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A-League Round 15 Wrap: Melbourne Victory Go Top As Sydney FC Slip Up
The Mariners hit five, Melbourne snatched one and Sydney missed plenty as Goal.com wraps up the weekend's A-League action.
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Nov 23, 2009 1:48:53 AM
ADELAIDE UNITED 1 (Leckie 90’+3)
GOLD COAST UNITED 1 (Fitzsimmons 64’)
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Referee: Chris Beath
Crowd: 9,578
Report
Adelaide’s goal-scoring troubles were conspicuous as they failed for 92 minutes to break down a ten-man Gold Coast, having inevitably gone down with the latter looking far more potent despite their numerical disadvantage.
There does though seem to be a potential solution for the Reds in front of goal, with the return of youngster Mathew Leckie to the starting line-up giving them some sort of cutting edge.
His late equalizer rescued a desperate point at home for embattled manager Aurelio Vidmar, who continues to endure his most difficult season with the Reds.
Miron Bleiberg’s Gold Coast meanwhile showed the sort of character that defined their early season run of form, keeping pace with the league leaders after another unified display, the most impressive part of which was a rearguard action lead by Michael Thwaite.
BRISBANE ROAR 0
MELBOURNE VICTORY 1 (Thompson 8’)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Ben Williams
Crowd: 9,904
Report
It was another smash-and-grab job for the defending champions, Archie Thompson grabbing the winner and continuing his return to form to take the Victory into first place on the A-League ladder.
One might be wondering just how they’ve managed to do so given their dismal home record – they recently were thumped 4-0 at Etihad by the Central Coast Mariners – but a quick look at their away record tells its own story.
Indeed, Merrick’s side in their four-season existence have developed a reputation for being clinical on the road and it was a trait on display again this weekend.
Brisbane can count themselves slightly unlucky, Victory goalkeeper Mitch Langerak replacing the uninspiring Glen Moss following the defeat to the Mariners and delivering an outstanding display.
Roar winger Henrique perhaps summed up a frustrating night for his side with a bizarre sending off, catching the ball with two hands above his head in the final minute of the match.
NORTH QUEENSLAND FURY 1 (Griffiths 77’)
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 5 (Bojic 21’, Mrdja 35’, 59’, Elrich 61’, Hutchinson 81’)
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
Referee: Gerard Parsons
Crowd: 7,587
Report
The score-line might suggest a walkover but it was anything but for Lawrie McKinna’s travelling outfit.
The Scottish manager admitted as much after the game but hailed his own team’s clinical edge, the Mariners taking virtually every chance that came their way in Townsville.
In-form goalkeeper Danny Vukovic proved to be the scourge of the home side, who registered six more attempts than their opponents, as well as two attempts that hit the woodwork.
It isn’t the first time Ian Ferguson’s men haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal this season, though the outstanding form of marquee man Robbie Fowler in recent weeks might have been enough to carry them on another day.
They remain rooted to the bottom of the A-League ladder despite their recent improvements.
NEWCASTLE JETS 0
WELLINGTON PHOENIX 1 (Ifill 13’)
Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle
Referee: Peter Green
Crowd: 4,239
Report
The pressure must surely now be on Brank Culina, who watched on helplessly as his Jets side delivered another inept display in front of a worryingly low home crowd.
Credit though must go to the Phoenix for another battling display on the road that saw them pick up a crucial three points, continuing a historic week for New Zealand football following the All Whites’ qualification for the 2010 World Cup.
Paul Ifill unsurprisingly netted the winner with another cultured finish and the visitors were never troubled thanks to an outstanding defensive display, though the Jets squandered a wonderful late chance to equalize when marquee man Fabio Vignaroli missed an open goal in injury time.
It would have been an undeserved point for a team who continue to frustrate, with a host of entertaining players and match-winners in their line-up but no discernible unity, fluidity or structure.
PERTH GLORY 2 (Bulloch 57’, Jelic 88’)
SYDNEY FC 0
ME Bank Stadium, Perth
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Crowd: 8,932
Report
Frustration for the Sky Blues who again failed to consolidate their position at the top of the A-League table, bitterly giving it up to rivals Melbourne.
They certainly created enough chances to win the game against a Glory side who snapped a four-match winless streak to reignite their finals football push – and perhaps a title challenge – with two second half goals.
Vitezslav Lavicka’s side have developed a reputation as one of the more clinical teams in the league in front of goal but it wasn’t a quality that they brought to Western Australia, their defeat again throwing the race for first place wide open.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
Get all the Australian football coverage you need on the Goal.com Australia homepage!
GOLD COAST UNITED 1 (Fitzsimmons 64’)
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Referee: Chris Beath
Crowd: 9,578
Report
Adelaide’s goal-scoring troubles were conspicuous as they failed for 92 minutes to break down a ten-man Gold Coast, having inevitably gone down with the latter looking far more potent despite their numerical disadvantage.
There does though seem to be a potential solution for the Reds in front of goal, with the return of youngster Mathew Leckie to the starting line-up giving them some sort of cutting edge.
His late equalizer rescued a desperate point at home for embattled manager Aurelio Vidmar, who continues to endure his most difficult season with the Reds.
Miron Bleiberg’s Gold Coast meanwhile showed the sort of character that defined their early season run of form, keeping pace with the league leaders after another unified display, the most impressive part of which was a rearguard action lead by Michael Thwaite.
BRISBANE ROAR 0
MELBOURNE VICTORY 1 (Thompson 8’)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Ben Williams
Crowd: 9,904
Report
It was another smash-and-grab job for the defending champions, Archie Thompson grabbing the winner and continuing his return to form to take the Victory into first place on the A-League ladder.
One might be wondering just how they’ve managed to do so given their dismal home record – they recently were thumped 4-0 at Etihad by the Central Coast Mariners – but a quick look at their away record tells its own story.
Indeed, Merrick’s side in their four-season existence have developed a reputation for being clinical on the road and it was a trait on display again this weekend.
Brisbane can count themselves slightly unlucky, Victory goalkeeper Mitch Langerak replacing the uninspiring Glen Moss following the defeat to the Mariners and delivering an outstanding display.
Roar winger Henrique perhaps summed up a frustrating night for his side with a bizarre sending off, catching the ball with two hands above his head in the final minute of the match.
NORTH QUEENSLAND FURY 1 (Griffiths 77’)
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 5 (Bojic 21’, Mrdja 35’, 59’, Elrich 61’, Hutchinson 81’)
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
Referee: Gerard Parsons
Crowd: 7,587
Report
The score-line might suggest a walkover but it was anything but for Lawrie McKinna’s travelling outfit.
The Scottish manager admitted as much after the game but hailed his own team’s clinical edge, the Mariners taking virtually every chance that came their way in Townsville.
In-form goalkeeper Danny Vukovic proved to be the scourge of the home side, who registered six more attempts than their opponents, as well as two attempts that hit the woodwork.
It isn’t the first time Ian Ferguson’s men haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal this season, though the outstanding form of marquee man Robbie Fowler in recent weeks might have been enough to carry them on another day.
They remain rooted to the bottom of the A-League ladder despite their recent improvements.
NEWCASTLE JETS 0
WELLINGTON PHOENIX 1 (Ifill 13’)
Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle
Referee: Peter Green
Crowd: 4,239
Report
The pressure must surely now be on Brank Culina, who watched on helplessly as his Jets side delivered another inept display in front of a worryingly low home crowd.
Credit though must go to the Phoenix for another battling display on the road that saw them pick up a crucial three points, continuing a historic week for New Zealand football following the All Whites’ qualification for the 2010 World Cup.
Paul Ifill unsurprisingly netted the winner with another cultured finish and the visitors were never troubled thanks to an outstanding defensive display, though the Jets squandered a wonderful late chance to equalize when marquee man Fabio Vignaroli missed an open goal in injury time.
It would have been an undeserved point for a team who continue to frustrate, with a host of entertaining players and match-winners in their line-up but no discernible unity, fluidity or structure.
PERTH GLORY 2 (Bulloch 57’, Jelic 88’)
SYDNEY FC 0
ME Bank Stadium, Perth
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Crowd: 8,932
Report
Frustration for the Sky Blues who again failed to consolidate their position at the top of the A-League table, bitterly giving it up to rivals Melbourne.
They certainly created enough chances to win the game against a Glory side who snapped a four-match winless streak to reignite their finals football push – and perhaps a title challenge – with two second half goals.
Vitezslav Lavicka’s side have developed a reputation as one of the more clinical teams in the league in front of goal but it wasn’t a quality that they brought to Western Australia, their defeat again throwing the race for first place wide open.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
Get all the Australian football coverage you need on the Goal.com Australia homepage!
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
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