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| A-LEAGUE |
| Adelaide were the better side in their clash against bottom side Newcastle at Hindmarsh, but converting their dominance into goals was proving elusive for the Reds. Fabian Barbiero put the Reds a goal ahead on 23 minutes, knocking a high ball to ground level before a sensational second effort saw him regain possession and thread the ball through a tight angle into the Jets' goal. But alhough Adelaide continued to press, a second goal was hard to find. There was always the fear that, against the run of play, the Jets could snag an equaliser. Shortly before half-time, Jin-Hyung Song found Brodie Mooy, who put the ball into the net but the offside flag was raised. Finally on 74 minutes, the Reds sealed the game. Lucas Pantelis, in his first game back from injury, his long-range shot hitting the upright before rebounding over the line. The result takes Adelaide back to the top of the table, and with a game in hand having an excellent chance to take out the minor premiership. Adelaide United 2 (F Barbiero 23, L Pantelis 74) Newcastle Jets 0 Yellow Cards : Reds - Cassio 83. Jets - J Griffiths 21, B Kantarovski 53, A Kovacic 55, A Griffiths 55, M Milligan 86. Referee - P Green. Crowd - 13,585 at Hindmarsh Stadium. It was an entertaining and high-scoring clash when Queensland Roar took on Central Coast at Bluetongue Stadium; the Roar's 4-3 win enabling them to leap-frog the Mariners and rise to third place on the table. Nick Mrdja put the Mariners on top in the 5th minute, and that's how it would remain until shortly before half-time. But with just moments to play, a sublime cross from Tahj Minniecon set up Sergio van Dijk for the equaliser. And when van Dijk struck again just after the break, the Roar were in front. Matt Simon levelled the scores after Roar keeper Griffin McMaster went out of his area but failed to make contact with the ball. But just 5 minutes later, Minniecon restored the Roar's lead; with an unlucky own goal from Pedj Bojic doubled the lead. But the Mariners weren't finished yet. With 9 minutes to go, Matt Simon scored to reduce the lead to 4-3, and the Mariners continued to press. It was only a succession of spectacular saves from McMaster that kept the Mariners out and ensured the Roar would take the valuable 3 points. Central Coast Mariners 3 (N Mrdja 5, M Simon 55,81) Queensland Roar 4 (S van Dijk 43,48, T Minniecon 60, P Bojic 69og) Yellow Cards : Mariners - B Porter 59, A Caceres 73, A Clark 77. Roar - C Moore 12. Referee - M Breeze. Crowd - 11,454 at Bluetongue Stadium. |
| ROUND 16 CATCH-UP FIXTURE Wednesday 14th January Adelaide United v Queensland Roar (Hindmarsh Stadium, 8:00pm) ROUND 20 FIXTURES Friday 16th January Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners (Telstra Dome, 8:00pm) Saturday 17th January Queensland Roar v Sydney FC (Suncorp Stadium, 8:00pm) Sunday 18th January Wellington Phoenix v Adelaide United (Westpac Stadium, 3:00pm) Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory (Energy Australia Stadium, 5:00pm) ROUND 21 FIXTURES Friday 23rd January Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix (Telstra Dome, 8:00pm) Saturday 24th January Queensland Roar v Perth Glory (Suncorp Stadium, 8:00pm) Sunday 25th January Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets (Sydney Football Stadium, 5:00pm) Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United (Bluetongue Stadium, 7:00pm) All times shown are Sydney time |
While Sydney FC's realistic finals hopes appear to be long gone, the struggling Sky Blues finally
found a positive story to end the doom and gloom that has surrounded the club in recent
weeks.
The positive story was teenage striker Kofi Danning. Coming on as a sub, Danning found himself
on the end of a perfect pass from Alex Brosque to hit the ball into the corner of the net and
send the restless Sydney crowd into raptures. Sydney FC had been in the dominant position for
much of the second half, and with the numerical advantage after Troy Hearfield was marched;
but until Danning's 85th minute strike had nothing on the board to show for their hard work.
Although Sydney's finals chances are over, this result effectively also ends Wellington's
campaign, with the Phoenix still 3 points behind Central Coast with a vastly inferior goal
difference, and with just 2 games to go.
Click here to see Harboursport's photo gallery from this match.
Sydney FC 1 (K Danning 85)
Wellington Phoenix 0.
Yellow Cards : Sydney - T McFlynn 24, A Brosque 64. Phoenix - M Ferrante 32, J McKain 37,
M Muscat 90.
Red Cards : Phoenix - T Hearfield 64.
Referee - B Williams. Crowd - 9,605 at Sydney Football Stadium.
Near 40-degree temperatures made for an uncomfortable evening at Members Equity Stadium,
and even with drinks breaks taken the conditions still saw players struggle with the intense
heat. But the Glory recorded a 3-2 win, a result that ensured the Glory would avoid the
wooden spoon and one which would cost Melbourne Victory top spot on the ladder.
It took just 3 minutes for a through ball from Archie Thompson to find Danny Allsopp and put
the Victory in front. But after the second drinks break of the half, the momentum shifted and it
was Perth who took the initiative. A corner from Pellegrino was headed home by Eugene Dadi,
and just 3 minutes later Nikita Rukavytsya dispossessed Rod Vargas to score and put the Glory in
front.
Ney Fabiano equalised within moments of the start of the second half, but with 15 minutes to
go a Glory free kick rebounded off the wall straight to Eugene Dadi, who had a clear line of sight
to the goals to restore the Perth lead and ensure the local fans would taste a win from their 90
minutes in the heat. The result cost the Victory top spot on the ladder, and at the other end
of the table ensured Newcastle would collect the wooden spoon.
Perth Glory 3 (E Dadi 32,75, N Rukavytsya 35)
Melbourne Victory 2 (D Allsopp 3, N Fabiano 47).
Yellow Cards : Glory - V Sikora 56. Victory - M Kemp 33,88.
Red Cards : Victory - M Kemp 88.
Referee - C Beath. Crowd - 9,381 at Members Equity Stadium.
found a positive story to end the doom and gloom that has surrounded the club in recent
weeks.
The positive story was teenage striker Kofi Danning. Coming on as a sub, Danning found himself
on the end of a perfect pass from Alex Brosque to hit the ball into the corner of the net and
send the restless Sydney crowd into raptures. Sydney FC had been in the dominant position for
much of the second half, and with the numerical advantage after Troy Hearfield was marched;
but until Danning's 85th minute strike had nothing on the board to show for their hard work.
Although Sydney's finals chances are over, this result effectively also ends Wellington's
campaign, with the Phoenix still 3 points behind Central Coast with a vastly inferior goal
difference, and with just 2 games to go.
Click here to see Harboursport's photo gallery from this match.
Sydney FC 1 (K Danning 85)
Wellington Phoenix 0.
Yellow Cards : Sydney - T McFlynn 24, A Brosque 64. Phoenix - M Ferrante 32, J McKain 37,
M Muscat 90.
Red Cards : Phoenix - T Hearfield 64.
Referee - B Williams. Crowd - 9,605 at Sydney Football Stadium.
Near 40-degree temperatures made for an uncomfortable evening at Members Equity Stadium,
and even with drinks breaks taken the conditions still saw players struggle with the intense
heat. But the Glory recorded a 3-2 win, a result that ensured the Glory would avoid the
wooden spoon and one which would cost Melbourne Victory top spot on the ladder.
It took just 3 minutes for a through ball from Archie Thompson to find Danny Allsopp and put
the Victory in front. But after the second drinks break of the half, the momentum shifted and it
was Perth who took the initiative. A corner from Pellegrino was headed home by Eugene Dadi,
and just 3 minutes later Nikita Rukavytsya dispossessed Rod Vargas to score and put the Glory in
front.
Ney Fabiano equalised within moments of the start of the second half, but with 15 minutes to
go a Glory free kick rebounded off the wall straight to Eugene Dadi, who had a clear line of sight
to the goals to restore the Perth lead and ensure the local fans would taste a win from their 90
minutes in the heat. The result cost the Victory top spot on the ladder, and at the other end
of the table ensured Newcastle would collect the wooden spoon.
Perth Glory 3 (E Dadi 32,75, N Rukavytsya 35)
Melbourne Victory 2 (D Allsopp 3, N Fabiano 47).
Yellow Cards : Glory - V Sikora 56. Victory - M Kemp 33,88.
Red Cards : Victory - M Kemp 88.
Referee - C Beath. Crowd - 9,381 at Members Equity Stadium.