Seven teams are still in contention for the finals, but only five stand a realistic chance of qualifying. Following their classy 1-0 victory over Melbourne and Sydney's capitulation to Queensland, Newcastle now look certain to join Adelaide in the major semi-final as second place finishers. Amazingly, Sydney's spot in the final four is still under threat, and while they're very unlikely to miss out it seems that there is still a surprise or two left in this home-and-away series. Perth kept their finals aspirations alive with a superb 4-1 drubbing of the Knights, a result that has them in fifth with two difficult matches against Sydney and Newcastle remaining. The Mariners will fancy their chances of staying in fourth given that their last two games are against lower placed opposition in Melbourne and Queensland. But both those teams remain in the hunt if numerous other results go their way. Back in Round One, we expected a close finish to the season. With the exception of high flyers Adelaide and cellar dwellers New Zealand, we're seeing exactly that. Considering the high stakes, it won't be surprising at all if several players earn suspensions from accumulated yellows or outright reds in the next two weeks. Since only Adelaide can cruise into the finals, they would do well to minimise the injuries and suspensions that can totally derail a do-or-die finals campaign.
A special dunce award this week for referee Neil Fox's assistant on Perth Glory's attacking flank in the Auckland match who gave Damian Mori offside following Bobby Despotovski's blocked shot on goal in the 31st minute. Whatever the referee's assistant was up to at that moment, it can't have had much to do with stayling in line with the last Knights defender nor even watching the match. A good three or four metres on side when the ball was struck, Mori can feel mollified that the ludicrously disallowed goal had no outcome on the final result. If Perth fail to qualify for the finals due to a solitary goal on goal difference, it'll be quite a different story.
Best of Round Nineteen:
Player: Alex Brosque (pictured) - difficult to overlook the contribution of his two goals in the upset win over Sydney
U-20 Player: Stuart Musialik
Coach: Alan Vest - dealing with multiple injuries, suspensions and question marks over his and his club's future and annihilating the Knights after the long, long flight from Perth to Auckland
Match: Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners
Referee: Matthew Breeze
Goal: Naum Sekulovski - his first goal, a well executed volley from Coyne's lofted ball after a terrific late run into the box
4-4-2 Team of the Week:
Alex Brosque - Bobby Despotovski
Naum Sekulovski - Stuart Musialik - Kevin Muscat - Massimo Murdocca
Alvin Ceccoli - Michael Valkanis - Mark Rudan - Jade North
Liam Reddy
Subs: Danny Hay, Noah Hickey, Jonathan Richter, Michael Theoklitos
No comments:
Post a Comment