Tom’s weekly outlook on the A-League
Before their draw with Melbourne Victory at the weekend, it would have been very difficult to dispute Brisbane’s stronghold on the A-League. But the team who many fancied pre-season to take out the title, Melbourne Victory, somehow managed to get a point from what was an absolute epic game of football. To say it started with a bang would be an understatement. Ante Covic stuck out his right leg to bring down an advancing Besart Berisha in the box just 1 minute into the game. What followed was a red card to Covic, and the first goal of the game; a penalty converted by Henrique. Soon after though, it was a 10-man Melbourne who equalised through an Archie Thompson lob over Michael Theoklitos’ head. Despite Brisbane’s best efforts, the Victory were able to go ahead against the reigning champions just 20 minutes after the red card following Harry Kewell’s delightful ball to Thompson, who wrong-footed Matt Smith and Michael Theoklitos to score his second of the game. By now, the Victory had a stranglehold on the game, but just minutes later, Adrian Leijer committed a foul which resulted in a free-kick 25 yards out from goal. Tomas Broich must have seen Ronaldinho on YouTube during the week, as Broich replicated one of the Brazilian’s finest ever set-pieces by shooting the ball under the wall, and into the bottom corner of the goals. As if the Victory didn’t already have a big enough task on their hands, before referee Ben Williams decided to take all the life out of the game by sending off Victory’s young right back Matty Foschini for a tackle which would usually warrant a cautionary yellow card. Despite Erik Paartalu shooting from distance a couple of times, it wasn’t until towards the end of the game when Tomas Broich hit the upright that the Victory really looked like conceding. The match somehow ended 2-2, and the resilience Melbourne showed will surely give them confidence for the rest of the year. Covic’s replacement, teenager Lawrence Thomas, was particularly impressive, and will get the duties until Covic’s suspension terminates.
Sydney FC has continued their impressive start to the season by completing another unlikely come from behind result against Gold Coast at the SFS. In a first half mainly controlled by Sydney, Kristian Rees scored the only goal for the visitors 22 minutes in by heading home. Dylan Macallister put Gold Coast 2 up 43 seconds after returning from the sheds when he rounded Liam Reddy. Bruno Cazarine gave Sydney a chance an hour in when he also headed the ball in, and Sydney got their equaliser soon after when Nicky Carle squeezed the ball past Glen Moss. They had to wait until the 4th minute of injury time, but Sydney was awarded a controversial penalty, which was duly converted by Karol Kisel, who made sure of the 3 points.
Melbourne Heart has again thrown away points after their 1-1 draw at Hindmarsh Stadium against fellow strugglers Adelaide United. After dominating much of the first half, it was the Heart who opened the scoring just 4 minutes after the break through youngster Brendan Hamill. Hamill managed to run from the halfway line to the edge of the box, where he guided the ball into the bottom left corner. The match took a twist 20 minutes from time though, when Simon Colosimo picked up a second yellow card, and from the resulting free-kick the Reds managed to score through Spase Dilevski. Heart is still winless, but finds themselves up against Newcastle at home on Saturday evening.
Elsewhere, the Newcastle Jets continued their surprise run thanks to a Jeremy Brockie brace at home to Perth, and Central Coast have turned the tables on their poor start to the year with a 2-1 win at the Cake Tin at Wellington.
About Tom Riordan
Tom Riordan is in his second year of a Bachelor of Journalism at Swinburne University. He loves all sports, and plays for Brunswick Cricket Club. He supports the Western Bulldogs and can be found on weekends among half a dozen others in Q38 on the top level of the MCC.
Nice work Tom – more restrained than I would’ve been reviewing the Docklands clash.
Hope you didn’t take my advice and punt the Victory.Still reckon Victory will take ’em on NYE.
Are they a chance at Gosford this weekend ? Always tough, and the absentees will make it doubly so.
MCR
Tight little track, Gosford; you need to be up on the pace…hang on, wrong sport!
Victory need to review the game dispassionately. Another set piece concession – irrelevant that they were men down.
More send offs. Blaming the ref removes responsibility. It may have been a tough call, but I can’t understand the bleating that a red was wrong because it ruined the game. Bad tackles ruin the game.
If Victory can gain momentum with a Central coast win, the season will really come to life.
Crio – Little doubt about the first red card – more troubling was the defending prior to Covic’s tackle.
I still think there was some doubt the second red – then again I’m biased.
Victory have a good record in Gosford. Couple of December 31st wins over the years.
MCR
I’m with you Mic. Don’t give players and media cause to think “unlucky”. Good rearguard response. Character building. No real solutions to shortcomings.
farr out man, great article. Never you would have picked you for a writer :P