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A-League Wrap Round 16: Melbourne Victory Surge As Sydney FC Falter
Belatedly, the defending champions have pulled away from the chasing pack as Sydney slipped to their third straight defeat.
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Nov 30, 2009 3:20:09 AM
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 0
PERTH GLORY 0
Friday, 27 November 2009
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Referee: Gerard Parsons
Crowd: 7,857
Poor finishing resulted in what in truth is a rarity for the A-League in a scoreless draw, Mile Sterjovski’s thundering volley from range cracking the post for what would have been a worthy highlight to what seems to have been an otherwise forgettable night of football.
It seemed inevitable that the Mariners’ hot streak in front of goal would come to an end but perhaps not so abruptly; they have scored nine times in their last two matches.
Dave Mitchell won’t be too displeased with the result, the Glory consolidating their position in the top six against a team that must now be considered one of the most dangerous in the league.
Indeed, the Mariners have typically gone about their business quietly and would probably surprise a few people if they were to point out that they are now in third place on the A-League ladder.
Are McKinna’s men about to make a shock bid for the Premiers title?
MELBOURNE VICTORY 4 (Kruse 28’, Ward 45+1’, Thompson 54’, 68’)
GOLD COAST UNITED 0
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Referee: Ben Williams
Crowd: 20,537
A no-contest, really, as the Victory defied their abysmal home form to produce one of their best performances of the season in a re-jigged Etihad Stadium.
Archie Thompson was irrepressible and pressed his case for Socceroos selection should Pim Verbeek be unable to call upon his European stars for the upcoming Asian Cup Qualifiers; who knows what a season of A-League goals might do for his World Cup prospects.
He is certainly in the right environment to flourish, Merrick’s men finally pulling away from the chasing pack, creating a five point gap between themselves and second-placed Sydney FC this weekend.
Admittedly their opposition was severely depleted – Bleiberg with only 12 first-team players to choose from this weekend – but the swagger of the Victory performance was striking, Nick Ward showing the sort of form in midfield that scored him a European move not so long ago.
The title favourite has well and truly been confirmed.
NORTH QUEENSLAND FURY 2 (McBreen 39’, Fowler 66’)
ADELAIDE UNITED 1 (Cristiano 90+1’)
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
Referee: Peter Green
Crowd: 5,356
It’s not often that the Fury get their just rewards at home but they did for an impressive display in Townsville, lifting themselves off the bottom of the A-League ladder.
They are replaced by an Adelaide United outfit who are enduring their worst season since the inception of the competition four seasons ago, with off-field troubles seemingly never-ending and a lack of goals on the pitch slowly strangling their season.
Credit must go to North Queensland boss Ian Ferguson, who made some brave decisions in terms of player personnel before the match started that paid off.
Aurelio Vidmar meanwhile was powerless as he watched from the stands, serving a touchline ban for a recent racial slur in the media.
SYDNEY FC 3 (Brosque 75’)
NEWCASTLE JETS 1 (Bridges 24’ (pen), 51’, Thompson 58’)
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Crowd: 10,114
Undoubtedly the shock – and the match – of the round, as Branko Culina took a huge gamble in setting out an attacking Jets outfit at fortress SFS.
Sydney looked to be taken aback by the 3-4-3 formation that saw Newcastle produce their best football of the season; fluid, hard-working and pleasing on the eye.
It was also heavily effective, a slightly weak Sky Blues unable to handle the movement and individual skill that has yet to flourish under Culina.
Michael Bridges produced a man-of-the-match performance and continues to look one of the captures of the season, while the likes of Sean Rooney and Nikolai Topor-Stanley similarly had big games against their former employers.
Vitezslav Lavicka frustratingly sees his side slump to their third consecutive A-League defeat, now five points behind league leaders Melbourne and looking a shadow of the functional outfit that set the pace early in the season.
BRISBANE ROAR 4 (Reinaldo 17’, 56’, Van Dijk 79’, Dodd 90+1’)
WELLINGTON PHOENIX 1 (Greenacre’ 27’)
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Alan Milliner
Crowd: 6,307
For the most part of this match the visiting Phoenix looked good for a point or three, until Emmanuel Muscat’s needless red card for an off-the-ball elbow ended their chances.
The Roar were shaky in defence but fluent in attack, youngster Tommy Oar particularly impressive as he tore apart a usually solid Phoenix back-line.
Brazilian striker Reinaldo finally lifted some of the attacking burden of the shoulders of Dutchman Sergio Van Dijk, who nonetheless chipped in with a stunning free-kick.
It’s a big win for new Roar boss Ange Postecoglou, who somehow finds his team just one point outside of the top six.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
Get all the Australian football coverage you need on the Goal.com Australia homepage!
PERTH GLORY 0
Friday, 27 November 2009
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Referee: Gerard Parsons
Crowd: 7,857
Poor finishing resulted in what in truth is a rarity for the A-League in a scoreless draw, Mile Sterjovski’s thundering volley from range cracking the post for what would have been a worthy highlight to what seems to have been an otherwise forgettable night of football.
It seemed inevitable that the Mariners’ hot streak in front of goal would come to an end but perhaps not so abruptly; they have scored nine times in their last two matches.
Dave Mitchell won’t be too displeased with the result, the Glory consolidating their position in the top six against a team that must now be considered one of the most dangerous in the league.
Indeed, the Mariners have typically gone about their business quietly and would probably surprise a few people if they were to point out that they are now in third place on the A-League ladder.
Are McKinna’s men about to make a shock bid for the Premiers title?
MELBOURNE VICTORY 4 (Kruse 28’, Ward 45+1’, Thompson 54’, 68’)
GOLD COAST UNITED 0
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Referee: Ben Williams
Crowd: 20,537
A no-contest, really, as the Victory defied their abysmal home form to produce one of their best performances of the season in a re-jigged Etihad Stadium.
Archie Thompson was irrepressible and pressed his case for Socceroos selection should Pim Verbeek be unable to call upon his European stars for the upcoming Asian Cup Qualifiers; who knows what a season of A-League goals might do for his World Cup prospects.
He is certainly in the right environment to flourish, Merrick’s men finally pulling away from the chasing pack, creating a five point gap between themselves and second-placed Sydney FC this weekend.
Admittedly their opposition was severely depleted – Bleiberg with only 12 first-team players to choose from this weekend – but the swagger of the Victory performance was striking, Nick Ward showing the sort of form in midfield that scored him a European move not so long ago.
The title favourite has well and truly been confirmed.
NORTH QUEENSLAND FURY 2 (McBreen 39’, Fowler 66’)
ADELAIDE UNITED 1 (Cristiano 90+1’)
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
Referee: Peter Green
Crowd: 5,356
It’s not often that the Fury get their just rewards at home but they did for an impressive display in Townsville, lifting themselves off the bottom of the A-League ladder.
They are replaced by an Adelaide United outfit who are enduring their worst season since the inception of the competition four seasons ago, with off-field troubles seemingly never-ending and a lack of goals on the pitch slowly strangling their season.
Credit must go to North Queensland boss Ian Ferguson, who made some brave decisions in terms of player personnel before the match started that paid off.
Aurelio Vidmar meanwhile was powerless as he watched from the stands, serving a touchline ban for a recent racial slur in the media.
SYDNEY FC 3 (Brosque 75’)
NEWCASTLE JETS 1 (Bridges 24’ (pen), 51’, Thompson 58’)
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Crowd: 10,114
Undoubtedly the shock – and the match – of the round, as Branko Culina took a huge gamble in setting out an attacking Jets outfit at fortress SFS.
Sydney looked to be taken aback by the 3-4-3 formation that saw Newcastle produce their best football of the season; fluid, hard-working and pleasing on the eye.
It was also heavily effective, a slightly weak Sky Blues unable to handle the movement and individual skill that has yet to flourish under Culina.
Michael Bridges produced a man-of-the-match performance and continues to look one of the captures of the season, while the likes of Sean Rooney and Nikolai Topor-Stanley similarly had big games against their former employers.
Vitezslav Lavicka frustratingly sees his side slump to their third consecutive A-League defeat, now five points behind league leaders Melbourne and looking a shadow of the functional outfit that set the pace early in the season.
BRISBANE ROAR 4 (Reinaldo 17’, 56’, Van Dijk 79’, Dodd 90+1’)
WELLINGTON PHOENIX 1 (Greenacre’ 27’)
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Alan Milliner
Crowd: 6,307
For the most part of this match the visiting Phoenix looked good for a point or three, until Emmanuel Muscat’s needless red card for an off-the-ball elbow ended their chances.
The Roar were shaky in defence but fluent in attack, youngster Tommy Oar particularly impressive as he tore apart a usually solid Phoenix back-line.
Brazilian striker Reinaldo finally lifted some of the attacking burden of the shoulders of Dutchman Sergio Van Dijk, who nonetheless chipped in with a stunning free-kick.
It’s a big win for new Roar boss Ange Postecoglou, who somehow finds his team just one point outside of the top six.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
Get all the Australian football coverage you need on the Goal.com Australia homepage!
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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