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Is there anything more exciting in the A-League at the moment than the Perth Glory and the North Queensland Fury? The short answer is no, the long answer is possibly The Football Sack's podcast which you can download here (or for those who defy iTunes, here).What a shame it is that the Glory v Fury 3-3 draw was round one and not this week; top of the table battle, two exciting teams and some proper promotion. We could've seen a giant audience (both live and TV) for two teams who have never before been the A-League’s flavour of the month.
On Saturday afternoon in front of over 12,000 fans at NIB Stadium, Perth Glory substitute Branko Jelic scored on the stroke of half time and amazingly the Glory were able to hold onto a lead at home to come away 1-0 winners. The downside to the game being what looks like a serious injury to former Socceroo Mile Sterjovski.
Newcastle at the moment are a team that looks like they are running on a treadmill, they are putting in all the hard work but just don't seem to be getting anywhere.
On Friday night Melbourne Heart travelled to Hindmarsh stadium looking for their first win and their first goal scored by a player in a Heart strip. Wonderkid Matthew Leckie scored in the 2nd min for Adelaide United before the best name in the A-Leagues history Rutger Worm rose like the proverbial early bird catching the errrrr Worm (?) to head in for the Heart just before half time. In an entertaining end-to-end game young boys Iain Ramsey scored in the 52nd minute before Ali Babalj again equalised in the 74th minute. Ramsey then scored what was eventually the winner in the 88th minute in what was a good win for the Reds and a heartbreaking (see what I did there) loss for Melbourne. By the way, who says Australia's scoring stocks are low with Ramsey, Leckie and Babalj all under the age of 22!
Ange Postecoglous reign as Brisbane Roar coach looks to be bearing fruit after the Roar totally outplayed champions Sydney FC at Suncorp Stadium in front of a healthy 10,000+ crowd on Saturday night. Matt McKay put the finishing touch on what was a world class build up which featured every Roar player on the park.
Brisbane was classy and entertaining with McKay and Mitch Nichols controlling the middle of the park for most of the night.
Sydney now have just a single point from their first three matches and look a completely different side without Bolton, Colosimo, Kissel, Corica, Bridge (injured) and Brosque (injured). Their back four look slow and if Marquee signing Nick Carle can be kept quiet (which he was on Saturday) the Sky blues lack the creativity and drive to score.
Wellington stretched it’s winning run at home to twenty-two matches with Leo Bertos opening the scoring early after some great work by Manny Muscat down the right flank before Paul Ifil did what he does best in the 61st minute with a clinical finish using the outside of his boot past Central Coast Mariners keeper Jess Van Strattan.
Wellington were clearly the better side all day and the 2-0 score line was just reward for the 9,500 fans who turned up.
The Phoenix have four points from their opening two matches and have just signed former Mariners shot stopper Danny Vukovic whilst still having Jade North to come into the line up. The Mariners again choosing not to play Argentine Perez who is costing me valuable fantasy league points (and is Christian’s excuse for being bottom of the table – Ed).
In Melbourne on Sunday a disappointing 13,000 fans saw an A-League game that will go down in the history books as one of the most exciting ever. Not since 2006's Victory (nine men) vee Central Coast’s 3-3 draw has there been a more dramatic game of football.
This game had everything; goals, drama, incidents, penalties, missed penalties, red cards and a brain snap by North Queensland Fury defender Eric Akoto who was sent off for pushing Melbourne Victory captain Kevin Muscat before then needing to be restrained and eventually escorted off the pitch by Fury coach Franz Straka.
Sepuya scored a scrappy goal after 15 minutes to silence the AAMI Park crowd before Robbie Kruse was awarded a dubious penalty after having his shirt slightly tugged by Grossman who was shown a straight red. The penalty converted by Muscat, his first since the grand final shootout miss (surely the best bet if you are a keeper facing Muscat is to stay straight up and down.)
Muscat again was on the score-sheet after half time, converting a second penalty after debutant Geoff Kellaway was clipped just inside the box. This was after Victory had two penalties not awarded by Scottish ref Chris Boyle (on debut).
Kruse and Duganzig were both shown yellow for simulation when clearly contact (albeit slight) had been made both times.
Boyle then awarded a Penalty to the Fury after Leigh Broxham was adjudged to be holding inside the area whilst a corner kick was being taken. This led to the farcical scenes in which Akoto was shown a red for 'violent conduct'.
The Victory had fourteen shots on target to one but in the end couldn't find the winner against the plucky Fury. And as bizarre as it may sound Victory fans might be happy to see Matthew Breezes name on the match roster for any upcoming games.
Villains of the Week.
Tough to pick this week. Eric Akoto has to be right up there. I was at the game and it was just a bizarre five or so minutes but it made for great theatre, but in saying that I'm going to go a little left of centre and call 'The Shed' my loser of the week purely for the fact that the little ditty they chant when the opposition keeper takes a goal kick is just plain ridiculous. I challenge you 'The shed' to come up with something new and decent before the year is out and I may rescind your Villains of the Week status.
Hero of the Week
Rutger Worm. Worm became Hearts official first scorer with a great header. He also became Hearts Official Football Sack Hero of the Week. Super goal, Super name, Super Worm? There is nothing more exciting than that!