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A-League
| A-League Scoreboard - Finals Week 2 |
| After a scoreless draw in the first leg of the minor semi-final series, the start of the second leg was delayed for 45 minutes after a torrential storm caused puddles to form on the pitch. But the ground staff did a sensational job to quickly dry the ground out and make the pitch playable. It didn't take long once play had started for Queensland to get the upper hand, when Reinaldo on the break weaved his way around the Sydney defence before threading the ball into the net from the impossible angle. And it quickly got worse for Sydney when Robbie Middleby brought down Matt McKay and was given a straight red at the 20 minute mark. For Sydney, already 1-0 down and forced to play the last 70 minutes a man down on a heavy track, it was already looking like the season was heading to a close. Queensland were dominant, and only a succession of strong saves by Clint Bolton kept the score at 1-0 for the first half. The trend continued in the second half. Simon Lynch had a goal disallowed for offside, but the Sydneysiders never looked likely to threaten an equaliser. The knockout blow came 7 minutes from time, after Roar substitute Tahj Minniecon went down in the box and referee Mark Shield pointed to the spot. Sasa Ognenovski made no mistake and the Roar had won their way through to the prelim final, while Sydney FC's season was over. Queensland Roar 2 (Reinaldo 13, S Ognenovski 83pen) Sydney FC 0 (Queensland 2-0 on aggregate) Yellow Cards : Roar - A Packer 3, M Murdocca 48, L Reddy 74. Sydney - B Renaud 15, U Talay 67, T Popovic 82. Red Cards : Sydney - R Middleby 20. Referee - M Shield. Crowd - 36,221 at Suncorp Stadium. |
90 minutes wasn't enough time to produce the 120 emotions of an epic second leg of the
major-semi final series between Central Coast and Newcastle. The Jets, with a 2-0 advantage
from the first leg, were favourites to go through to the grand final; but the Mariners at home
had the opportunity to work their way back into the tie.
The Mariners were in trouble early, with Tom Pondeljak and Alvin Ceccoli going off injured in
the first 20 minutes; forcing the Central Coast side into making substitutions earlier than the
game plan would otherwise have called for. But substitutes Andrew Clark and Andre
Gumprecht were among the Mariners' best.
The Mariners were getting the better of possession around the ground, but the first score
wasn't to come till the 37th minute, when a strike from Adam Kwasnik deflected off the
Jets' wall into the net.
A low ball from Andre Gumprecht on 74 minutes fell to Sasho Petrovski, whose finish gave
the Mariners a 2-0 lead for the game and levelled the tie. The Mariners continued to press,
but there were to be no more scores in regulation time; the match going into extra time.
Just 5 minutes into extended time, the Mariners seized the upper hand when a slamming
strike from Petrovski gave Jets' keeper Ante Covic no chance. Suddenly the Mariners were in
front and in pole position to head to the grand final.
The injuries continued for the Mariners, who had used all their subs and had players coming
on and off for treatment. The Jets, a man up while Mariners players were being treated,
continued to attack; and only a fine save from Vukovic during the second period of overtime
prevented the Jets from getting the away goal. But 3-0 was the final result, the Mariners
going straight through to the grand final while the Jets will have to back up against
Queensland Roar to qualify for the other spot.
Central Coast Mariners 3 (A Kwasnik 37, S Petrovski 74,95) Newcastle Jets 0 (Full-time
2-0, Mariners 3-2 on aggregate)
Yellow Cards : Mariners - D Vukovic 45, S Petrovski 97, J Hutchinson 100. Jets - J Song
22, N Spencer 55, A Durante 119.
Referee - B Williams. Crowd - 19,112 at Central Coast Stadium.
major-semi final series between Central Coast and Newcastle. The Jets, with a 2-0 advantage
from the first leg, were favourites to go through to the grand final; but the Mariners at home
had the opportunity to work their way back into the tie.
The Mariners were in trouble early, with Tom Pondeljak and Alvin Ceccoli going off injured in
the first 20 minutes; forcing the Central Coast side into making substitutions earlier than the
game plan would otherwise have called for. But substitutes Andrew Clark and Andre
Gumprecht were among the Mariners' best.
The Mariners were getting the better of possession around the ground, but the first score
wasn't to come till the 37th minute, when a strike from Adam Kwasnik deflected off the
Jets' wall into the net.
A low ball from Andre Gumprecht on 74 minutes fell to Sasho Petrovski, whose finish gave
the Mariners a 2-0 lead for the game and levelled the tie. The Mariners continued to press,
but there were to be no more scores in regulation time; the match going into extra time.
Just 5 minutes into extended time, the Mariners seized the upper hand when a slamming
strike from Petrovski gave Jets' keeper Ante Covic no chance. Suddenly the Mariners were in
front and in pole position to head to the grand final.
The injuries continued for the Mariners, who had used all their subs and had players coming
on and off for treatment. The Jets, a man up while Mariners players were being treated,
continued to attack; and only a fine save from Vukovic during the second period of overtime
prevented the Jets from getting the away goal. But 3-0 was the final result, the Mariners
going straight through to the grand final while the Jets will have to back up against
Queensland Roar to qualify for the other spot.
Central Coast Mariners 3 (A Kwasnik 37, S Petrovski 74,95) Newcastle Jets 0 (Full-time
2-0, Mariners 3-2 on aggregate)
Yellow Cards : Mariners - D Vukovic 45, S Petrovski 97, J Hutchinson 100. Jets - J Song
22, N Spencer 55, A Durante 119.
Referee - B Williams. Crowd - 19,112 at Central Coast Stadium.