The top three sides from last season received a sobering slap in the face this week to rouse them from their slumber  - and remind them it won't be any kind of a cakewalk this year.

Gold Coast United's sputtering start to the season continued after their first round draw with Brisbane Roar.

They traveled to Wellington - which lived up to its reputation for wild wet and windy weather  -  only to trail Wellington for the bulk of the contest up. It took Culina's equalizer in the 85^th minute to let Gold Coast escape with a draw after another six goal thriller.

Melbourne backed up their six goal slugfest with Sydney FC last weekend to face Perth Glory in their A-League debut at their new stadium.

But Perth hadn't read the party plan and Victory succumbed to Glory's midfield bullying to fall by two goals.

Victory dominated possession but were unable to put the ball in the back of the net - and as Kevin Muscat pointed out, possession doesn’t mean anything unless you capitalise on it.

Last year’s Premiers Sydney were the last of last year’s heavyweights to suffer an early season setback, as their story mirrored that of Melbourne’s. They too commanded possession and they too found it difficult to score against a giant killing North Queensland Fury team.

Meanwhile Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United - last season's wooden spoon winners and perpetually predicted wooden spoon contenders - couldn't find a way past each other, even after the tide turned dramatically in the home side's favour for the final half hour.

Adelaide need to give better service to ace striker Sergio van Dijk if they are to get off the bottom this season - and Mariners need to stop losing goals in set pieces if they are to fight their way to the finals.

As pundits continue to profess the equality in the league this season, which is seen by the slew of draws, it would be prudent to look at the facts.

Seven out of the ten games so far have ended in draws, meaning just three have had results - and two out of those three results saw Melbourne and Sydney lose.

Is it a sign? Is it a changing of the guard? No, it was just game week two.

Wellington Phoenix                              3  (Paul IFILL 6’, Chris GREENACRE 37’/55’)
Gold Coast United                                3  (Shane SMELTZ 36’/74’, Jason CULINA 86’)

Friday, 13 August, 2010
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Peter O’Leary
Assistant referees: Jan Hintz and Glen Lochrie
Fourth Official: Matthew Conger
Crowd: 8,398

Westpac Stadium was transformed into Westpac Aquatic Centre as Gold Coast travelled to Wellington on Friday the 13^th. Despite the dire conditions, the game was quite open and expansive as attack turned into defence in a blink of an eye. Wellington raced into the lead with an early goal to Paul Ifill who shows no signs of the second season blues.

Although Phoenix led on the scoreboard, it was Gold Coast who dictated the play, and they were finally rewarded in the 35^th minute as Smeltz rubbed salt into a still raw Wellington wound. The parity was short lived though with Wellington hit back a minute later.

Even though the play was end to end, it was often due to the interference of the weather on proceedings which caused multiple passes to fall short. Gold Coast finished the match strong (NB I ignored the use of the saying “with a wet sail”) with Jason Culina squaring the match at 3-3 in the 85^th minute. In a night when good football would seem impossibile, these two sides managed to put on a competitive display.

Wellington Phoenix

1. Mark PASTON (gk), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Chris GREENACRE, 11. DANIEL, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Dylan MACALLISTER

Substitutes Not Used:

10. Oscar Roberto CORNEJO, 20. J GOULD (gk)

Yellow cards:
BERTOS, SIGMUND, DURANTE

Gold Coast United.
1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE, 5.ROBSON, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 8.ANDERSON, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Jason CULINA (c), 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 14.Joel PORTER, 15.Tahj MINNIECON, 16.Kristian REES, 18.James BROWN

Substitutes Not Used: 

20.Scott HIGGINS (gk)

Yellow cards:

THWAITE, DJULBIC, MINNIECON

Newcastle Jets                                     1 (Jeremy BROCKIE 60’)
Melbourne Heart                                   1 (Ben KANTAROVSKI 79’ (OG))

Friday, 13 August, 2010
EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
Referee: Ryan Shepheard
Assistant referees: Ryan Gallagher and Rod Allen
Fourth Official: Kurt Ams
Crowd: 8,735

Melbourne Heart ventured to Newcastle in search of their first goal and first point of their existence. But during the first half, Melbourne seemed like a team that was lost as Newcastle dictated the play and were the more lively of the two sides.

Heart’s highlight was an early rasping header from Sibon before they lost Josip Skoko in the 17^th minute to a knee complaint which further raised concerns over his age and fitness.

Heart had Clint Bolton to thank for the 0-0 score at the end of the first half as he produced sprawling saves from Jesic and Brockie attempts on goal. Not to be outdone, Ben Kennedy reminded the Squadron that there were two adept keepers on the pitch with a split second reaction save from a Kalmar header.

Newcastle continued to control the majority of play early in the second half and looked to have won themselves a penalty as Bridges was taken down in the box. The referee, however saw it differently giving Bridges a card for simulation. There was no doubt ten minutes later when Jeremy Brockie received the ball on the wing and dragged it inside, then squeezed the ball under Bolton’s right hand.

Newcastle seemed content to sit on the goal advantage as Melbourne started to take a foothold in the middle of the park. Wehrman and Milicevic were always in the way however and continually cut off many Heart attacks.

From a Newcastle corner Melbourne marauded forwarded and Rutger Worm released a swerving pass that was cut off only for Kantarovski’s attempted clearance to end up in his own net.

There is no doubt that Heart have the firepower on their team, but right now they’re not reading from the same manual.

Newcastle Jets

1. Ben KENNEDY (gk), 3. Adam D’APUZZO, 4. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 5. Ljubo MILICEVIC 6. Ben KANTAROVSKI ,7. Kasey WEHRMAN 8. Michael BRIDGES, 10. Ruben ZADKOVICH, 11. Tarek ELRICH, 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE, 14. Labinot HALITI, 16. Jeremy BROCKIE, 18. Marko JESIC, 19. Ali ABASS

Substitutes Not Used:

30. Paul HENDERSON

Yellow Cards

KANTAROVSKI, ABASS, BRIDGES

Melbourne Heart

1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Michael MARRONE, 3. Brendan HAMILL, 4. Simon COLOSIMO (c), 5. Michael BEAUCHAMP, 6. Matthew THOMPSON, 7. Rutger WORM, 9. Gerald SIBON, 10. Wayne SRHOJ, 11. ALEX TERRA, 19. Eli BABALJ, 20. Josip SKOKO, 22. Nick KALMAR, 23. Dean HEFFERNAN,

Substitutes Not Used:

12. Peter ZOIS (gk),

North Queensland Fury            2 (Chris GROSSMAN 64’, Dyron DAAL 83’)
Sydney FC                               1 (Scott JAMIESON 82’)

Saturday, 14 August, 2010
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
Referee: Peter Green
Assistant referees: Ashley Beecham and Graham Buzzi
Fourth Official: Matthew Gillett
Crowd: 5,177

The story of this match-up was decided by the opposing Czech coaches sitting on opposing ends of the pitch. At one end the blue steel gaze of the Sydney manager, the man with no emotion, and robotic tendencies. At the other the refreshing Franz Straka who wears his heart on his sleeve and has the dress sense of a pimp. The first decision affecting the game was by Lavica, who made the curious decision. To replace the injured Mark Bridge with an extra midfielder therefore leaving Brosque up front by himself. It was a curious decision which portayed a defensive set up by Sydney.

Fast forward to the second half as there was very little to talk about in the first. Chris Grossman broke the deadlock in the 64^th minute after receiving the ball from Payne. The blistering shot beating Reddy at his near post and left him rooted to the spot.

It was the ex-Brisbane Roar players show as Isaka Cernak was one of North Queensland’s standout players, as well as Englishman Mark Hughes who was dominating anything in the air. Sydney seemed to suffer from only having Brosque up front as he was often left stranded with no support.

To add spice to the final 10 minutes Jamieson scored with a clinical header only to find Sydney back chasing Fury one minute later with a Daal winner that ultimately settled the contest.

North Queensland Fury
1. Justin PASFIELD (gk), 4. Eric AKOTO, 5. Mark HUGHES, 7. Gareth EDDS (c), 8. Adam CASEY, 10. Dyron DAAL, 11. David WILLIAMS, 14. Chris GROSSMAN, 15. Chris PAYNE, 16. Simon STOREY, 17. Osama MALIK, 19. Isaka CERNAK,

Substitutes Not Used:

20. Matthew HAM (gk)

Yellow cards:
DAAL, PAYNE,

Sydney FC
1. Liam REDDY (gk), 2. Sebastian RYALL 3. Stephan KELLER, 5. Hayden FOXE, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 10. Nick CARLE, 11. Kofi DANNING, 12. Shannon COLE, 13. Antony GOLEC, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN (c), 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21. Scott JAMIESON, 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN, 23. Rhyan GRANT

Substitutes Not Used:
20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk),

Yellow cards:

FOX, RYALL, KELLER

Melbourne Victory                    0
Perth Glory                              2 (Jamie HARNWELL 23’, Mile STERJOVSKI 49’)

Saturday, 14 August, 2010
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Referee: Gerard Parsons
Assitant referees: Luke Brennan and James Nicolopoulos
Fourth Official: Alex Azcurraa
Crowd: 20,358

It was Melbourne Victory’s turn to make their debut in AAMI Park stadium against Perth Glory. The opening to the game was back and forth and from end to end with Mile Sterjovski looking ominous.

The game was there to be won in the midfield with Glory playing only Robbie Fowler upfront and Melbourne leading the line with three attacking midfielders due to their diminishing stock of strikers. It was the midfield where most of the action was, with a lot of hard tackles being dealt out to any who unfortunate to be near the ball.

Jacob Burns was lucky not to receive a card of any colour due to his rash tackles that were bordering on reckless. His tackling however did have the desired effect as it disrupted the Melbourne midfield.

Harnwell edged Glory ahead after he bundled a loose ball into the back of the net. Surat Sukha had a second half attempt clatter off Velaphi as Victory increased the tempo and took control of possession searching for the equaliser.

Glory were content to sit back and absorb, and it was this tactic that lead to Perth’s second goal with Sterjovski thundering in a shot from a ricochet.

Melbourne Victory
1.Michael PETKOVIC (gk), 2.Kevin MUSCAT (c), 3.Mate DUGANDZIC, 5. Surat SUKHA, 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 8.Grant BREBNER, 11.Marvin ANGULO, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS, 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Billy CELESKI, 15.Tom PONDELJAK, 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 19.Evan BERGER, 23.Adrian LEIJER.

Substitutes Not Used:

20.Sebastian MATTEI (gk)

Yellow cards:

BREBNER,

Perth Glory
1. Tando VELAPHI, 3. Jamie COYNE, 5. Jamie HARNWELL, 7. Jacob BURNS (c), 9.Robbie FOWLER, 11. Branko JELIC, 12. Scott NEVILLE, 14. Steven McGARRY, 15 Howard FONDYKE, 16. Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17. Todd HOWARTH, 19. Naum SEKULOVSKI, 21. Mile STERJOVSKI,

Substitutes Not Used:

20. Aleks VRTESKI, 23. ANDRIJA JUKIC.

Yellow cards:

NEVILLE

Central Coast Mariners                                     1 (Matt SIMON 84’)
Adelaide United                                                1 (Iain FYFE 45’+1)

Sunday, 15 August 2010
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Referee: Kris Griffith-Jones
Assistant referees: Ben Wilson and Sarah Ho
Fourth Official: Stuart Wolfe
Crowd: 8,447

Matt Simon rescued Central Coast in the 83^rd minute, turning a disappointing defeat into a face-saving draw at Bluetongue Stadium. Adelaide’s centreback Ian Fyfe turned in a free kick in the shadows of half time to cap off a cagey opening 45 minutes.

The half was flat as Adelaide found it difficult to find the last pass to open up the Mariners, and again Sergio Van Dijk was playing a lone role upfront with support often missing.

Central Coast welcomed their newest player Joshua Rose into their squad and he displayed a fleet foot down the left wing catching Adelaide by surprise and also catching an Adam Hughes right hook. Lucas Pantelis was Adelaide's main threat during the half, looking dangerous inside and outside of the penalty area.

Central Coast stepped up the tempo in the second half searching for the equaliser which Simon snared after the ball bounced around in the box. After the goal the Mariners looked the most likely to snatch the win with several chances presenting themselves, including an apparent handball by Daniel Mullen in the Adelaide penalty area which was ignored - and certain to spark debate over the wording of the handball rule.

Central Coast Mariners 
1. Jess VANSTRATTAN (gk), 2 Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Brad PORTER, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 9. Nik MRDJA, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 23. Adam KWASNIK

Substitutes Not Used:

20. Mathew RYAN (gk)

Yellow cards:

ROSE, ZWAANSWIJK, BOZANIC

Adelaide United
1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (c), 8.Adam HUGHES, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Marcos FLORES, 12.Paul REID, 15.Francsco MONTEROSSO, 16.Inseob SHIN, 17.Iain RAMSAY, 19.Mathew LECKIE, 24.Cameron WATSON

Substitutes Not Used:

20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)

Yellow cards:

GALEKOVIC, MULLEN, HUGHES x2,

Red card

HUGHES

P = played | W = wins | D = draws | L = losses | F = goals for | A = goals against | GD = Goal Difference | Pts = points

Hyundai A-League 2010/11 - Leading Goal-Scorers

2 - Chris GREENACRE, Chris GROSSMAN, Shane SMELTZ, Mile STERJOVSKI

1 -  Jeremy BROCKIE, Alex BROSQUE, Leigh BROXHAM, Billy CELESKI, Shannon COLE, Jason CULINA, Dyron DAAL, Mate DUGANDZIC, Iain FYFE, Jamie HARNWELL, Paul IFILL, Scott JAMIESON, Branko JELIC, Terry MCFLYNN, Scott NEVILLE, Chris PAYNE, Matt SIMON, Alex WILKINSON, David WILLIAMS

Gameweek 3 Fixtures