A League - Week 5 Review

Normality returned to the A League after Western Sydney Wanderers heroic deeds in the Asian Champions League came to a successful end and we had a full five fixtures to enjoy over the weekend.

Friday brought us this season’s surprise packet Wellington Phoenix playing host to the aforementioned Western Sydney Wanderers. The Kiwis took the points 1-0 when in the 79^th minute a lovely turn in midfield by Roly Bonevacia gave him the room to set substitute Roy Krishna free in the inside left channel, his far post cross being slid home by the unmarked Nathan Burns.

Wellington even had the luxury of having a late Michael McGlinchey penalty saved by WSW goalkeeper Ante Kovic, in fairness it was a bit of a soft award so maybe justice was done. Phoenix cemented their position in the top five on the back of the result while the Wanderers remain on zero points at the bottom of the league ladder.

Also on Friday evening was the meeting of two of the league form teams in Adelaide United versus Sydney FC. Statistically we were guaranteed goals where Adelaide had scored in their last 14 home games and Sydney had scored in each of their last 16 games, so the smart money went on a goalless draw and lo and behold a goalless draw it was.

Sydney will be delighted to have headed eastward with a point in which they were dominated by their hosts. Adelaide hit the woodwork twice had numerous other chances and a fresh air shot from Marcelo Carrusca in the dying minutes when just 6 yards out. However Sydney had the ball in the net with the game’s most controversial moment. 

Sydney were awarded a free kick 35 yards from goal to the right of centre, Nikola Petkovic stood over the free and as the ref marched back with the wall the Sydney defender curled the ball home. The ref ruled the goal out claiming after the game that he had told Sydney to wait for the whistle, a claim that the visitors hotly denied. The free was re taken and Petkovic swung the ball in to the far post area where the sliding Marc Janko connected well and hit the base of the post. The result left both teams on 11 points at the summit of the table for now.

Saturday brought Newcastle Jets versus Melbourne Victory as Newcastle graced their home ground for the first time this season after a re-laid surface meant they had to spend the first 4 weeks of the season on the road.

The Jets are under the cosh and most experts were tipping an away win however it didn’t quite spin out that way as they played out a 2-2 draw. Newcastle took a 2-0 lead through goals from skipper Kew Jaliens and a penalty from Joel Griffiths. The penalty award was about as soft as you can get as the usual push and shove in the box during the delivery of a corner somehow tipped the ref into giving a penalty when in all honesty neither team appealed for anything and both were mystified when the whistle blew. However Victory attacking midfielder Fahid Ben Khalfallah was to have a major influence on the Victorian team’s comeback. Initially he headed home their first goal to get them back in the game and then he played a beautiful ball to Besart Berisha to equalise.

Two of the struggling teams of the league came face to face on Saturday night when Brisbane Roar took on the newly post David Villa Melbourne City. Both teams were desperate for points and prior to the season starting you would have got great odds if you had said that both of the these teams would be struggling at this stage. The Melbourne team took the honours with their first win of the season courtesy of a 3-1 result.

City raced to a 2-0 lead inside the first ten minutes with goals from David Williams and Mate Dugandzic. Roar dragged a goal back on 67 minutes as an on target effort from Matt McKay struck the head of Brandon Borello to wrong foot Andrew Redmayne in the City goal and find the net. City put the game to bed in the 83^rd minute as once again they found joy through their inside left channel to set up the finish through Marc Marino.

The Sunday game saw Central Coast Mariners host Perth Glory and it was the Western Australian team who took the points and top of the league position with a 1-0 win. It was a wee bit harsh on the Mariners as they performed well in the first half and had chances to take the lead. However Perth are made of stern stuff and took the points with the goal of the weekend from Nebojsa Marinkovic free kick, a good 30 yards from goal he curled a beauty in right footed. Andy Keogh had a few chances but was unable to add to the great start to the season that he has enjoyed.

What have we learned

Referees the world over have a difficult job to do, not helped by their complete inability to make consistent decisions.

One man does not make a team as shorn of their world cup winning superstar David Villa Melbourne City finally claimed their maiden victory of the season.

Western Sydney Wanderers may be the champions of Asia but that means sweet FA in the league as they remain rooted to the bottom of the league after getting rooted again in the local parlance.

This week’s fixtures

Newcastle Jest v Brisbane Roar

Adelaide Utd v Wellington Phoenix

Sydney v Melbourne Victory

Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers

Melbourne City v Central Coast Mariners

Held over game from Wk 3

Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners