Phoenix snapped up a record club game crowd thanks to their two-for-one deal on the Beckham match with 18,000+ turning out for their match against Adelaide.

And while the Galaxy game might not have gone so well for the Kiwis, the Adelaide game was a thriller even if the result didn't go their way thanks to a goal at last from Reds marquee Paul Agostino and a winner from Lucas Pantelis.

Once more Phoenix put on a great display only to walk away empty-handed again, even against 10-men. This season's as good as over for them, but there is so much potential there for next year with just a few key defensive signings.

They went on to be thumped 4-1 by Galaxy but back-to-back games was never going to be easy for them, even in an exhibition match. The all-time record Kiwi crowd for a footy game though went home happy having seen their own Beckham goal too.

The Jets-Roar game is best skated over. The dullfest gave Newcastle three vital points to keep them in finals contention - and sent Joel Griffiths to the top of the season's goalscorer chart - but Roar stayed second despite the loss.

Roar need to pick up their game now though - their mid-season revival is officially over and they're in danger of going backwards from next weekend.

Sydney's game at Gosford against Central Coast Mariners was a washout thanks to a late downpour to undo the drainage work done earlier. It was the first time ever an A-League match has been postponed...which goes to show the FFA can do it if they want to.

Mariners should have a full squad to choose from for the confirmed December 22 rematch but Sydney will hopefully also have the injured Juninho available by then...and for Sydney, that's a huge, potentially match-winning, boost, regardless of who Mariners field.

Despite the inconvenience for the travelling fans, Sydney are the net winners from the date change.

Finally Perth notched up their first home win of the season with an impressive thrashing of defending champs, Melbourne.

Where does Merrick go from here? Allsop's just not doing it this season - but who to replace him with? And Caceres proved yet again he should be played from the start, week in, week out.

For Perth Nikita Rukavytsya is finally showing the potential he was said to have now that he's no longer in the shadow of the tragically disappointing Mate Dragicevic.

Jamie Harnwell proved yet again why he should have been a first choice player every week under Ron Smith, Jamie Coyne put blood, sweat and tears into the win and Jimmy Downey was a revelation.

Throw in Simon Colosimo's spirited captaincy, Billy Celeski, Dino Djulbic, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Mitchell Prentice and even Tando Velaphi and Perth have one helluva team coming through.

If only the FFA had cancelled A-League matches when the national teams were playing, perhaps Ron Smith could still be in a job...and Perth could be challenging for a finals slot.

It's looking good for Dave Mitchell next year though.

So...even with their match postponed, Mariners are still comfortably four points clear at the top with one game in hand, Roar are clinging to second spot, Adelaide are hot on their heels and Jets have pulled away from the pack.

Sydney also have a game in hand and stay fifth, Victory are in grave danger of going into league table freefall with Perth Glory now just one win behind them, ahead on goal difference from new cellar dwellers, Wellington Phoenix.

Sometimes, I reckon Ernie Merrick fancies himself as the A-League's Alex Ferguson - in which case, it's now officially 'squeaky bum time' for Ernie...if, of course, he's still around to see the end of the season with Victory.

But that's looking increasingly unlikely unless they win next weekend. Could Victory fans swallow Branko Culina in charge at Melbourne?


versus
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Daniel 68’)
Adelaide United 2 (Paul Agostino 9’, Lucas Pantelis 77’)

Friday, 30 November 2007
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
Referee: Craig Zetter
Assistant Referees: Paul Dunham & Nick Waldron
Fourth Official: Michael Hester

Crowd: 18,345 (Record New Zealand Domestic Football Crowd for a Competitive Match)


Wellington Phoenix
20.Glen MOSS (gk), 3.Tony LOCHHEAD, 5.Karl DODD, 6.Tim BROWN (Captain) (8.Vaughan COVENY 65’), 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Michael FERRANTE, 11.DANIEL, 16.Kristian REES, 17.Vince LIA, 18.Ahmad ELRICH, 21.FELIPE.

Substitutes Not Used: 1.Mark PASTON (gk), 2.Jeremy CHRISTIE, 13.Steven OLD.

Yellow Cards: Jeremy Christie 90+2’.

Red Cards: Nil.

Adelaide United:
50.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Richie ALAGICH, 3.Milan SUSAK, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (23.Dez GIRALDI 90+2’), 8.Kristian SARKIES (14.Shaun ONTONG 74’), 9.Paul AGOSTINO (Captain), 10.Nathan BURNS (26.Fabian BARBIERO 90+4’), 13.Travis DODD, 17.Isyan ERDOGAN, 22.DIEGO, 24.Tomi MILARDOVIC.

Substitutes Not Used: 20.Robert BAJIC (gk). Diego 58’, Lucas Pantelis 59’, Isyan Erdogan 90+2’, Shaun Ontong 90+1’.

Yellow Cards: Milan Susak 50’/68’.

Red Cards: Milan Susak 68’.



versus
Queensland Roar 0
Newcastle Jets 1 (Joel Griffiths 90+1’)

Friday, 30 November 2007
Suncorp Stadium, Queensland
Referee: Peter Green
Assistant Referees: Jason Power & Denis Silk
Fourth Official: Chris Beath

Crowd: 14,193


Queensland Roar:
1.Liam REDDY (gk), 5.Josh McCLOUGHAN, 6.Stuart McLAREN (14.Ben GRIFFIN 90’), 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 11.REINALDO (9.Simon LYNCH 58’), 15.Matt McKAY, 16.Hyuk-Su SEO, 18.Danny TIATTO (captain), 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 22.Robbie KRUSE (17.Mitch NICHOLS 78’), 23.MARCINHO.

Substitutes Not Used: 30.Griffin McMASTER (gk).

Yellow Cards: Hyuk-Su Seo 26’, Stuart McLaren 32’.

Red Cards: Nil

Newcastle Jets:
1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Adam GRIFFITHS, 3.Jade NORTH (Captain), 5.Stuart MUSIALIK, 6.Andrew DURANTE, 9.Joel GRIFFITHS, 10.DENNI (23.Jason HOFFMAN 60’), 11.Tarek ELRICH, 13.Adam D’APUZZO,14.Jobe WHEELHOUSE (18.Noel SPENCER 90’), 21.Mario JARDEL (8.Matt THOMPSON 45+2’).

Substitutes Not Used: 20.Ben KENNEDY (GK).

Yellow Cards: Adam Griffiths 14’, Joel Griffiths 26’, Stuart Musialik 44’.

Red Cards: Nil.



versus
Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC
Match postponed due to extreme weather conditions

Saturday, 1 December 2007
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Referee: Matthew Breeze
Assistant Referees: Rodney Allen & Alex Glasgow
Fourth Official: Strebre Delovski




versus
Perth Glory 3 (Jamie Harnwell 18’, Nikita Rukavytsya 27’/46’)
Melbourne Victory 1 (Adrian Caceres 37’)

Sunday, 2 December 2007
Members Equity Stadium, Perth
Referee: Ben Williams
Assistant Referees: Michael Nugus & Mathew Cheeseman
Fourth Official: Steven Gregory

Crowd: 8,030


Perth Glory:
30.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 2.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 4.Simon COLOSIMO (10.Billy CELESKI 57’), 5.Jamie HARNWELL, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 12.Leo BERTOS, 13.Nikita RUKAVYTSYA, 14.Jamie COYNE, 15.Mitchell PRENTICE, 17.Jimmy DOWNEY (, 22.Jerry KARPEH 46’), 21.James ROBINSON.

Substitutes Not Used: 50.Tommi TOMICH (gk), 16.Nick RIZZO.

Yellow Cards: Mitchell Prentice 32’.

Red Cards: Nil.

Melbourne Victory:
Melbourne Victory: 1.Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 6.Steve PANTELIDIS, 7.Matthew KEMP (16.Carlos HERNANDEZ 54’), 8.Grant BREBNER, 9.Danny ALLSOPP, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 11.Joespeh KEENAN, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS, 14.Adrian CACERES (13.Kaz PATAFTA 81’), 17.Daniel VASILEVSKI, 18.Leigh BROXHAM.

Substitutes Not Used: 21.Sebastian RYALL, 30.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk).

Yellow Cards: Steve Pantelidis 26’, Leigh Broxham 67’.

Red Cards: Nil.


Hyundai A-League 2007/08 – Leading Goalscorers To Round 15

7- Joel Griffiths (NJ)
6 - Alex Brosque (SFC), Jamie Harnwell (PG)
5 - Sasho Petrovski (CCM), Shane Smeltz (WP)
4 - Archie Thompson (MV), Bruce Djite (AU), Daniel (WP), Lucas Pantelis (AU), Nikita Rukavytsa (PG), Reinaldo (QR), Travis Dodd (AU)
3 - Danny Allsopp (MV), Nathan Burns (AU), Robbie Kruse (QR)
2 - Adam Kwasnik (CCM), Carlos Hernandez (MV), Felipe (WP), Adam Griffiths (NJ), John Aloisi (CCM), John Hutchinson (CCM), Josh McCloughan (QR), Kevin Muscat (MV), Marcinho (QR), Mark Bridge (NJ), Matt McKay (QR), Nik Mrdja (CCM), Patrick (SFC), Richie Alagich (AU), Ross Aloisi (WP), Simon Lynch (QR), Tom Pondeljak (CCM)
1 - Adam Casey (SFC), Adrian Caceres (MV), Ahmad Elrich (WP), Billy Celeski (PG), Dean Heffernan (CCM), Dez Giraldi (AU), Diego (AU), Greg Owens (CCM), James Robinson (PG), Jamie Coyne (PG), Jason Spagnuolo (AU), Jordan Simpson (PG), Matt Thompson (NJ), Michael Bridges (SFC), Michael Zullo (QR), Mitchell Prentice (PG), Paul Agostino (AU), Rodrigo Vargas (MV), Sasa Ognenovski (QR), Steven Old (WP), Stuart Musialik (NJ), Tony Lochhead (WP), Tony Popovic (SFC), Ufuk Talay (SFC), Vaughan Coveny (WP), Vince Lia (WP)

A-League Ladder After Round 15


A-League Crowds After Round 15