Sky Blues return to form
Sydney FC finally returned to winning ways in the Hyundai A-League after a clinical 4-1 victory over North Queensland Fury at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night, while Gold Coast came from a goal down to beat Central Coast 2-1.
Vitezslav Lavicka's men, led by man of the match Karol Kisel, Alex Brosque and Steve Corica, produced champagne football at times, conjuring up images of their emphatic performance against Melbourne Victory back in October at Etihad Stadium.
Marquee striker John Aloisi and captain Corica was on target, while Brosque netted a double. Rostyn Griffiths scored the Fury's goal.
At Skilled Park, Matt Simon gave the Mariners the lead shortly before half time, but second-half goals to Shane Smeltz and substitute Andrew Barisic gave the home side a stunning victory.
The results see Gold Coast open up a three-point buffer over Central Coast in third place, one-point behind Sydney in second.
Perth has the chance to leapfrog the Mariners when it takes on Brisbane on Sunday evening.
The final round of the Westfield W-League was completed on Saturday with Sydney securing top spot with a 1-0 win over Central Coast.
A Leena Khamis strike late in the first half was all it took for the Sky Blues to gain the most vital three points of the season.
The Mariners will now take on Brisbane in the finals after the Roar put six past winless Newcastle.
Striker Tameka Butt picked up a hat-trick with skipper Clare Polkinghorne, Joanne Burgess and Lana Harch also getting on the scoresheet in a dominant display by the Queenslanders.
Canberra United clinched fourth place after beating Adelaide 3-0 on Saturday afternoon, but it has Perth to thank as well after the Glory dispatched Melbourne in the final match of the season.
Canberra and Melbourne were left tied on 14 points, but United has a superior goal difference.
Ellie Brush, Emily Van Egmond and Elyse Perry were all on target for Canberra, while over in Perth, late goals to Lisa De Vanna and Katie Gill helped the Glory to a 2-0 victory.
While in the National Youth League, Sydney missed the chance to close the gap on leaders Adelaide and Gold Coast following a frustrating 2-2 draw with the Australian Institute of Sport at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Kerem Bult and Ray Miller scored for the hosts, while Eli Babalj fired a brace for the AIS.
In the other match on Saturday, A diving headed goal from Ludovic Boi proved the difference in an entertaining National Youth League clash between the Glory and Roar that finished in a 3-2 result for the Perth side.
Eugene Dadi and Glen Trefiro were the other scorers for the Glory, while Stefan Vrbesic and Josh McVey were on target for Brisbane.