then Brosque brilliantly controlled a beautiful ball over the top, again from Talay, to seal the three points and take them to equal top spot on the ladder with Central Coast and Queensland.
Newcastle Jets recorded its first win at home since October 14 (six matches) and as a result all but assured its finals spot, with a win over its nearest rival on the table Adelaide United. The result meant that Newcastle needs just two points to secure its place, but both Adelaide (and latter Melbourne) needing to win both their remaining matches to have any chance. It started perfectly for the home side, with Joel Griffiths showing just how valuable he is to this Newcastle side, with the opening goal after 12 minutes; heading home a free kick at the back post. Adelaide, undermanned and having to win; came back into the game strongly and got their reward, with Lucas Pantelis scrambling home from close range. Adelaide-s hopes the nose-dived just before half time, when new short-term signing Fabian Barbiero was sent off after a second yellow card. Newcastle though struggled to put Adelaide away, but after 72 minutes they took the lead when James Holland headed home a pin-point Tarek Elrich cross. Newcastle held off a desperate late challenge by Adelaide to secure the valuable three points.
Melbourne Victory won-t lie down and go away, much to Queensland Roar-s frustration, with Victory recording a deserved 2-1 win at Suncorp Stadium. After a largely uneventful first half, the match turned in Victory-s favour thanks largely to the efforts of substitute Carlos Hernandez, who set up both goals. The first came after 57 minutes, when his low cross was met by a charging Daniel Allsopp and he made no mistake from close range and then he sent Archie Thompson through with a sublime pass, with Thompson making no mistake with his drive from just inside the penalty area. Queensland substitute Marcinho pulled a goal back for the home side with an excellent finish in the 72nd minute to set up a tantalising finish. Melbourne though held on for the three points and still themselves an outside chance of the finals, while Queensland has a crunch match against Sydney FC next week that is likely to decide whether they finish in the top two or not.
Central Coast Mariners went back to the sole lead of the competition table, but were made to work hard against wooden-spoon contenders Perth Glory at Members Equity Stadium. The first half was a fairly stop, start affair with the Mariners creating the better opportunities, especially from a series of free kicks. Sasho Petrovski missed a golden chance to put the Mariners ahead, before John Hutchinson eventually did after 38 minutes. It- was route one, with a long free by Danny Vukovic, nodded on by John Aloisi and Hutchinson stole in behind Jimmy Downey and guided his shot inside the far post. Perth-s attack looked blunted until the arrival of speedy striker Nikita Rukavytsya after 57 minutes and he almost had a goal within a minute, but was denied by good defending by Nigel Boogaard. Soon after he went closer when he broke clear on the left, but his powerful shot from acute angle, glanced the crossbar. But Perth-s persistence paid off, Leo Bertos- excellent run and low cross, finished by Rukavytsya in the 69th minute. The game opened up with both sides having chances for the winner, Rukavytsya going closest when he twisted and turned in the penalty box, but saw his shot brilliantly saved by Vukovic. The point sent the Mariners one point clear of Queensland and Sydney in the chase for the Premiership, while Perth still has the chance of avoiding bottom spot with a good finish to the season.
Highlights & Lowlights After the previous weekend-s goal feast, it was always going to be difficult to back that up, but all four games threw up good, tight contests that could have gone either way till the final whistle-s. It sets up an exciting final couple of rounds.
>Weekend Goals Tally: 10
Card Count: 18 yellows - 2 reds
Attendance/Average: 55,537 / 13,884
Goal of the Week It has been a bit of drought for Sydney-s Alex Brosque, but he broke it with an exquisite finish against Wellington. A long ball from halfway by Ufuk Talay towards the top of the penalty area, came over Brosque-s shoulder, where he brilliantly controlled it and before it had a chance to hit the ground, he guided his shot past Glen Moss and seal the win for the visitors.
Player of the Week There were several excellent performances off the bench this week that turned matches in their sides favour, but one player who often goes unrecognised for his hard work and endeavour was a standout for Sydney and capped off with a rare goal. Terry McFlynn is reveling under the coaching of John Kosmina and his all round display in the win over Wellington was pivotal, especially his opening goal with an audacious flick that bamboozled everybody. Special mention to Lucas Pantelis for his outstanding game in Adelaide-s loss to Newcastle.
Leading Goalscorers 10 - Joel Griffiths (NJ) 9 - Shane Smeltz (WP) 7 - Alex Brosque (SFC) 6 - Jamie Harnwell (PG), Reinaldo (QR), Sasho Petrovski (CCM), John Aloisi (CCM), Archie Thompson (MV), Danny Allsopp (MV)