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The past week saw another player bring up their 100th A-League appearance, and there was plenty of late drama with injury-time equalisers and injury-time penalties being saved. Read on for our latest One-stop A-League Photoshop, recapping all the best action from Week 22.
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| This doesn’t look like Sparta? |
The round opened with Perth earning a 2-0 win over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh. The Reds have failed to live up to the hype garnered early in the season however their fans had reason to cheer with talismanic striker Sergio van Dijk clocking his 100th A-League appearance in the match.
Unfortunately the Dutch-born forward couldn’t mark the occasion with a goal but we at The Football Sack wish to congratulate Sergio, the Centurion, on his achievement.
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| Henrique’s suspension meant Adnan was put on the spot |
Week 22 featured plenty of late drama with none as enthralling as the Brisbane/Heart game which saw Sayed Mohamed Adnan step up to take a 92nd minute penalty.
The Bahrain international was denied by ‘keeper Clint Bolton as usual penalty taker Henrique was suspended after last week slapping Perth skipper Jacob Burns. Our very own @MelanieDinjaski coined some new lyrics to the Amy Winehouse hit ‘Rehab’, specific to Friday’s heart-stopping match.
The missed opportunity could have a big effect on the race to the Premier’s Plate as a Brisbane win would’ve put the Queenslanders just one point away from the Mariners with three games to play.
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| # He’s got the whole world in his hands # |
It’s fair to say that Clint Bolton has saved Melbourne Heart on more than one occasion this season. But you would be hard pressed to find a save as key as that which denied Mohamed Adnan’s penalty in the 92nd minute of Melbourne’s clash with Brisbane on Friday night.
Bolton’s save gave the Red half of Melbourne a valuable point which keeps them in fifth spot but are now just goal difference above the Newcastle Jets. A loss to the Roar would have dropped the Heart into outright sixth with Sydney breathing right down their necks for a finals berth.
The gloveman will no doubt go down in A-League history as one of the finest we’ve seen but his recent actions could see the city invest in a Batman-esque ‘Bolton signal’ to call on the stopper when Melbourne is in need of a hero.
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| The Football Sack have found some new advertising space |
Gold Coast can’t seem to stay out of the headlines lately. With Frank Lowy revoking their licence and Clive Palmer starting up his own football association, it was good to finally see Gold Coast back on the pitch against the Phoenix.
Wellington managed to take all three points in a 2-0 win but ‘keeper Jerrad Tyson was immense between the sticks and is yet another Gold Coast youngster to keep an eye on for the future.
But with The Football Sack up for a number of gongs at the Footy Fans Down Under Awards ceremony for 2012 the staff decided to all chip in and buy some advertising space to get the jump over our competition.
Find out how you can help The Football Sack at the FFDU Awards.
Kewell story bro
It’s now time for another weekly Jim Magilton / Melbourne Victory comic! The season came to an abrupt halt for Jim on Saturday after the Jets romped to a 3-1 win at AAMI Park. Ryan Griffiths scored Newcastle’s first before Jacob Pepper added a double for a 3-0 lead. The Victory came alive through a Kewell penalty before the Socceroo was given a second chance from the spot, but managed to blast the ball over Ben Kennedy’s goal.
Despite the match being the Victory’s first home loss of the season, they sit eight points off of finals football with just three matches remaining.