.gif "Sack Attack: An A-League Webcomic")
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| Change the stats to empty seats and occupied seats at the 'Cake-Tin' |
Bernie Ibini-Isei opened the account for the Mariners, Greenacre hit back for Wellington, Matt Simon locked the three points into the overhead baggage for the trip home for Graham Arnold's mob.
The second Friday night game was what Fox Sports commentator Brenton Speed described as "Its just like a relegation battle in the Premier League here". It sure was, except the relegation part, 'cause we don't have that....Or the Premier League part, 'cause this is a game between Adelaide and Heart... So, to sum up, it could not be more UNLIKE a Premier League relegation battle. Our man Maté Dugandzic was again outstanding but yet again Heart couldn't hold onto a lead. Simon Colosimo was sent off and Spase Dilevski scored from the ensuing free kick after young upstart Brendan Hamill put Heart up with his contender for goal of the season. John van t Schip is now officially the coach under the most pressure in the Hyundai A-League.
[READ FULL MATCH REPORT]
When Jeremy Brockie scores he can do it twice in two minutes which in football terms is great, but taken out of context, not so good. Newcastle Jets were all over a Perth Glory side that was lacking imagination and any great tactical nouse. And what's happened to Danny Vukovic, does anyone else think he's gone backwards?
[READ FULL MATCH REPORT]
Saturday night was one out of the box. The timeline went a little like this:
1' Leijer howler, Covic horrible challenge on Berisha,
2' Covic red carded, Pondlejak subbed off for debutant Lawrence Thomas
5' Thomas first involvement at A-League level is to pick ball out of net after Henrique converts penalty
9' Archie Thompson lobs Theoklitos, Etihad crowd as loud as its been in seven season, lucky roof is already opened
20' Thompson put Melbourne in-front, Victory fans erupt and dream of the impossible
27' Ben Williams awards free kick which Broich cooly slots under the wall
36' Matt Foschini shown dreadful red card, game is shot, Victory get out to $34 to win, draw at $19.
37'-90' Brisbane pass ball around, Victory defend and boot ball long. Victory players instruct ball boys to throw balls away when possible, ball boys comply.
[READ FULL MATCH REPORT]
It was the amazing escape for Melbourne Victory and sets up a mouth watering return tie with Brisbane Roar on New Years Eve at Suncorp Stadium.
Sunday saw Sydney FC come back from the dead to get over the desperately unlucky Gold Coast United.
The Bling were gone, 2-0 down and prompting a few of our twitter pals to call for heads to roll. Rees headed home unmarked and McCallister strolled past Liam Reddy. Lavicka kept a cool head and the Sky Blues came out a different team after half time with Cazarine substituted on to score and the human oil slick (Carle) equalising minutes later. History will show that Sydney were awarded a penalty which Kisel converted with the last kick of the game. History will also record that Miron Bleiberg called referee Peter Green a 'Homie' in the post match interview.
These snuck under the Crossbar and into The Sack (Likes)
1. Archie Thompson. you can take your Broich, Smeltz, Flores, Yorke and co and I'll raise you an A Thompson. Consistently the best player in the history of the Hyundai A-League, the smiling assassin eats big games for breakfast and loves the spotlight. He scores when he needs to and does the grunt work when asked, he'd have double the goals he's got had we competent linesman over the past seven seasons (@kyle_barnes15)
2. Bernie Ibini-Isei - Its not often the term 'the next Mark Viduka' is bandied around (who are we kidding it gets bandied around more than a bad metaphor), but the kid is scoring which is good for him, good for the Mariners and good for the future of the Socceroos (@snitchgarling)
3. Adelaide fans chanting 'Who are ya' to Melbourne Heart's Fred. Those quirky Reds fans and their goldfish like memories.
4. Matt McKay getting his first start for Rangers. 'Nuff said.
5. Miron Blieberg, he needs his own five minute gig on a weekly talk show, he is a comic genius hidden inside a football manager.
What went over the Crossbar (Dislikes)
1. Fridays opening game of the round kicked off at 5:30pm AEST (2:30 for football fans in Perth) most people aren't even in their cars coming home from work let alone sitting on the couch cracking the first amber ale of the weekend. Give Wellington Sunday games to do as they wish.
2. Ian Ferguson changing a winning team but keeping a losing one whilst playing three central midfielders in a 4-4-2
3. Golec tweets, loved the honesty in the first tweet, we want our players to have a voice and opinion, the second tweet was plain stupid. No place for it here thanks Antony.
4. Diving, not going to pinpoint anyone in particular but rather do a huge generalization. There are a handful of South American players from the bigger clubs who are continually falling over in the box. there is also no place for that here guys - we will name names next time.
5. Not much else to dislike here apart from that white elephant in the room which I promised I wouldn't dislike again