Premiers Finally Decided

Roar, deservedly, were crowned Premiers after Central Coast Mariners failed to collect three points against Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Rather than having to wait to achieve a result in North Queensland on Tuesday night, Brisbane knew they had secured top spot once the final whistle sounded in Melbourne.

Sixth spot was also up grabs with many writing Wellington Phoenix off and giving them little chance of upsetting the Reds in Adelaide.

But they did just that, after being criticised in the local media over the weekend, with Chris Greenacre finding the winner. 

Once Newcastle and Sydney played out a draw, it mathematically knocked the latter out of the race and left the former with very little chance of making it.

Melbourne Heart failed to pick up the required three points after their draw with the Mariners, their fourth stalemate in five games.

The second spot double chance is still up for grabs but if Central Coast manage a point on the Gold Coast mid-week, they will seal that position.

Home finals are still there to play for but it is very likely Adelaide United and Gold Coast will hold those spots, although the order is unknown.

If the Reds slip, it could set up a blockbuster first up final against Melbourne Victory at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Unless something drastic happens, Sergio van Dijk is guaranteed the Golden Boot for his stellar season.

The wooden spoon remains undecided but if Fury don’t pick up a point against Roar on Tuesday night, that will be theirs.

A week can be a decisive time in football as the change in scenery shows.

Melbourne Heart 1 (Matt Thompson 49’)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Daniel McBreen 50’)
Crowd: 3667 @ AAMI Park

MELBOURNE Heart’s finals hopes were all but ended as they played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Central Coast in heavy rain, making Brisbane Premiers.

The Mariners needed to keep winning to ensure Roar would have to wrap up their own Premiership, but they were forced to settle for a draw in Melbourne.

Kick off was delayed 80 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch after torrential rain hit the city just before the scheduled 8pm start.

When the game did begin, the teams exchanged chances in what was at times driving rain.

The difficulty for the keepers was made obvious inside six minutes with Clint Bolton allowing a regulation save to slip through his legs, but he retrieved the rolling ball before it had entirely crossed the line.

John Aloisi put a header straight at Mathew Ryan while Simon Colosimo was forced into a last ditch slide tackle to block an effort from Matt Simon.

The second half began in bizarre fashion as Matt Thompson opened the scoring in unusual fashion.

Thompson struck a long ball from inside his own half that Ryan came out to collect, but the young keeper misjudged the bounce on the skidding turf, seeing the ball bounce over his head and he fumbled it into the net when heading back to retrieve.

But the visitors weren’t behind for long as they replied within 60 seconds as Joshua Rose put in a cross from the left that Daniel McBreen eventually bundled over the line.

Both sides had their chances late on but a draw was a fair result for two evenly matched sides.

Heart are now relying on other results to make the top six while the Mariners head into a busy schedule that includes a mid-week game possibly without Simon, who injured his knee and was substituted in the first half.

Melbourne Heart: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Michael MARRONE, 4. Simon COLOSIMO (c), 6. Matt THOMPSON, 7. Rutger WORM (14. Kamal IBRAHIM 63’), 9. Gerald SIBON, 10. Wayne SRHOJ (22. Nick KALMAR 87’), 11. Alex TERRA, 15. John ALOISI, 16. Aziz BEHICH, 20. Josip SKOKO (3. Brendan HAMILL 46’)
Unused sub: 12. Peter ZOIS (gk)
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None

Central Coast Mariners: 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 2. Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ (7. John HUTCHINSON 80’), 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY (22. Mustafa AMINI 90+2’), 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON (23. Adam KWASNIK 35’)
Unused sub: 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk)
Yellow cards: McGlinchey (55’), Amini (90+3’)
Red cards: None 

Man of the match – With not much separating the two teams, it’s a dead heat between two of the defensive leaders on the pitch: Mr Mariners, Alex Wilkinson and the unflappable Matt Thompson.

Key moment – The extended delay to kick off probably didn’t do anything to help the players in already rather undesirable conditions. Although the pitch drained really well (kudos to whoever worked that one out!), the disruption in the schedule, combined with the slippery pitch, meant that both teams were subject to a number of uncharacteristic errors. Ratings by Arabella Vaughan

Adelaide United 0
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Chris Greenacre 35’)
Crowd: 7498 @ Hindmarsh Stadium

WELLINGTON Phoenix all but sewed up sixth spot with a first victory at Hindmarsh Stadium in a 1-0 win over Adelaide United.

The Reds lacked cohesion at times on the back of a heavy schedule of matches that included their scoreless draw on the Gold Coast mid-week.

Young winger Marco Rojas caused plenty of trouble down the flank and it was his cross that set up what proved to be the winner.

His cross in and behind the Adelaide defence from the right hand side found a diving Chris Greenacre to head home.

Greenacre had a shot cleared off the goal line inside two minutes but Adelaide had chances of their own in the opening period.

Paul Reid was denied in a one-on-one while Sergio van Dijk blazed over from distance.

Greenacre almost had two after scoring the 400^th goal of season six, again set up by a dangerous run from Rojas on the right hand side but this time saved by Eugene Galekovic at the near post.

Travis Dodd came the closest in the second half but after squeezing his shot between the legs of Danny Vukovic, Jade North cleared onto the crossbar and denied the captain an equalizer.

Phoenix hung on to all but guarantee sixth spot while Adelaide have now lost two of their last three.

Adelaide United: 1. Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 3. Nigel BOOGAARD, 6. CASSIO (22. Osama MALIK 31’), 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Marcos FLORES, 12. Paul REID, 13. Travis DODD (c), 14. Cameron WATSON, 16. Dario BODRUSIC (8. Adam HUGHES 46’), 17. Iain RAMSAY (11. Andwele SLORY 62’), 21. Francisco USUCAR
Unused sub: 20. Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None

Wellington Phoenix: 19. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Nick WARD, 6. Tim BROWN, 9. Chris GREENACRE, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 15. Jade NORTH, 17. Vince LIA (11. DANIEL 27’), 21. Marco ROJAS, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Dylan MACALLISTER
Unused subs: 20. Reece CROWTHER (gk), 10. Oscar Roberto CORNEJO, 12. James MUSA
Yellow cards: Brown (42’), Hearfield (65’), Durante (81’)
Red cards: None

Man of the Match – Although Marco Rojas was electric in the first half, Danny Vukovic should get the credit for a strong performance between the sticks. The Phoenix ‘keeper made several crucial saves from short and long range.

Key moment – A fantastic lofted pass from Marcos Flores should have seen Travis Dodd bury an equaliser for Adelaide just after the hour mark. He couldn’t, as Danny Vukovic did just enough to allow Jade North to scramble back and turn the ball onto the crossbar. Ratings by Matt Dorman

Newcastle Jets 1 (Sasho Petrovski 85’)
Sydney FC 1 (Bruno Cazarine 77’)
Crowd: 6780 @ EnergyAustralia Stadium

NEWCASTLE Jets and Sydney FC played out a 1-1 draw that suited neither side in wet conditions at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

With both desperate to stay in touch with the top six with three points, the Jets should arguably have found a late winner.

There were few shots on target in the first half but Labinot Haliti came closest after deflecting a long range shot from Tarek Elrich, but his strike came crashing off the crossbar.

The Sky Blues played with more purpose in the second period and Nick Carle was denied twice after shooting from distance.

The goal came for the visitors when Bruno Cazarine was allowed too much space to turn inside the area after receiving a throw in, finishing smartly along the ground and into the corner of Ben Kennedy’s net.

But Sasho Petrovski popped up late again, tapping in from close after a header from Nikolai Topor-Stanley was pushed into his path.

Topor-Stanley should have had the winner with seconds remaining, but he kneed his effort from inside five yards over the bar.

Sydney are mathematically out of the finals while the Jets will need a bit of luck to pinch sixth spot.

Newcastle Jets: 1. Ben KENNEDY (gk), 3. Adam D’APUZZO, 4. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY (c), 11. Tarek ELRICH, 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE, 14. Labinot HALITI (31. Jacob PEPPER 84’), 16. Jeremy BROCKIE (13. Sasho PETROVSKI 67’), 18. Marko JESIC, 19. Ali ABBAS (26. James VIRGILI 67’), 25. Samuel GALLAWAY, 28. Mario SIMIC
Unused sub: 40. Matthew NASH (gk)
Yellow cards: Topor-Stanley (89’), Elrich (90+1’)
Red cards: None

Sydney FC: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 3. Stephan KELLER, 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU (12. Shannon COLE 74’), 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 9. Bruno CAZARINE, 10. Nick CARLE (2. Sebastian RYALL 84’), 15. Terry MCFLYNN (c), 17. Matthew JURMAN, 21. Scott JAMIESON, 22. Sung Hwan BYUN, 24. Dimitri PETRATOS (18. Juho MAKELA 44’)
Unused sub: 30. Dylan MITCHELL (gk)
Yellow card: Makela (73’)
Red cards: None

Man of the match – Newcastle Jets’ Nikolai Topor-Stanley put on a great performance, possibly wanting to impress against his rumoured next club. He was fantastic in defence, fighting off many Sydney attacks and was always a threat at set pieces. An all round great performance – up until that miss right at the death – and he would be a great loss to the Jets were he to choose Sydney next season.

Key moment – I hate to bring it up again, but Topor-Stanley’s miss right at the death could’ve sealed it for the Jets. Nevertheless, a draw was probably a fair result. AV

Perth Glory 1 (Adam Taggart 75’)
Gold Coast United 2 (Shane Smeltz 33’(pen), 56’(pen))
Crowd: 6617 @ nib Stadium

GOLD Coast United kept the pressure on third-placed Adelaide United with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory.

 A penalty brace from Shane Smeltz ensured the visitors took the points despite Adam Taggart pulling one back late on with his first A-League goal.

Golgol Mebrahtu was brought down by Jamie Harnwell for the first spot kick with Smeltz finishing well.

Adriano Pellegrino tried his luck from distance before the second penalty just after half time was awarded against Josh Mitchell.

Mebrahtu’s replacement, Adama Traore, was fouled by Mitchell and Smeltz placed the penalty into the roof of the net.

Glory pulled one back through young Taggart and Harnwell flicked a header on with the striker placing smartly past Glen Moss.

A home final is just about guaranteed for United ahead of a big game against the Mariners on Wednesday night while Glory couldn’t farewell legend Harnwell in winning fashion.

Perth Glory: 1. Tando VELAPHI (gk), 2. Josh MITCHELL, 5. Jamie HARNWELL, 7. Jacob BURNS (c), 9. Robbie FOWLER, 12. Scott NEVILLE, 14. Steven MCGARRY (18. Brent GRIFFITHS 71’), 16. Adriano PELLEGRINO, 19. Naum SEKULOVSKI (17. Todd HOWARTH 60’), 24. Josh RISDON (13. Tommy AMPHLETT 60’), 26. Adam TAGGART
Unused sub: 20. Alex PEARSON (gk)
Yellow cards: Neville (21’), Burns (24’), Harnwell (31’)
Red cards: None

Gold Coast United: 1. Glen MOSS (gk), 2. Steve PANTELIDIS, 3. Michael THWAITE (c), 6. Dino DJULBIC, 7. Zenon CARAVELLA, 8. ANDERSON, 9. Shane SMELTZ (27. Chris HAROLD 90+1’), 15. Tahj MINNIECON (23. Steve FITZSIMMONS 73’), 16. Kristian REES, 21. Golgol MEBRAHTU (22. Adama TRAORE 34’), 33. Peter PERCHTOLD
Unused sub: 20. Scott HIGGINS (gk)
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None

Man of the Match – Miron Bleiberg was foiled in his plans of keeping Adama Traore on the bench, albeit for the good of the side. The Ivorian was an immediate threat after replacing the injured Mebrahtu, winning the decisive second penalty for Gold Coast.

Key Moment – Shane Smeltz’s second penalty, and Gold Coast’s third genuine shout, decided the match. It was to be expected that Perth would make something of a comeback but in the end a two-goal deficit was out of their reach. MD

Weekend Break: Melbourne Victory

Tuesday night: North Queensland Fury v Brisbane Roar @ Dairy Farmers Stadium

Wednesday night: Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix @ Sydney Football Stadium, Gold Coast United v Central Coast Mariners @ Skilled Park

Thursday night: Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory @ EnergyAustralia Stadium

Hyundai A-League 2010/11 League Table

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

16 – Sergio VAN DIJK

11 – Robbie KRUSE, Matt SIMON, Jean Carlos SOLORZANO

10 – Kosta BARBAROUSES

9 – Bruno CAZARINE, Bruce DJITE, Marcos FLORES, Robbie FOWLER, Adam KWASNIK

7 – John ALOISI, Chris GREENACRE, Paul IFILL, Gerald SIBON

6 – Alex BROSQUE, Tim BROWN, Dylan MACALLISTER, Shane SMELTZ

5 – Danny ALLSOPP, Jason CULINA, Mate DUGANDZIC, Carlos HERNANDEZ, Marko JESIC, Daniel MCBREEN, Mitch NICHOLS, Patricio PEREZ, REINALDO, Mile STERJOVSKI, David WILLIAMS

4 – Thomas BROICH, Travis DODD, Iain FYFE, Mark HUGHES, Mathew LECKIE, James MEYER, Chris PAYNE, Sasho PETROVSKI, Iain RAMSAY, Alex TERRA

3 – Leo BERTOS, Shannon COLE, Dino DJULBIC, Labinot HALITI, Nick KALMAR, Dimitri PETRATOS, Joshua ROSE, Ufuk TALAY, Archie THOMPSON, Bas VAN DEN BRINK, Rodrigo VARGAS, Patrick ZWAANSWIJK

2 – Eli BABALJ, Grant BREBNER, James BROWN, Dyron DAAL, Ivan FRANJIC, Rostyn GRIFFITHS, Chris GROSSMAN, Todd HOWARTH, Branko JELIC, Juho MAKELA, Matt MCKAY, Kevin MUSCAT, Scott NEVILLE, Erik PAARTALU, Tom PONDELJAK, Joel PORTER, RICARDINHO, Marco ROJAS, Ben SIGMUND, Matthew SMITH, Matt THOMPSON, Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, Adama TRAORE, Ruben ZADKOVICH, Adrian ZAHRA

1 – Ali ABBAS, Michael BAIRD, Fabian BARBIERO, Andrew BARISIC, Mark BRIDGE, Michael BRIDGES, Jeremy BROCKIE, Leigh BROXHAM, Nick CARLE, Billy CELESKI, Isaka CERNAK, Simon COLOSIMO, Robert CORNTHWAITE, Jamie COYNE, John CURTIS, Luke DEVERE, Gareth EDDS, Diogo FERREIRA, Brendan GAN, Rhyan GRANT, Ryan GRIFFITHS, Jamie HARNWELL, Chris HAROLD, John HUTCHINSON, Scott JAMIESON, Francis JEFFERS, Ben KANTAROVSKI, Joseph KEENAN, Stephan KELLER, Matthew LEWIS, Vince LIA, Terry MCFLYNN, Michael MCGLINCHEY, Josh MITCHELL, Hirofumi MORIYASU, Daniel MULLEN, Massimo MURDOCCA, Steve PANTELIDIS, Adriano PELLEGRINO, Paul REID, ROBSON, Sean ROONEY, Zhang SHUO, Eugene SSEPPUYA, Simon STOREY, Adam TAGGART, Rocky VISCONTE, Nick WARD, Alex WILKINSON, Rutger WORM