Australia NewsWorst A-League Week Ever? |
HAS there ever been a worse weekend in the A-League? If anything was going to change FFA’s mind about having a break during international match windows, this weekend’s performances should have done it.
With back-up teams limping onto the pitch strengthened by reservists and the walking wounded to replace Socceroo and Olyroo call-ups, goals were hard to find – and so was excitement.Four goals from four matches is a poor return for fans, especially as none of them came from open play. All four were the product of set piece corners or free kicks.
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Central Coast Mariners weren’t complaining though. Their crafty corner against Queensland Roar earned them three wins from three and are already in danger of running away with the Championship.
Roar were furious with their effort and Danny Tiatto wasn’t holding back after the game: “It was absolute shit the way we played tonight,” he said.
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Newcastle Jets are the Mariners’ nearest competitor, four points behind them on the ladder, and the only other team to actually record a victory after 12 A-League matches this season.
They repeated last week’s freekick heroics with a late winner against Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand to take the honours in a very tight match that the home side arguably deserved to win.
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Sydney and Perth Glory bored out the weekend’s most predictable result, snoozing their way to a goalless stalemate. Seventeen first team regulars were missing in action from this game and neither side looked like winning.
It was Perth’s third game without conceding - but their third without scoring too. Not that Sydney are much better – they only have two goals to their credit and are still looking for their first win after a loss and two draws.
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Down at Hindmarsh it was a rematch of last season’s grand final with Melbourne Victory facing off Adelaide United. There were flares, fights and even a bit of a headbutt on the field.
It might have been the game of the round but it took 79 minutes for the adrenalin to really start pumping as they drew 1-1, with Roddy Vargas scoring for Victory, then giving away the penalty at the other end.
So after round three, Phoenix are probably unlucky to still find themselves propping up the foot of the table just one point behind Sydney and Queensland.
Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne are all locked on three points, while Newcastle pull away from the pack on five points, but remain four points behind leaders Central Coast Mariners with their perfect nine points.
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