Record Roar Close In On Title

Roar, in far from their finest performance of the season, got over the line against Heart to break the Australian domestic football record for most consecutive games undefeated.

But a win by the Mariners a couple of hours later means they will have to wait at least one more week until they can celebrate winning the Premiership.

Central Coast’s win extended their lead in second to four points against a surprisingly lacklustre Adelaide United.

With an organized unit and the creative flair of Patricio Perez, the Mariners could be a serious threat to Roar.

The form of leftback Josh Rose, who scored his third goal of the season, has led to calls for a potential Socceroos call up in the troublesome position.

Melbourne Victory all but ensured they will play finals football again thanks to a double by Danny Allsopp against Gold Coast United.

They are five points clear in fifth spot and only the worst luck could see them drop out of the top six.

Wellington’s win at home to Newcastle may prove to be the most important of a lively weekend.

Phoenix took all three points in what ended up being a disappointing match but with a game in hand over Heart, Ricki Herbert will be confident of making the top six.

Although the Jets have a game in hand over Phoenix, their injury worries have seemingly brought their run to a screeching halt with three losses in a row.

It was a weekend where the Premiership, the second double chance and the top six were signed, sealed, but not yet delivered.

Brisbane Roar 2 (Jean Carlos Solorzano 5’, James Meyer 63’)
Melbourne Heart 1 (Gerald Sibon 75’)
Crowd: 4213 @ Skilled Park

Brisbane Roar moved one step closer to wrapping up the minor premiership with a workmanlike 2-1 win over Melbourne Heart.

Roar punished their visitors for two defensive lapses to open a two-goal lead before Heart pulled one back with a quarter of an hour to play.

The first allowed Brisbane through inside five minutes as a wayward pass found its way behind Simon Colosimo, allowing Jean Carlos Solorzano through.

Solorzano took the chance, nailing across Clint Bolton and into the bottom corner for his 11^th goal of the season.

Heart created and squandered numerous chances late in the first half before youngster James Meyer doubled Roar’s lead just after the hour mark.

Thomas Broich struck a well hit pass into Meyer with Matt Thompson over committing, allowing Meyer to sneak a toe poke through Bolton.

Gerald Sibon pulled one back after a John Aloisi lay off, before the latter missed a glorious chance to equalize after hitting his shot straight at Michael Theoklitos.

It was a record breaking result for Roar as they broke the record for most consecutive undefeated games in Australian domestic football history.

But they will have to wait at least one more week to assure the Premiership as Heart’s finals hopes were all but ended.

Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matthew SMITH, 4. Shane STEFANUTTO (c), 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES (10. HENRIQUE 74’), 9. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 21. James MEYER, 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Milan SUSAK
Unused subs: 20. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 12. Matt MUNDY, 25. Christopher BUSH
Yellow cards: Nichols (45’), Solorzano (90+2’)
Red cards: None

Melbourne Heart: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Michael MARRONE, 4. Simon COLOSIMO (c), 6. Matt THOMPSON, 9. Gerald SIBON, 10. Wayne SRHOJ, 11. Alex TERRA (22. Nick KALMAR 70’), 15. John ALOISI, 16. Aziz BEHICH, 17. Jason HOFFMAN (7. Rutger WORM 37’), 20. Josip SKOKO
Unused subs: 12. Peter ZOIS (gk), 5. Michael BEAUCHAMP
Yellow cards: Sibon (45+1’), Thompson (46’)
Red cards: None

Man of the match – Michael Theoklitos wasn’t under the type of scrutiny you would expect from a ‘keeper named as man of the match but he did exactly what was needed to keep Brisbane ahead. A string of important saves throughout the match ensured Meyer’s goal would be the winner.

Key moment – Brisbane’s first goal should simply never have happened. If it wasn’t for Simon Colosimo’s early lapse in concentration Melbourne Heart may have collected a point. Ratings by Matt Dorman

Adelaide United 1 (Travis Dodd 90+1’)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Patricio Perez 11’, Joshua Rose 30’)
Crowd: 12,109 @ Hindmarsh Stadium

Central Coast Mariners tightened their grip on second spot with an impressive 2-1 victory at Adelaide United.

The Mariners scored twice in the opening half an hour to set up the win against an uncharacteristically lacklustre Reds outfit.

It only took 11 minutes for the visitors to get on the board courtesy of a fine individual effort by Patricio Perez.

The playmaker dashed through the heart of Adelaide’s midfield and defence before shooting across Eugene Galekovic with his left foot and despite the keeper’s, the shot found the bottom corner.

Perez turned provider for Joshua Rose for the second, playing a well-weighted pass for the left back to curl a shot into the bottom corner with his right foot.

The home side got on the board in stoppage time after a Lucas Pantelis corner fell for Travis Dodd to scramble home.

But it was too late as Graham Arnold’s men extended their buffer on second spot to four points and made Roar wait for their Premiership celebrations.

It was a disappointing performance by the Reds, undoubtedly put on the back foot thanks to Perez in the first half.

Adelaide United: 1. Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2. Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3. Nigel BOOGAARD, 6. CASSIO, 8. Adam HUGHES, 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Marcos FLORES (19. Mathew LECKIE 66’), 13. Travis DODD (c), 14. Cameron WATSON (12. Paul REID 66’), 17. Iain RAMSAY (7. Lucas PANTELIS 46’), 21. Francisco USUCAR
Unused sub: 20. Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)
Yellow card: Flores (55’)
Red cards: None

Central Coast Mariners: 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 2. Daniel MCBREEN (23. Adam KWASNIK 82’), 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6 Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11. Oliver BOZANIC (7. John HUTCHINSON 86’), 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON
Unused subs: 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk), 22. Mustafa AMINI
Yellow cards: Bojic (52’), Perez (61’), Griffiths (79’)
Red cards: None

Man of the Match – Central Coast Mariners’ Josh Rose had an outstanding game at left back. He completely tore up the left hand side of the pitch, scoring a goal to help his team’s cause and leaving Adelaide left for dead.

Key moment – It was a much-changed performance from Adelaide United’s Marcos Flores. The player who scored three and set up two last week was conspicuously absent for the Reds and they sure missed him. Ratings by Arabella Vaughan

Perth Glory 0
Sydney FC 2 (Nick Carle 9’, Bruno Cazarine 54’)
Crowd: 5536 @ nib Stadium

Sydney FC continued their difficult fight for a finals spot with a 2-0 win over Perth Glory, extending their unbeaten run to five in the process.

A delightful build up involving Nick Carle and Bruno Cazarine resulted in the opener before the latter made it two.

The opener was one of the season’s finer efforts as Carle and Cazarine exchanged wall passes, twice, before the playmaker looped a diving header over Tando Velaphi.

Chances were few and far between in the opening period before Cazarine doubled the lead with his eighth goal of the season in the second.

Impressive youngster Dimitri Petratos flicked a pass back for Cazarine who coolly slotted under the advancing Velaphi.

Glory’s best chance fell for Robbie Fowler after a cut back from Mile Sterjovski, but the veteran striker struck his left foot shot with the laces well wide.

The Sky Blues have the slimmest of chances of making the top six but Vitezslav Lavicka will be glad to see his team performing ahead of the Asian Champions League.

Glory continue to blood games into their youngsters as the rebuild continues out west with the wooden spoon almost avoided.

Perth Glory: 1. Tando VELAPHI (gk), 2. Josh MITCHELL, 7. Jacob BURNS (c), 9. Robbie FOWLER (26. Adam TAGGART 76’), 12. Scott NEVILLE, 14. Steven MCGARRY (15. Howard FONDYKE 68’), 16. Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17. Todd HOWARTH, 19. Naum SEKULOVSKI, 21. Mile STERJOVSKI, 24. Joshua RISDON (13. Tommy AMPHLETT 58’)
Unused sub: 25. Ryan PEARSON (gk)
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None

Sydney FC: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 3. Stephan KELLER, 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU (12. Shannon COLE 68’), 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 9. Bruno CAZARINE (18. Juho MAKELA 79’), 10. Nick CARLE (2. Sebastian RYALL 78’), 15. Terry MCFLYNN (c), 17. Matthew JURMAN, 21. Scott JAMIESON, 22. Sung Hwan BYUN, 24. Dimitri PETRATOS
Unused sub: 30. Dylan MITCHELL (gk)
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None

Man of the match – The front trio of Bruno Cazarine, Nick Carle and Dimitri Petratos are finally instilling Sydney with a cutting edge in attack. This time it was Cazarine who stood out, grabbing a goal and a well-worked assist.

Key moment – The skilful exchange between Nick Carle and Bruno Cazarine to manufacture the opener was a good enough moment to win any football match. MD

Wellington Phoenix 1 (Dylan Macallister 20’)
Newcastle Jets 0
Crowd: 10,917 @ Westpac Stadium

Wellington Phoenix moved back into the top six with a hard-fought 1-0 win at home to Newcastle.

Phoenix found the only goal of the game courtesy of Dylan Macallister on 20 minutes before the Jets were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half.

Speedy teenage Marco Rojas was the provider for Macallister, steaming down the right wing before squaring for the striker to loop his shot over Ben Kennedy.

The same duo combined later in the half as Rojas again turned on the speed burners, but Macallister got himself tangled in a one-on-one.

Jets striker Jeremy Brockie had a decent chance straight after when he squared up against Danny Vukovic, but he scuffed his shot.

Marko Jesic almost got the equalizer in the second half with a dipping and swurving long range strike, but it struck the post with Vukovic unmoved.

Ryan Griffiths tried his luck with an acrobatic overhead kick before he received his marching orders for what appeared to be a verbal barrage to referee Chris Beath.

Phoenix are in a prime spot to take sixth spot while the Jets have now lost three on the trot and continue to struggle.

Wellington Phoenix: 19. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Nick WARD (11. DANIEL 61’), 6. Tim BROWN, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 17. Vince LIA (9. Chris GREENACRE 71’), 18. Ben SIGMUND, 21. Marco ROJAS, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Dylan MACALLISTER
Unused subs: 20. Reece CROWTHER (gk), 10. Oscar Roberto CORNEJO
Yellow cards: Durante (53’), Hearfield (56’), Lia (67’), Sigmund (80’), Muscat (82’)
Red cards: None

Newcastle Jets: 1. Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2. Taylor REGAN, 3. Adam D’APUZZO, 4. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY (c), 11. Tarek ELRICH (26. James VIRGILI 73’), 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE, 16. Jeremy BROCKIE (14. Labinot HALITI 69’), 17. Marcello FIORENTINI, 18. Marko JESIC, 23. Ryan GRIFFITHS, 25. Samuel GALLAWAY
Unused subs: 40. Matthew NASH (gk), 31. Jacob PEPPER
Yellow card: Topor-Stanley (26’)
Red card: Griffiths (66’)

Man of the Match – In a rather frustrating game for both sides, no player particularly stood out.

Key Moment – Ryan Griffiths’ rather soft red card wasn’t good for the Jets and they were never going to get back into the game from there, however, a poor Phoenix side still failed to make the score line as great as it could have been. AV 

Melbourne Victory 2 (Danny Allsopp 28’, 57’)
Gold Coast United 0
Crowd: 8287 @ AAMI Park

A brace by Danny Allsopp helped Melbourne Victory to a convincing 2-0 win over Gold Coast United.

The returning striker took his tally to five with two fine individual efforts to help Victory to an almost certain finals spot.

Allsopp opened the scoring just before the half hour mark with a stinging low drive into the bottom corner from about 20 yards.

There were few other chances of note in Melbourne’s searing heat before Allsopp made it two after the interval.

United had a chance after Bruce Djite forced Michael Petkovic into a smart save after volleying on the turn.

But from the break, Allsopp turned John Curtis in the area at the other end before curling his left foot shot into the top corner.

He should have had a hat trick after Matthew Kemp crossed, only for his close range header to strike the advancing Glen Moss.

Joel Porter should have made for a nervous finish when left in acres of space, but he tried to place his shot from close range as Petkovic dived to his right to make a reflex save.

United must continue working towards a home final while Victory will be glad to have an in-form Allsopp with Archie Thompson and Robbie Kruse still to return.

Melbourne Victory: 1. Michael PETKOVIC (gk), 3. Mate DUGANDZIC (9. RICARDINHO 87’), 4. Petar FRANJIC, 7. Matthew KEMP (17. Matthew FOSCHINI 72’), 8. Grant BREBNER, 12. Rodrigo VARGAS, 13. Diogo FERREIRA, 15. Tom PONDELJAK, 16. Carlos HERNANDEZ (11. Marvin ANGULO 46’), 18. Danny ALLSOPP, 23. Adrian LEIJER (c)
Unused sub: 20. Sebastian MATTEI (gk)
Yellow cards: Vargas (11’), Pondeljak (48’)
Red cards: None

Gold Coast United: 1. Glen MOSS (gk), 3. Michael THWAITE (c), 6. Dino DJULBIC, 8. ANDERSON, 11. Bruce DJITE, 13. Bas VAN DEN BRINK (16. Kristian REES 9’), 21. Golgol MEBRAHTU (23. Steve FITZSIMMONS 60’), 22. Adama TRAORE, 24. John CURTIS, 33. Peter PERCHTOLD, 34. Sungkil KIM (14. Joel PORTER 46’)
Unused sub: 20. Scott HIGGINS (gk)
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None

Man of the match – Two brilliant individual goals from Danny Allsopp not only made it five goals in four matches but also continued to dispel the myth that he is merely there for the tap-ins.

Key moment – This again involves Allsopp as he first gets on the end of the innocuous long ball and then somehow manages to hold off his marker and then turn and fire home an audacious shot. Up until that moment Gold Coast had been looking to get on top early in the second half but this goal really took the wind out of their sails. Ratings by Neil Zimmerman

Weekend Break: North Queensland Fury

Mid-week: Melbourne Victory v Newcastle Jets @ Etihad Stadium, Gold Coast United v Adelaide United @ Skilled Park

Hyundai A-League 2010/11 League Table

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

16 – Sergio VAN DIJK

11 – Matt SIMON, Jean Carlos SOLORZANO

10 – Kosta BARBAROUSES, Robbie KRUSE

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

8 – Bruno CAZARINE

7 – John ALOISI, Paul IFILL, Gerald SIBON

6 – Alex BROSQUE, Tim BROWN, Chris GREENACRE, Dylan MACALLISTER

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

4 – Thomas BROICH, Travis DODD, Iain FYFE, Mark HUGHES, Mathew LECKIE, Daniel MCBREEN, James MEYER, Chris PAYNE, Iain RAMSAY, Shane SMELTZ, Alex TERRA

3 – Leo BERTOS, Shannon COLE, Dino DJULBIC, Labinot HALITI, Nick KALMAR, Dimitri PETRATOS, Sasho PETROVSKI, 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, Joel PORTER, RICARDINHO, Marco ROJAS, Ben SIGMUND, Matthew SMITH, 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, Tom PONDELJAK, Paul REID, ROBSON, Sean ROONEY, Zhang SHUO, Eugene SSEPPUYA, Simon STOREY, Matt THOMPSON, Rocky VISCONTE, Nick WARD, Alex WILKINSON, Rutger WORM