Braces were the order of the round, as Alex Brosque, Richard Kitzbichler, Fernando Rech and Kazuyoshi Miura all scored twice in top shelf performances for their respective teams. The high quality of the finishing stood out, with Rech's pair quite exceptional - much to the delight of an almost capacity crowd at Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium.
Having sat on top of the ladder for so long and seen off Sydney in a thrilling 3-2 victory, the Reds must surely now be favourites for the title. Somehow, they've kept managing to find game-winning goals throughout the season and it was no exception on the weekend as Rech's long range speculator evaded the grasp of a diving Clint Bolton. For the visitors, Dwight Yorke was magnificent. His surging run between two Adelaide midfielders that set up Kazuyoshi Miura's first goal demonstrated the difference in class between EPL stardom and the middle kingdom of the A-League.
Queensland finally found the back of the net, but had to contend with sharing the points after another late equaliser, this time courtesy of the league's most prolific wingback, Dean Heffernan. The Mariners are doing it tough at the moment but still coming away with vital points. The return of key players after the break might just help them squeeze into the top four.
Perth's recent good fortune dried up at home to Newcastle who have become another big championship contender in the past few weeks. The arrival of Vaughan Coveny has added strength and experience to their already vibrant front line. Central defender Alan Picken has been one of the league's great success stories, rising from obscurity to partner the likes of Ned Zelic and Jade North in a quality back end. All were terrific on the weekend cancelling out the dangerous Mori/Despotovski partnership. When the not-so-dynamic duo are closely marked by quality defensive units like Newcastle's, the Glory midfield needs to pick up the slack and fire some quality shots on goal.
Inspired by its big guns, Melbourne did just enough to outpace the desperate Knights in Auckland, with fewer than 2,000 people interested in the show. Is that enough action through the turnstiles to pay for club's weekly salary bill? Doubtful...
Best of Round Fourteen:
Player: Dwight Yorke (pictured) - outclassed everyone including multiple scorers Rech and Miura
U-20 Player: Jeremy Brockie - rising to the occasion in a new position on the left for the Knights who just have to love the commitment and spark he gives them
Coach: Richard Money - signing Coveny during the week and bamboozling Steve McMahon's Glory on the tough road tip to the other side of the country
Match: Adelaide United vs Sydney FC
Referee: Mark Shield
Goal: Fernando Rech - his first goal, a cracking shot off the crossbar followed up with a pinpoint header into an unguarded corner of the net
4-4-2 Team of the Week:
Alex Brosque - Fernando Rech
Jeremy Brockie - Dwight Yorke - Billy Celeski - Richard Kitzbichler
Aaron Goulding - Andrew Clark - Alan Picken - Jade North
Danny Milosevic
Subs: Mateo Corbo, Matt McKay, Vaughan Coveny, Liam Reddy
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