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| A devastating 7-minute burst was enough to give Melbourne Victory a 3-0 win and keep the pressure on Adelaide for the minor premiership and to be the first to qualify for the 2010 Asian Champions League. A scoreless first half saw the Mariners create scoring opportunities which they were unable to convert, while the Victory defended resolutely. But the tide turned after the break, and it was the Victory who were doing all the attacking. Archie Thompson had a golden opportunity on the hour when he had the Mariners' keeper beaten but the shot sailed over the crossbar. But 8 minutes later, Thompson delivered a pinpoint cross to Danny Allsopp and the Victory were finally on the board. 3 minutes later, a free kick to Carlos Hernandez sailed through the wall, leaving Danny Vukovic unsighted and with no hope of making the save. Thompson put the icing on the cake with 15 minutes to go, finding space before a perfectly-timed shot; and the Victory were home. Melbourne Victory 3 (D Allsopp 68, C Hernandez 71, A Thompson 75). Central Coat Mariners 0. Yellow Cards : Victory - Nil. Mariners - A Clark 44, J Hutchinson 80, B Porter 90. Red Cards : Mariners - D Heffernan 87. Referee - P Green. Crowd - 24,003 at Telstra Dome. Queensland Roar ensured they would be playing finals football for the second straight season, and that Sydney FC would miss the playoffs for the first time, when the Roar took out a 3-1 win at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night. It was a hat-trick from Sergio Van Dijk that made the difference. The first on 15 minutes was quickly responded to as Sydney FC teenager Kofi Danning headed the ball home, but just 3 minutes later the Roar were back in front after Van Dijk leapt on a pass from Craig Moore. The Roar led 2-1 at the break, and although Sydney FC tried hard in the second half, they never looked likely to grab an equaliser. Their task was made harder in the final minutes after Zach Cairncross received his marching orders, and the result was wrapped up in injury time with a strike from just outside the area by Van Dijk, to bring up the first hat-trick in the Roar's history. Queensland Roar 3 (S Van Djik 15,28,90). Sydney FC (K Danning 25). Yellow Cards : Roar -J McCloughan 17, C Moore 67, S Van Dijk 84. Sydney - T McFlynn 49, S Colosimo 69. Red Cards : Sydney - Z Cairncross 87. Referee - C Zetter. Crowd - 19,111 at Suncorp Stadium. |
| 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 |
Wellington Phoenix remain a mathematical chance of qualifying for the finals, while Adelaide's
grip on top spot is under threat, after the Phoenix held the Reds to a 1-1 draw on Sunday at
Westpac Stadium.
Adelaide got off to a flying start, forcing a corner in the opening minute before a free kick from
Scott Jamieson forced Phoenix keeper Glenn Moss into an acrobatic save. In just the 5th
minute, Travis Dodd found Paul Reid unmarked in the box and the Reds were on the
scoreboard.
But soon after, the Phoenix began to work their way back into the contest. On the half hour,
scores were levelled after some deft passes from Shane Smeltz and Leo Bertos found Carlos
Barbarouses who headed home his first A-League goal.
Adelaide, playing their 5th game in 5 days, were visibly tired in the second half and forced to
go on the defensive against a resurgent Wellington. But the Reds hung on, maintaining top
spot on the ladder by a single goal's goal difference.
Wellington Phoenix 1 (C Barbarouses 31)
Adelaide United 1 (P Reid 5).
Yellow Cards : Phoenix - J McKain 14, T Brown 28,51, L Bertos 35. Reds - S Jamieson 79, J
Salley 84, S Ognenovski 85).
Red Cards : Phoenix - T Brown 51.
Referee - C Beath. Crowd - 8,241 at Westpac Stadium.
It's been a disappointing season for Newcastle, but the Jets farewelled their remaining fans in
style with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory in their final home game for the season.
Newcastle started the better, but it took until the shadows of half-time for the Jets to turn
their dominance into scoreboard pressure. It came when a corner from Kaz Patafta found
Antun Kovacic, who headed the ball home.
10 minutes after the break, David Tarka brought down Mark Milligan in the box. The referee
showed Tarka a yellow card for the challenge, but more importantly pointed to the spo; Mark
Milligan making no mistake with the penalty kick to double the lead.
The Glory got one back against the run of play when Wayne Srhoj outpaced his opponents
out wide before centreing to Scott Bulloch. But they never looked a chance for an equaliser,
and it was to be a rare moment of joy for the Jets as they recorded just their 4th win of the
season.
Newcastle Jets 2 (A Kovacic 41, M Milligan 55pen).
Perth Glory 1 (S Bulloch 65).
Yellow Cards : Jets - J Wheelhouse 59. Glory - D Tarka 54.
Referee - K Griffiths-Jones. Crowd - 6,665 at Energy Australia Stadium.
grip on top spot is under threat, after the Phoenix held the Reds to a 1-1 draw on Sunday at
Westpac Stadium.
Adelaide got off to a flying start, forcing a corner in the opening minute before a free kick from
Scott Jamieson forced Phoenix keeper Glenn Moss into an acrobatic save. In just the 5th
minute, Travis Dodd found Paul Reid unmarked in the box and the Reds were on the
scoreboard.
But soon after, the Phoenix began to work their way back into the contest. On the half hour,
scores were levelled after some deft passes from Shane Smeltz and Leo Bertos found Carlos
Barbarouses who headed home his first A-League goal.
Adelaide, playing their 5th game in 5 days, were visibly tired in the second half and forced to
go on the defensive against a resurgent Wellington. But the Reds hung on, maintaining top
spot on the ladder by a single goal's goal difference.
Wellington Phoenix 1 (C Barbarouses 31)
Adelaide United 1 (P Reid 5).
Yellow Cards : Phoenix - J McKain 14, T Brown 28,51, L Bertos 35. Reds - S Jamieson 79, J
Salley 84, S Ognenovski 85).
Red Cards : Phoenix - T Brown 51.
Referee - C Beath. Crowd - 8,241 at Westpac Stadium.
It's been a disappointing season for Newcastle, but the Jets farewelled their remaining fans in
style with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory in their final home game for the season.
Newcastle started the better, but it took until the shadows of half-time for the Jets to turn
their dominance into scoreboard pressure. It came when a corner from Kaz Patafta found
Antun Kovacic, who headed the ball home.
10 minutes after the break, David Tarka brought down Mark Milligan in the box. The referee
showed Tarka a yellow card for the challenge, but more importantly pointed to the spo; Mark
Milligan making no mistake with the penalty kick to double the lead.
The Glory got one back against the run of play when Wayne Srhoj outpaced his opponents
out wide before centreing to Scott Bulloch. But they never looked a chance for an equaliser,
and it was to be a rare moment of joy for the Jets as they recorded just their 4th win of the
season.
Newcastle Jets 2 (A Kovacic 41, M Milligan 55pen).
Perth Glory 1 (S Bulloch 65).
Yellow Cards : Jets - J Wheelhouse 59. Glory - D Tarka 54.
Referee - K Griffiths-Jones. Crowd - 6,665 at Energy Australia Stadium.