Sydney FC fans were absolutely delighted with their team’s resolute defence Photo: frigginawesomeimontv
The “Big Blue” rivalry between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory delivered a fantastic spectacle on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium, with one of the most entertaining 40 minutes of football ever witnessed in a match.
Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory contested another instalment of their “Big Blue” rivalry in a game that saw superstar Alessandro Del Piero fouled 12 times. Things got off to a flying start with Sydney taking the lead after only 3 minutes. They doubled that lead with another goal in the 15th minute but Melbourne pulled a goal back in the 17th minute to make the score 2-1.
Then 10 minutes later a scoring opportunity for Melbourne saw a Sydney defender pull down a player that produced a red card, bringing Sydney FC down to only 10 players on the park. Victory scored from the ensuing free kick to make it 2-2. Sydney had a penalty awarded to them for a foul on Del Piero in the 37th minute to make it 3-2 to Sydney FC. It was an amazing game. Sydney defended with dogged determination for the entire second half as Melbourne Victory struggled to create any clear scoring chances, despite the extra man. The final 3-2 score is just what the struggling sky blues needed to kick start their season.
On Friday night Melbourne Heart hosted the Western Sydney Wanderers at AAMI Park. The Wanderers showed great strength and confidence and didn’t look like they were the away team. Despite their toil and effort, Heart looked fresh out of ideas. Their situation wasn’t helped by superstar Harry Kewell having to sit out the game due to an ankle injury. Melbourne had the better of the first half but it was the Wanderers that scored the only goal of the match through Shannon Cole in the 27th minute. The Wanderers’ dominance grew as the game continued, looking every bit the formidable side that set the A-League alight last season. The Heart will need to dominate more at home if they are to have any impact on the competition this season.
Wellington Phoenix had a 1-1 draw in the distance derby with Perth Glory in Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday. It took the Phoenix only 4 minutes to score against Glory, who hadn’t received a goal in over 270 minutes prior to that. Perth scored their equaliser midway through the first half following an attack down the left flank. The ball was cut back in leaving Japanese player Ryo Nagai to hammer it past a hapless Phoenix keeper. It was a game that saw skipper Andrew Durante set a club record of 132 appearances; he will be heading off to Mexico City for the All Whites crucial World Cup Qualifier against Mexico on Thursday along with six others from that game.
Adelaide United hosted the Newcastle Jets at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday. The visitors did not look like a team struggling to create attacking opportunities as in previous games. The United defence were forced to make two goal line clearances, which was a sign of things to come. Eventually the Jets attack breached the United defence to go 1-0 up just before half time. It wasn’t long into the second half before Newcastle doubled their lead and were looking strong to take all 3 points from the game. Adelaide pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 in the 72nd minute which gave them a chance to salvage a point at the very least. But it was too little too late for the home side as their late surge was not enough to get the better of the Jets who seem to be a lot more confident in attack now.
The final game of the round saw top of the table Brisbane Roar playing away to champions Central Coast Mariners on Sunday at Bluetongue Staudium. It was a game that had the visitors dominated in possession and in scoring opportunities. The Roar were stamping their potential as championship contenders with their display. Brisbane’s hard work did not go unrewarded as a spectacular 89th minute strike by Kwame Yeboah gave Brisbane all three points in a 1-0 win. The Mariners could count themselves unlucky as a penalty appeal for handball was waved away by the referee which would’ve changed the complexion of the game. The final result now heats up the expectation of this season’s contenders for the championship as the Roar join the Mariners, Western Sydney and Melbourne Victory as favourites to take out the title.
A-League Round 5 Scores
Melbourne Heart 0 – Western Sydney Wanderers 1
Wellington Phoenix 1 – Perth Glory 1
Adelaide United 1 – Newcastle Jets 2
Sydney FC 3 – Melbourne Victory 2
Central Coast Mariners 0 – Brisbane Roar 0
