The Hyundai A-League is back, with the Pre-Season Cup kicking off on the weekend – the Champions Melbourne salvaged a late draw while new boys Wellington went down bravely in their first encounter.
Champions Victory start with a draw with Adelaide
Melbourne Victory 1 Adelaide United 1
Danny Allsopp’s late strike dashed Adelaide’s hopes of revenge in a 1-1 draw at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.
Travis Dodd’s ninth minute opener looked like being enough to at least partly ease some of the pain felt by Victory’s 6-0 triumph in last season’s grand final.
That was until 16 minutes from time when Allsopp rammed home Leigh Broxham’s cross.
Ernie Merrick’s men battled back from an early set-back that saw Bruce Djite flick the ball over the Victory defence to allow Dodd to fire past Michael Theoklitos from the edge of the area.
It could have got even worse for Victory on 13 minutes with another Dodd effort shaving the crossbar.
Adrian Caceres produced Melbourne’s best chance of the half on 20 minutes, when he met a superb Ljubo Milicevic through ball, but his shot was saved well down low by Robert Bajic.
Merrick’s men finished the opening 45 minutes strongly though with both Matthew Kemp and Kevin Muscat going close with efforts from distance.
Early in the second half, a vital clearance from Melbourne’s Adrian Leijer thwarted Les Anastasiou while Joseph Keenan brought a decent stop from Bajic at the other end.
The woodwork saved Melbourne from going two down midway through the second period with Cassio’s 67th minute free-kick clipping the crossbar.
However, Allsopp pounced to level matters and Victory almost snatched the win when Rodrigo Vargas connected with Kevin Muscat’s free-kick but couldn’t direct it on target.
Sunshine Coast shut-out as spoils shared
Queensland Roar 0 Sydney FC 0
Sydney FC’s pursuit of Robbie Fowler’s goals may be hogging the headlines but the club’s defensive players seem anxious not to be forgotten.
Branko Culina’s men earned a goalless draw with Queensland Roar in their opening game of the Pre-Season Cup at Maroochydore.
Goalkeeper Clint Bolton, who recorded his fourth consecutive clean sheet, made two fine stops to deny Roar’s Matt McKay while Sydney went close at the other end with Adam Casey’s header whistling narrowly over the crossbar.
While Culina was unable to include former Socceroo Tony Popovic, with his registration yet to be finalised, Roar boss Frank Farina was denied the services of Marcinho and Robbie Kruse.
The former was not risked after picking a groin problem while Kruse suffered facial injuries in training, likely to keep him sidelined for at least 10 weeks.
In a match of few opportunities Roar could have snatched victory in the dying stages but Simon Lynch spurned a decent chance when he failed to control a Massimo Murdocca cross.
Defeat but no despair for new boys Phoenix
Central Coast Mariners 2 Wellington Phoenix 0
A-LEAGUE newcomer Wellington Phoenix tasted defeat in its first competitive outing yet coach Ricki Herbert was far from depressed after a 2-0 loss to Central Coast Mariners.
First half goals from Alex Wilkinson and Adam Kwasnik proved decisive at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium.
New skipper Wilkinson struck as early as the third minute with Kwasnik doubling the lead on the half hour.
Herbert saw his goalkeeper Glen Moss make some terrific saves with Daniel and Shane Smeltz a threat down the flanks and strikers Royce Brownlie and Vaughan Coveny a threat in attack.
The only disappointment for Phoenix was the dismissal of defender Steven O’Dor shortly after the break.
The Central Coast has now gone nine Pre-Season Cup matches without loss in regulation time, and will be keen to ensure this record enters double figures when they travel to Orange next Saturday (21 July) to take on Group B rivals the Queensland Roar.
Herbert’s Phoenix side continues its Pre-Season Cup campaign on Saturday against Branko Culina’s Sydney FC.
Perth down Jets through Harnwell strike
Newcastle Jets 0 Perth Glory 1
GLORY’S newest recruit enjoyed a winning start to life in Perth colours but it was a more familiar face who grabbed the all-important goal against Newcastle Jets.
Midfielder Mitchell Prentice had signed on the dotted line less than 24 hours before kick-off and was handed his first taste of action just 33 minutes into the Pre-Season Cup clash at Port Macquarie.
The only goal of the encounter was netted three minutes into the second half by Jamie Harnwell.
He was played in by fellow strike partner Nikita Rukavytsya and calmly slotted the ball home.
Harnwell had seen an earlier chance drop just wide of the target while Glory keeper Tando Velaphi was called into action a couple of times at the other end of the field.
New boy Prentice started on the bench but was handed a taste of the action barely 30 minutes into the match, David Micevski forced off with a knee injury.
An Australian Institute of Sport graduate, Prentice played with Northern Spirit and Marconi in the NSL before trying his luck overseas where he had short stints with Scottish club Stirling Albion and most recently with Malaysian Super League side Pahang.
Melbourne Victory 1 Adelaide United 1
Danny Allsopp’s late strike dashed Adelaide’s hopes of revenge in a 1-1 draw at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.
Travis Dodd’s ninth minute opener looked like being enough to at least partly ease some of the pain felt by Victory’s 6-0 triumph in last season’s grand final.
That was until 16 minutes from time when Allsopp rammed home Leigh Broxham’s cross.
Ernie Merrick’s men battled back from an early set-back that saw Bruce Djite flick the ball over the Victory defence to allow Dodd to fire past Michael Theoklitos from the edge of the area.
It could have got even worse for Victory on 13 minutes with another Dodd effort shaving the crossbar.
Adrian Caceres produced Melbourne’s best chance of the half on 20 minutes, when he met a superb Ljubo Milicevic through ball, but his shot was saved well down low by Robert Bajic.
Merrick’s men finished the opening 45 minutes strongly though with both Matthew Kemp and Kevin Muscat going close with efforts from distance.
Early in the second half, a vital clearance from Melbourne’s Adrian Leijer thwarted Les Anastasiou while Joseph Keenan brought a decent stop from Bajic at the other end.
The woodwork saved Melbourne from going two down midway through the second period with Cassio’s 67th minute free-kick clipping the crossbar.
However, Allsopp pounced to level matters and Victory almost snatched the win when Rodrigo Vargas connected with Kevin Muscat’s free-kick but couldn’t direct it on target.
Sunshine Coast shut-out as spoils shared
Queensland Roar 0 Sydney FC 0
Sydney FC’s pursuit of Robbie Fowler’s goals may be hogging the headlines but the club’s defensive players seem anxious not to be forgotten.
Branko Culina’s men earned a goalless draw with Queensland Roar in their opening game of the Pre-Season Cup at Maroochydore.
Goalkeeper Clint Bolton, who recorded his fourth consecutive clean sheet, made two fine stops to deny Roar’s Matt McKay while Sydney went close at the other end with Adam Casey’s header whistling narrowly over the crossbar.
While Culina was unable to include former Socceroo Tony Popovic, with his registration yet to be finalised, Roar boss Frank Farina was denied the services of Marcinho and Robbie Kruse.
The former was not risked after picking a groin problem while Kruse suffered facial injuries in training, likely to keep him sidelined for at least 10 weeks.
In a match of few opportunities Roar could have snatched victory in the dying stages but Simon Lynch spurned a decent chance when he failed to control a Massimo Murdocca cross.
Defeat but no despair for new boys Phoenix
Central Coast Mariners 2 Wellington Phoenix 0
A-LEAGUE newcomer Wellington Phoenix tasted defeat in its first competitive outing yet coach Ricki Herbert was far from depressed after a 2-0 loss to Central Coast Mariners.
First half goals from Alex Wilkinson and Adam Kwasnik proved decisive at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium.
New skipper Wilkinson struck as early as the third minute with Kwasnik doubling the lead on the half hour.
Herbert saw his goalkeeper Glen Moss make some terrific saves with Daniel and Shane Smeltz a threat down the flanks and strikers Royce Brownlie and Vaughan Coveny a threat in attack.
The only disappointment for Phoenix was the dismissal of defender Steven O’Dor shortly after the break.
The Central Coast has now gone nine Pre-Season Cup matches without loss in regulation time, and will be keen to ensure this record enters double figures when they travel to Orange next Saturday (21 July) to take on Group B rivals the Queensland Roar.
Herbert’s Phoenix side continues its Pre-Season Cup campaign on Saturday against Branko Culina’s Sydney FC.
Perth down Jets through Harnwell strike
Newcastle Jets 0 Perth Glory 1
GLORY’S newest recruit enjoyed a winning start to life in Perth colours but it was a more familiar face who grabbed the all-important goal against Newcastle Jets.
Midfielder Mitchell Prentice had signed on the dotted line less than 24 hours before kick-off and was handed his first taste of action just 33 minutes into the Pre-Season Cup clash at Port Macquarie.
The only goal of the encounter was netted three minutes into the second half by Jamie Harnwell.
He was played in by fellow strike partner Nikita Rukavytsya and calmly slotted the ball home.
Harnwell had seen an earlier chance drop just wide of the target while Glory keeper Tando Velaphi was called into action a couple of times at the other end of the field.
New boy Prentice started on the bench but was handed a taste of the action barely 30 minutes into the match, David Micevski forced off with a knee injury.
An Australian Institute of Sport graduate, Prentice played with Northern Spirit and Marconi in the NSL before trying his luck overseas where he had short stints with Scottish club Stirling Albion and most recently with Malaysian Super League side Pahang.
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