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| Wellington Phoenix continued their mid-season revival, winning three games in a row for the first time in their short history when the New Zealand club overcame ladder leaders Melbourne Victory 2-1 at Westpac Stadium. To compound the Victory's misery, former championship hero Fred was back in the A-League, and was best player on the park but wearing a Phoenix shirt. Victory opened the scoring on 20 minutes, after a corner found Ney Fabiano who headed the ball into the crossbar; but the rebound found an unmarked Danny Allsopp. But just a minute later the match was back on even terms when a strike from Tim Brown from outside the area curling into the corner of the net. Another long-range strike from outside the area, this time by Shane Smeltz after pouncing on a sloppy Victory clearance shortly before the hour gave the Phoenix a lead they would not let slip. Wellington Phoenix 2 (T Brown 22, S Smeltz 58) Melbourne Victory 1 (D Allsopp 20). Yellow Cards : Phoenix - J McKain 23, S Smeltz 58, Fred 83. Victory - G Brebner. Referee - C Zetter. Crowd - 7,953 at Westpac Stadium. Sydney FC's poor recent form and a wild thunderstorm that caused flash flooding around Sydney during the afternoon saw a record low crowd turn out to the SFS for Sydney's home match against Queensland Roar. And the locals' misery was compounded just 12 minutes in when Tahj Minniecon weaved his way around the Sydney defence, and when Sydney keeper Ivan Nicevski was unable to hold on to the slippery ball it created the simplest of chances for Matt McKay to put away. The match had begun with a guard of honour for Tony Popovic, who had retired during the week to become an assistant coach, but Popovic and Kosmina would have been relieved when a dismal first half of fundamental skill errors and little possession saw them still only a goal down. And Sydney made them pay at 64 minutes, against the run of play, when a cross from Robbie Middleby found Steven Corica who in turn found the back of the net to level the match. The goal sparked Sydney to life, and minutes later John Aloisi had a golden chance to put the sky blues in front but his shot sailed agonisingly just over the crossbar. Sydney continued to press during the remaining time, but there was to be no winner. Click here to see Harboursport's photo gallery from this game. Sydney FC 1 (S Corica 64) Queensland Roar 1 (M McKay 12). Yellow Cards : Sydney - M Prentice 81. Roar - T Minniecon 68. Referee - M Breeze. Crowd - 8,502 at Sydney Football Stadium. |
| ROUND 14 FIXTURES Friday 5th December Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix (Hindmarsh Stadium, 8:00pm) Saturday 6th December Central Coast Mariners v Queensland Roar (Bluetongue Stadium, 5:00pm) Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory (Members Equity Stadium, 8:00pm) Sunday 7th December Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC (Energy Australia Stadium, 5:00pm) ROUND 15 FIXTURES Saturday 13th December Wellington Phoenix v Perth Glory (Westpac Stadium, 5:00pm) Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC (Bluetongue Stadium, 7:00pm) Sunday 14th December Queensland Roar v Newcastle Jets (Suncorp Stadium, 7:00pm) Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United - Postponed to 6th January All times shown are Sydney time |
| As has been the case so often in their A-League history, injury time was cruel to Perth Glory, as the WA side dominated for much of the game but were pipped at the post to leave the game with only a single point to show for their efforts. The Mariners scored the opening goal when a free kick from Mile Jedinak made its way through the wall and had the Glory keeper unsighted. But just minutes after half time, Nikita Rukavytsya continued his impressive recent form with a volley that made its way under Danny Vukovic's diving save attempt. And when Eugene Dadi set up Rukavytsya again on the hour, the Glory were in front. With their tails up, a small but vocal crowd singing their support, and the Mariners visibly tiring in the hot conditions, the Glory looked to be cruising to victory. The run of play and possession was going their way, and several chances were created and blown for the Glory to score a third and put the result beyond dispute. The Mariners were down to 10 men when Nigel Boogaard found himself marched; but against the run of play it was Sasho Petrovski who just beat an offside trap during injury time to level the match and yet again break the Glory hearts. Perth Glory 2 (N Rukavytsya 54,62) Central Coast Mariners 2 (M Jedinak 32, S Petrovski 90). Yellow Cards : Glory - E Dadi 29, J Harnwell 30, W Srhoj 34, A Trinidad 76, D Djulbic 79. Mariners - B Porter 53, M Simon 55. Red Cards : Mariners - N Boogaard 90. Referee - P O'Leary. Crowd - 6,496 at Members Equity Stadium. Another game to be decided in injury time was the Newcastle v Adelaide match, and again it would be the home side that were disappointed when the Jets conceded a late equaliser against Adelaide United at Energy Australia Stadium. The Jets took the lead on 55 minutes, when a cross from Naidvski found Matt Thompson within scoring range; and just minutes later Naidovski had a golden opportunity to put the home side two goals clear but was too slow taking his shot. With the clock ticking down, 3 minutes out of 4 in injury time played, a header from Saso Ognenovski cleared the despairing dive of Jets' keeper Ante Covic to hit the net and send the Reds into celebrations, snatching a point that rarely looked a possibility; while for the Jets and their home crowd it was stunned silence as a match they had dominated was only a draw. Newcastle Jets 1 (M Thompson 56) Adelaide United 1 (S Ognenovski 90). Yellow Cards : Jets - J Naidovski 15. Reds - Nil. Referee - C Beath. Crowd - 7,136 at Energy Australia Stadium. |