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| A-League |
| A-League Scoreboard - Round 17 |
| Queensland Roar have never won in New Zealand, and that record was to be maintained when the Brisbane side was held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Wellington Phoenix. The Roar got off to a quick start when a defensive mix-up saw Reinaldo unmarked within striking distance of goal to put the visitors on the board after just 5 minutes. But a quality strike from Shane Smeltz, continuing his strong form for the Phoenix, saw the ball hit the top corner of the Queensland net for an equaliser after 25 minutes. Despite numerous chances from both sides in the second half, the deadlock was unable to be broken again; and 1-1 was how it finished. The result effectively ends the Phoenix' finals aspirations, but cost the Roar an opportunity to attack the Mariners' place at the head of the A-League table. Wellington Phoenix 1 (S Smeltz 25) Queensland Roar 1 (Reinaldo 5) Yellow Cards : Phoenix - V Coveny 15, A Elrich 72, Daniel 90. Roar - R Kruze 47, H Seo 72. Referee - B Williams. Crowd - 9,384 at Westpac Stadium. Central Coast consolidated their hold on top spot on the A-League table with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh on Friday night. A cross to John Aloisi after 23 minutes set up the Mariners' first goal, and a mis-kicked attempted defensive clearance from the Reds landed at the lap of Sasho Petrovski to put the visitors 2 goals clear just 4 minutes after half-time. But far from sinking the Reds, the goal spurred them into action, and the home side began to lift around the ground. At 71 minutes, a header from Paul Agostino cut the margin to 2-1. Adelaide continued to press, forcing corner after corner and having one shot rebounding off the woodwork. As the pressure climbed, the yellow cards hanging over the Mariners continued to accumulate; but for all their dominance and pressure the equaliser was not to come. Adelaide United 1 (P Agostino 71) Central Coast Mariners 2 (J Aloisi 23, S Petrovski 49) Yellow Cards : Adelaide - P Agostino 33, D Giraldi 84. Mariners - A Clark 18, D Heffernan 60, J Hutchinson 75, T Vidmar 76, S Petrovski 81, J Aloisi 86. Referee - P Green. Crowd - 11,123 at Hindmarsh Stadium. |
Sydney FC's unbeaten run under John Kosmina's coaching came to a thumping end when they
were humiliated 4-2 at home by bottom side Perth Glory.
For one night, the once glamour side of football in Australia shook off their tag as strugglers and
returned to the form that had made them a shining light in NSL days. A fine double from Billy
Celeski before half-time took the wind out of the Sydney sails; and when a cross found its way
to Nick Bertos to fire another score home just 4 minutes after the restart the Glory were
holding a shock 3-0 lead.
Steven Corica got one back for Sydney; but when Iain Fyfe brought down Jamie Downey in
the area, the referee pointed to the spot, and Celeski slotted home the penalty to bring up his
hat-trick, Sydney's fate was sealed.
For the long-suffering Glory supporters, it was a result to remember and restore hope to the
struggling WA franchise.
Sydney FC 2 (S Corica 50, M Bridges 90) Perth Glory 4 (B Celeski 34,35,77pen, L Bertos 49)
Yellow Cards : Sydney - M Milligan 64, M Bridges 90. Perth - D Djulbic 61, J Downey 90.
Referee - M Hester. Crowd - 12,402 at Sydney Football Stadium.
Click here to see Harboursport's photo gallery of this match.
Melbourne Victory's dream of back-to-back A-League titles was resembling more of a nightmare
after the defending champions were humbled 3-1 on their own turf by Newcastle Jets. It
wasn't looking that way early when Caceres set up Hernandez to put the Victory on the board
after just 11 minutes, but from then on the Victory never created an opportunity.
Instead, a looping pass created a chance for Denni to equalise shortly before half-time. After
the break, a double to Joel Griffiths sealed the fate of this game; and ensured the Jets would
rise to third place.
Melbourne Victory 1 (C Hernandez 11) Newcastle Jets 3 (Denni 41, J Griffiths 54,75).
Yellow Cards : Victory - A Caceres 27, C Hernandez 79. Jets - J Griffiths 31, A Durante 70.
Referee - M Breeze. Crowd - 22,626 at Telstra Dome.
were humiliated 4-2 at home by bottom side Perth Glory.
For one night, the once glamour side of football in Australia shook off their tag as strugglers and
returned to the form that had made them a shining light in NSL days. A fine double from Billy
Celeski before half-time took the wind out of the Sydney sails; and when a cross found its way
to Nick Bertos to fire another score home just 4 minutes after the restart the Glory were
holding a shock 3-0 lead.
Steven Corica got one back for Sydney; but when Iain Fyfe brought down Jamie Downey in
the area, the referee pointed to the spot, and Celeski slotted home the penalty to bring up his
hat-trick, Sydney's fate was sealed.
For the long-suffering Glory supporters, it was a result to remember and restore hope to the
struggling WA franchise.
Sydney FC 2 (S Corica 50, M Bridges 90) Perth Glory 4 (B Celeski 34,35,77pen, L Bertos 49)
Yellow Cards : Sydney - M Milligan 64, M Bridges 90. Perth - D Djulbic 61, J Downey 90.
Referee - M Hester. Crowd - 12,402 at Sydney Football Stadium.
Click here to see Harboursport's photo gallery of this match.
Melbourne Victory's dream of back-to-back A-League titles was resembling more of a nightmare
after the defending champions were humbled 3-1 on their own turf by Newcastle Jets. It
wasn't looking that way early when Caceres set up Hernandez to put the Victory on the board
after just 11 minutes, but from then on the Victory never created an opportunity.
Instead, a looping pass created a chance for Denni to equalise shortly before half-time. After
the break, a double to Joel Griffiths sealed the fate of this game; and ensured the Jets would
rise to third place.
Melbourne Victory 1 (C Hernandez 11) Newcastle Jets 3 (Denni 41, J Griffiths 54,75).
Yellow Cards : Victory - A Caceres 27, C Hernandez 79. Jets - J Griffiths 31, A Durante 70.
Referee - M Breeze. Crowd - 22,626 at Telstra Dome.
| ROUND 17: Friday 14th December Wellington Phoenix 1 Queensland Roar 1 Adelaide United 1 Central Coast Mariners 2 Saturday 15th December Sydney FC 2 Perth Glory 4 Sunday 16th December Melbourne Victory 1 Newcastle Jets 3 ROUND 15 POSTPONED: Saturday 22nd December Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC (7.00) ROUND 18: Friday 28th December Adelaide United v Sydney FC (8.00) Sunday 30th December Newcastle Jets v Wellington P'nix (7.00) Perth Glory v Queensland Roar (9.00) Sunday 31st December Central Coast M'ners v Melb Victory (6.00) |