Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory led the way in the A-League last weekend.
It is not often that statement could be made in the recent past with both clubs seemingly anchored to the bottom of the ladder in the first half of this season. But remarkably similar Round 13 fixtures in Wellington and Perth saw both the Glory and the ’Nix produce their highest sustained quality of play this season. Their efforts could be the forerunner to a turn in their fortune for the season.
Both clubs were desperate to win at home against their respective opponents, the Melbourne Victory and the Central Coast Mariners, but fell behind by a goal in the first half.
They then set about turning around their fortunes with a short passing possession game that created numerous attacking opportunities. When they both drew level at 1s–1, each club had their long suffering fans on their feet roaring them home as the second half intensified.
The two leading strikers from both sides then gave the vocal home support reason to stay standing for the rest of the match.
The deadlock breaking second goal produced at close to the hour mark in both games was arguably each team’s best of the season.
Leading Phoenix goal scorer Shane Smeltz turned the Victory defenders inside and out before unleashing a curling wonder strike into the net from twenty metres out.
Meanwhile, across in the west, Nikita Rukavysya had already produced a longer range largely solo effort for Perth’s first goal.
His second was delivered courtesy of a stunning interchange of short passes around the edge of the penalty box between the forward trio of Eugene Dadi, Adrian Trinidad and Rukavysya.
Of course, it is one thing to hit the lead with 30 minutes to play but it is another to hold on for the all important three points.
Wellington managed to hold onto their lead and now harbour genuine prospects of a first ever top four semi-finals berth with eight rounds to play.
However, Perth weren’t so fortunate. An equalising goal to the Mariners in the final minute of extra time consigned Perth to the bottom of the table and a must win clash at home this coming weekend.
Meanwhile, the positive performance of both these clubs on the weekend has given their supporters a glimpse of a brighter future.
Match of the round
With eight matches remaining in the season, this weekend’s match between last season’s Champions the Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC is a crunch clash for both side’s top four prospects.
Sydney and Newcastle are the only two sides to have qualified for the top four semi-final series in all threeA-League seasons. A loss for Sydney will see them drop off the top four pace, while a loss for Newcastle could end all hope of a semi-final appearance.
The Jets have won just two matches for the season, drawn six and lost five, while Sydney (4–5–4) have not won a game in four outings. The last time they met was in Round 4 this year, also at the EnergyAustralia Stadium, where they played out a 0–0 draw. In the four years that this competition has been running they have played 15 times (including finals) with Sydney having the better of Newcastle with seven victories to three – they have drawn on five occasions.
This fixture promises extra spice given two key ingredients to the Newcastle Grand-Final 2007–08 winning side in standout players Mark Bridge and Stuart Musialik will be returning to Newcastle wearing the Sydney shirt.
The Jets will also have to take to the pitch for one more week without key striker Joel Griffiths and defender Mark
Milligan (both suspended). Newcastle’s current slump matches the struggles that have befallen each A-League Champion side in the subsequent season.
A-League
Results Round 13
Wellington Phoenix FC 2 Melbourne Victory FC 1
Sydney FC 1 Queensland Roar FC 1
Perth Glory FC 2 Central Coast Mariners FC 2
Newcastle Jets FC 1 Adelaide United FC 1
Ladder Round 13/21
Team GD Points
Melbourne 9 23
Adelaide 2 21
Queensland 5 19
Central Coast 6 18
Wellington -3 18
Sydney 4 17
Newcastle -9 12
Perth -14 12
GD = Goal Difference
Round 14
Friday December 5
Adelaide vs Wellington
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, SA, 7.30pm
Saturday December 6
Central Coast vs Queensland
Bluetongue Stadium, Central Coast, NSW, 6pm
Perth vs Melbourne
Members Equity Stadium, Perth, WA, 6pm
Sunday December 7
Newcastle vs Sydney
EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle, NSW, 5pm
