Will the A-League's crowded house last?

Neil Sherwin believes that some people are getting too excited too soon about this season's A-League attendances.

The Den. Credit: Brisbane Roar

“Bigger than Brazil” has a nice ring to it when talking about any aspect of the beautiful game, and it’s a phrase that has been pounced upon by the pro-football media with regard to the average attendances for Hyundai A-League games so far this season.

At 15,560, the league’s average comes in 14th on a list of top leagues around the globe (according to the Brisbane Times), one spot ahead of the South American giants who are sitting on 14,693.

While this is a feel good story coming off the back of strong starts by marquee players Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey and, to a lesser extent, Shinji Ono, shouting from the roof tops after just four rounds strikes me as being very premature.

The initial buzz around the aforementioned players will die down, make no mistake about it, while early season games such as the opening weekend clash between Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory have provided a nice buffer.

The key lines in the previously mentioned article are as follows –

“Should the A-League maintain its early-season speed, it remains on track to beat attendances in Turkey, Scotland, Russia, Belgium, Korea and Portugal. At the moment, it is the 14th most attended league in world football.”

Now while that sounds impressive, there is simply very little chance of that happening.

It’s a long season, and with more than 20 rounds of games still to be played, I expect that figure of 15k+ to be as good as it gets from here on in.

With Perth Glory, Adelaide United, Melbourne Heart, Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners all hovering around a 10k average for their home gates so far, there could be some lean times ahead when the majority of them play at home in the same gameweek.

What is a realistic aim though?

Well, consistent growth is the most important thing, and the league’s average attendance figure grew by over 2000 between the end of last season and the campaign before, an improvement following a drop on 2009/10 –

2009/10 – 9,831

2010/11 – 8,393

2011/12 – 10,490

Another increase of 2000, pushing the average to in and around a respectable 12,500, is a much more realistic target and I would much prefer to spin a whole season’s attendances come April rather than just one month’s worth.

It’s important to say that this article isn’t an attempt to run down what is a great start to the new season; more so an attempt to put a bit of perspective on things if and when there is a drop in the average as we head in to November.

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Hayley Crawford: Capitulation against Canberra

As I’m sitting here writing this I’m still trying to figure out what went wrong on Saturday...

The match was a hard fought battle between two teams who right up until the 74th minute were deadlocked at 0-0. Both our girls and Canberra United had chances throughout the first half but neither side could capitalise. We went into the sheds full of confidence that we were matching the defending Premiers all over the park.

The game continued back and forth until a mad ten minute peiod at the very end in which we somehow conceded five goals! The rest is history and to those not at the game the score line reflects a completely different game to what was played out in front of a dumbfounded home crowd.

Post-match the mood was one of shock and disbelief as to what just happened; we spoke in the locker-rooms about staying together through times like these and that we would turn it all around with a solid week of training.

We have three field sessions and a gym session to move on and now it’s imperative that we start winning and picking up points. With the league being closer to a sprint than a marathon every game is vital as we don’t want to be left behind on the ladder.

All our attention now is focused on how we are going to come away from our match on Saturday against Melbourne Victory with three points. It’s a tough trip to Geelong to face a tough team but with fingers crossed we hope to return with our first win on the road.

Hayley

Club Captain for Westfield W-League side Newcastle Jets, Hayley has represented Australia at many levels including the Matildas. Catch the W-League every week at your local ground or if you can't make the game watch it on ABC1. Read Hayley's other columns for The Football Sack!

This season, the Newcastle Jets launched a Facebook page just for their W-League team, be sure to like it.

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5 reasons to stop watching the A-League this week

This league is far too even. It's so even that Wanderers not only beat the Roar this week they comprehensively dominated them. Before the season even starts I should know the top four teams that will place that year. That's real football.

You should stop watching the A-League. Hell, you should stop watching football completely after such a horrible weekend. Here's why.

1. Del Piero has some sort of infected tongue. 
Why is it so frikkin red? Infection? Every time he scores and sticks it out I think he's been fellating the devil. Or at least Rooney. If it were up to me I'd quarantine the player from the rest of the club during training. Except for Dimi and Spider, of course. They seem to be infected already.

2. Dressing rooms aren't sexy enough.
Unless I'm watching Lingerie Football I don't want to see inside the dressing room post-match. Players in their tighty-whiteys is just not on. And they'll agree with you, especially after taking an ice bath.

3. Jeronimo pun not being given full airtime. 
Here we have a player named Jeronimo intentionally dive for what seemed like an eternity and noone has as yet slowed the footage down and overlayed it with Brenton Speed yelling the player's name. I'm counting down until it happens. One one thousand, two one thousand..

4. Someone getting selected for England whilst playing in the A-League is ludicrous
Emile Heskey has scored four goals in as many matches making him the league's current top goalscorer. Impressive. An unlikely call-up to the England squad would make me head for the hills in anticipation of the impending apocalypse, ala Deep Impact.

5. Missing pieces of the puzzle
If I'm going to watch A-League I want to at least know that the league's best and fairest players are in form. Flores and Broich have been out of touch and Smeltz is not even on the pitch. Berisha is going alright, but he's no nice guy. After all we all remember his Jeronimo moment.

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Crossbar: Whose city is coldest?

Week four has come and gone and now we are into the 'other' matches. 

You know, we've done all the derby's and grudge matches and we're stuck with Western Sydney vs Melbourne Heart in the new kids on the block battle, Victory vs Wellington in the who's city is colder challenge etc etc. The football is still great though and the A-League is making big waves overseas with Heskey and Del Piero on the scoresheet once again (as predicted in last weeks aptly named 'predictions' section).

Still its very hard to get a gauge on who's good and who's not, making for an even competition and an exciting league.

These snuck under the Crossbar and into The Sack (Likes)

1. Western Sydney scoring and winning... Finally.

2. Stop. HESKEY TIME.

3. The Football Sack's #ThingsMoreTrustworthyThanVictoryDefence and your responses. There were some crackers in there.

4. Talk of Harry Kewell returning. He is after all our greatest EVER player.

5. Steve Pantelidis. The man knows his limitations.


What went over the Crossbar (Dislikes) 

1. Neumann getting off that diving charge, maybe there was a clip, but geez, why bring in a rule if you aren't going to enforce it.

2. Betting on the A League, easier to pick the winner in the Melbourne cup than what it is to pick a winner right now.

3. The Football Sack getting put in twitter jail. Again. C'mon Twitter, lift your game. People need us and our incessant tweeting. 

Things we learned: 

We just aren't ready to play games at giant stadiums. Etihad, Patersons and ANZ just look so empty.

Things we already knew:

Fox Sports do a great job, but Gary Phillips?

Things we could change if we had superpowers

Another Melbourne side in the A-League, only because the current two are down the bottom of the table right now. Law of averages and all that. Hey, it worked for Jamie Madrox.

Hero of the week:

Emile Heskey, BANG, BANG, #HESKEY4ENGLAND

Villain of the week:

Jeronimo Neumann. Not in our league please, sir.

Player to watch:

Vinne Grella returns to Australia. One of our all time greats.

Next week's prediction:

1. Victory and Sydney FC fans will be watching Friday night's other Melbourne vs Sydney game out of the corner of their eye.

2. Del Piero to score in open play.

3. Fox Sports to come up with some 'big blue' style name for the Wanderers vs Heart but in red. We'll get in first and call it the Red Stripe Stoush.

Last weeks predictions:

1. Brisbane will score six against the hapless Wanderers. REALLY WRONG

2. Heskey and Del Piero will both score again in Week Four. CORRECT

3. Jacob Burns will go through a game without getting a yellow card. WRONG

Worth a punt:

Western Sydney vs Melbourne Heart to finish 0-0 @ $10.

The Quick Wrap

Newcastle Jets 2 (Heskey 54' 56')
Melbourne Victory 1 (Thompson 71')

Hunter Stadium

Two things dominated this game. One was Heskey, the other was Melbourne Victory's inability to defend. What has happened to Adrian Leijer?

Adelaide United 3 (Nuemann 55' 85' Cassio 68')

Wellington Phoenix 1 (Huysegems 42')

Hindmarsh Stadium

Adelaide bounced back in style, they look the goods.

Melbourne Heart 0

Central Coast Mariners 1 (Bojic 51')

AAMI Park

A brilliantly taken free kick on a brilliant Melbourne afternoon. Mariners are very well organised. Heart are slipping since the round one derby win.

Brisbane Roar 0

Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Bridge 19')

Suncorp Stadium

You could have knocked me down with a feather. Bridge with another important goal to add to his two grand final goals.

Sydney FC 2 (Del Piero 58' Pen, Emerton 71')

Perth Glory 1 (Dodd 18')

ANZ Stadium

Great occasion, not the place for it though unfortunately. Perth unlucky after playing well for most of the game. 

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Sydney score from open play. Well, kind of

Brett Emerton coolly chipped Vukovic to give Sydney a 2-1 win last night. 'Til that point in the match Sydney had mainly found their goals this season from penalties and freekicks. Oh, I guess Del Piero did get last week's winner following up on his penalty. 

Credit: Football Through A Lens

The Italian marquee has scored two penalties and a freekick, Blake Powell has snatched one and now Aussie marquee Emmo has bagged his first.

But it wasn't the result of a good passage of play from the Sky Blues. Poor distribution from Vukovic saw Miller dispossessed by Grant who quickly passed to Emerton, the Socceroo chipping the ball over the keeper with apparent ease.

It was also Emerton who won the penalty after a well timed pass up the middle by Ali Abbas found on-running Emerton clear on goal only to be pulled down by Steve Pantelidis. Red to Steve and a goal for Alé on his 800th professional game.

Sydney are still a work in progress though, and struggled at times against even a 10-man Glory. A 10-man Glory without striker Shane Smeltz. And that is a worrying thought.

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Wanderers historic night built on self-belief

They were already incorporated in law but it wasn’t until Western Sydney Wanderers defeated Brisbane Roar 1-0 in Brisbane on Saturday night that they finally became a football club.

Mark Bridge’s 19^th minute goal delivered more than just the red-and-black hoop’s first competitive three points, it delivered the side their first taste of A-League legitimacy – a famous and unlikely victory.

Before kick-off, Roar were considered unbackable, short-priced favourites. Few truly thought Wanderers stood much chance on the defending champion’s home patch – few, that is, other than the out-of-towners themselves.

That unfancied self-belief has fast become the most endearing characteristic of the Western Sydney club. It even has the potential to define them.

Fairly or not, Wanderers have faced more criticism following their founding than any other expansion side in the A-League’s short history – critics focusing on the franchises’ short preparation time and patchwork playing roster.

Off the pitch Wanderers have progressed assuredly – the solid attendances in earlier rounds and general positivity of supporters and well-wishers borne from months of preseason community engagement.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, encouraging flashes of promise combined with a stoic defensive presence ensured the side was competitive if not particularly threatening in the opening three rounds.

It suggested that perhaps critics of the playing squad had been right before Saturday night’s result put paid to that argument.

Whether or not the wet conditions suited the visitors is moot. Western Sydney went out with a game plan to stifle Roar’s midfielders and not allow the home side to slip behind their line out wide.

It’s a familiar tune for visitors to Suncorp Stadium but Wanderers arguably executed the strategy better than any other team in the past twelve months.

They combined this defensive grit with a sharpness on the counter attack that had been missing in the first three rounds – surely a worrying development for usual starting striker Dino Kresinger who missed the historic fixture through injury.

In the end, the method only guilds the lily though. The result is what will ultimately matter most to Wanderers supporters and it takes up the least room in the history book.

Defeating the defending champions on their home turf for the club’s first ever win is a significant achievement and the fans have every right to revel boisterously in its afterglow.

I have little doubt that in the years to come many more than actually attended will claim to have been there for such an historic, possibly club-defining moment,

However, for the record, the away section could not have held more than twenty or so of the hooped faithful. And hopefully, for the sake of their small place in club history, their tickets didn't fall apart in the rain.

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Mariners down Heart one nil

Central Coast Mariners have inflicted Melbourne Heart's second defeat of the season, defeating the Red and White 1-0 at AAMI Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

The winner for the visitors was scored by Pedj Bojic, who struck a brilliant free-kick over the wall leaving Heart keeper Clint Bolton with no chance.

The goal was the first of the season for Bojic and proved to be a vital one as it was enough for the Mariners to take the three points back home.

Despite the wonderful conditions for football, both sides had their share of possession, however failed to create any real chances throughout the ninety minutes, providing a less than entertaining game of football for the fans.

The win sends Central Coast up to third for the time being, while the Heart are still searching for their first win since the Melbourne Derby.

More to follow....

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Jets announce themselves as title contenders

After overcoming bitter local rivals Central Coast Mariners last weekend and defeating Victory on Friday, can the Jets build on their ability to win ugly and finally become a Championship winning A-League side? All signs point to yes. Gary Van Egmond can finally call this young squad his and a reliance on an up-tempo, mobility based game plan is finally start to pay off for the men in red and blue. 

Van Egmond has focussed at training this week on developing the Jets ability to control a game, by the quick circulation of the ball played out from the back. The Mariners controlled the game last Saturday, which is something Van Egmond wants to change.

“If we can control the game, I think we can create enough opportunities in that front third to win the game. The issue for us is about controlling it and a number of other things will flow on from that. If we don’t, they have enough of an arsenal in their team to hurt you,” Van Egmond said in Wednesday’s press conference.

It has been slightly alarming to watch the Jets continue to play aimless long balls from the back to well over halfway rather than pressing though building possession. Luckily over the past few weeks both flanks have begun to shine.

Young talents Craig Goodwin and James Virgili are both great signs for the Jets future, as they have the ability to beat defenders one on one with ease. Virgili’s bamboozling run against Mariners defender Patrick Zwaanswijk not only showed his class, but also set up Heskey’s winner perfectly.

“It was good to see him (Virgili) put in a performance like that,” Van Egmond said.

“He is going to derive a lot of confidence from that as well.”

Since the opening round against Adelaide, the Jets' play in the front third has improved dramatically, in particular the service to main man Emile Heskey who has silenced the many critics who doubted his goal scoring ability.

Van Egmond commented on the necessity to achieve a balance in their building of possession and their service to Heskey.

“We’ve been doing it the whole pre-season, but with Emile getting here later, they’ve tended to look at that as an outlet a little bit too soon and we haven’t got that balance right as such,” he said.

The Jets have obviously focused on continuity, underlined by their extensive short passing, completing 661 passes at 75% this season so far. However at times their movement around the park has seemed rather stagnant. If the last couple of weeks are anything to go by, the pace in which they play with will continue to improve. And it will need to, as the Victory have the most completed passes in the league with 1205 as well as being the most efficient passers at 83%.

In a further boost to what is an already bright future for the club, five Jets have been named in the Young Socceroos, moreso than any other club in the league. Connor Chapman, Mitch Oxborrow, Josh Brilliante, Adam Taggart, Jack Duncan will compete in the Asian Football Confederation under 19 World Championship, held in the United Arab Emirates beginning on November 4.

The club is certainly heading in the right direction in terms of membership, sponsors, and community involvement as well as the youth development program, all of which will hopefully lead Newcastle on their way to a Championship winning season.

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Officiating overshadows United’s victory

A number of debatable refereeing decisions and a second-half blitz by Adelaide United has helped the Reds to a 3-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The Phoenix were 1-0 up at half-time however a red card to Ben Sigmund and some questionable offside calls allowed the Reds to take a stranglehold of the match in the final 45 minutes.

At the end of the first half Jeremy Brockie was denied a goal which would’ve given the New Zealand side a commanding 2-0 lead. After Jeronimo Neumann’s 55th minute equaliser the referee’s flag stayed down for centurion Cassio to give United the go-ahead goal.

 Sigmund was shown a straight red card for a foul on Neumann who was one-on-one with ‘keeper Mark Paston. The send-off signalled the end of Wellington’s chances as Neumann’s second of the match in the 85th minute killed off the game.

Phoenix head coach Ricki Herbert was unhappy after the match and claimed the league needs more consistency in its officiating.

“All we ask for is a fair and equal line across the board,” Herbert said.

 “At the end of the day we have got an opinion and sometimes we can't voice it and I think that is to be respected.

“If (Jeronimo) hasn’t dived then fine we all move on. If he has then maybe there’s a chance to make a bit of a statement here,” he said.

United coach John Kosmina was giving nothing away post-match but felt it was a difficult decision for the official to make.

“Sometimes referees make decisions you agree with and sometimes they make decisions that you don’t,” Kosmina said.

“Looking at the replay it was a hard one to call. “[The referee] was in a better position than I was, probably a better position than the cameras because he was right behind it,” he said.

Herbert was left to rue what could have been as he witnessed his side surrender a 1-0 lead after looking the better side as the first half came to a close.

 According to Herbert, “that’s football”.

“It’s intriguing, it can be a great game or it can hurt you at times,” he said.

Adelaide’s cult-hero Cassio celebrated his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance with just his seventh goal for the Reds.

The left-back put Adelaide 2-1 up in the 68th minute and Kosmina said he was pleased for the recently naturalised 32-year-old.

“I think he had a great game and it’s great that he scored in his 100th game,” Kosmina said.

“Last week he was a little bit quiet and I think this week he was very very comfortable.

“He’s been a great servant to the club. I’m happy for him that he got a goal to celebrate his 100th game,” he said.

While Cassio has only managed seven goals in his 100 league games, United’s Argentine import Jeronimo Neumann has started life as a Red in spectacular fashion with two assists and three goals in his first four domestic appearances.

Kosmina was full of praise for his forward and the cutting edge he’s capable of providing.

“(Jeronimo’s) goals were great, his two finishes were class,” Kosmina said.

--

Goal(s): Huysegems 42’ (1-0), Neumann 55’ (1-1), Cassio 68’ (2-1), Neumann 85’ (3-1)

Adelaide Starting XI: Galekovic (gk) (c), Malik, Fyfe, Cassio, Carrusca, van Dijk, Vidosic, Golec, Bowles, Ramsay, Neumann.


Subs: Djite, Watson, Ferreira, Hall (gk).

Wellington Starting XI: Paston (gk), Muscat, Lochhead, Smith, Bertos, Ifill, Huysegems, Brockie, Fenton, Sigmund, Durante (c).

Subs: Totori, Boyd, Lia, Moss (gk).

Crowd: 8497
Referee: Jarred Gillett

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Wanderers score first goal, record first win

A-League new boys Western Sydney Wanderers secured the club’s first ever three points on Saturday night after defeating Brisbane Roar 1-0 at Suncorp Stadium.

The visitors delivered an assured performance in the wet conditions with Mark Bridge’s historic 19^th minute headed goal – the Wanderer’s first in a competitive fixture – ultimately proving decisive.

The goal came from a corner when Youssouf Hersi presented as a short option, the attacking midfielder's ensuing cross finding the head of frontman Bridge, who turned the ball in at the near post from ten yards.

Prior to kickoff, Roar were touted as unbackable, short-priced favourites; however, the goal followed an even, albeit stilted, opening that saw both teams uncertain of the slippery surface.

Attacking midfielder Aaron Mooy signalled the visitor's intentions early when his 4th minute shot from the edge of the area pinballed off both posts before bouncing back out - Roar goalkeeper Michael Theo looking on helplessly as the ball twice passed him by.

Roar’s first chance came on 10 minutes, Erik Paartalu mis-striking his under-powered twenty-yard effort directly at Wanderer’s goalkeeper Ante Covic.

Following Bridge's goal, Brisbane attempted to reassert home advantage - dominating possession, if not the chances, for the rest of the half.

The first salvo of shots came on 24 minutes when right midfielder Ben Halloran ran for Mitch Nichols' slipped pass, however the youngster’s shot was blocked by an alert Covic before Broich blasted his follow-up well over the cross bar.

Western Sydney refused to stay out of the game though; Bridge's 29th minute left-sided cross curling just beyond the reach of both Hersi and Kwabena Appiah Kubi lunging at the far post.

On 38 minutes, Roar fullback Jack Hingert pushed forward to out-muscle Nikolai Topor-Stanley on the byline, neatly toeing the ball back for an unmarked Nichols; the attacking midfielder’s subsequent ten-yard shot ricocheting back off the far post before being cleared.

Wanderers had a chance to extend their lead prior to the break when Joseph Gibbs beat Roar captain Matt Smith one-on-one, but the young striker pushed his shot wide of the near post from eight-yards.

Following the interval, Wanderers continued to make more of less ball - Japanese international midfielder Shinji Ono distributing assuredly for the visitors in the centre of the pitch.

Bridge also continued his promising first half form - shooting wide in the 50^th minute - before a minute later Kwabena Appiah Kubi forced a save from Theo with a bobbled but dangerous 25-yard attempt.

Roar persevered before their home fans but still struggled to get behind the Wanderers back four – their evening epitomised when an out-of-sorts Broich resorted to an uncharacteristic long-ranged attempt just before the hour. It sailed well over.

Wanderers remained content to hold their lead and play on the counter against the defending champions. successfully springing more than once to catch-out their increasingly frustrated opponents - the former Ajax Amsterdam contracted Hersi heavily involved in the best chances.

On a 61st minute break, the right-sided attacker jinked menacingly at pace to shake scrambling centre-back Matt Jurman, before then skewing his left-footed attempt wide of the target.

Hersi popped up again in the 75th minute when his viciously struck half-volley from twenty-yards was tipped behind by a fully-stretched Theo.

Roar valiantly pushed for an equaliser in the final ten minutes but ultimately could not break down the determined Wanderers backline - Broich, Henrique, Nichols and Besart Berisha all clutching at the slightest of chances.

The result sees Wanderers move level with Roar on four points on the A-League ladder.

FINAL:

Brisbane Roar - 0

Western Sydney Wanderers - 1 (Mark BRIDGE 19’)

Attendance: 12,663 @ Suncorp Stadium

TEAMS:

BRISBANE ROAR:
1 Michael THEO (gk), 2 Matt SMITH (c), 3 Shane STEFANUTTO, 4 Matthew JURMAN, 6 Erik PAARTALU, 7 Besart BERISHA, 8 Massimo MURDOCCA, 11 Ben HALLORAN, 17 Mitch NICHOLS, 19 Jack HINGERT, 22 Thomas BROICH
SUBS: 10 HENRIQUE, 13 Yuji TAKAHASHI, 18 Luke BRATTAN, 20 Matt ACTON (gk)

WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS:
1 Ante COVIC (gk), 3 Adam D’APUZZO, 4 Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 5 Michael Beauchamp (c), 6 Jerome POLENZ, 8 Mateo POLJAK, 10 Aaron MOOY, 13 Joseph GIBBS, 17 Youssouf HERSI, 19 Mark BRIDGE, 21 Shinji ONO
SUBS: 11 Tarek ELRICH, 14 Kwabena APPIAH KUBI, 20 Jerrad TYSON (gk), 23 Jason TRIFIRO

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W-LEAGUE: Glory two from two with Adelaide win

Perth Glory maintained their winning start to the new W-League season, overcoming Adelaide United 2-1 on a hot day at Itinga Stadium.

The Lady Reds went ahead against the run of play but goals from Kate Gill and Elisa D'Ovidio gave the hosts all three points.

With the temperature over 30 degrees for the entire game, the players did well to keep going for 90 minutes, aided by a drinks break in each half.

Glory dominated early on and came close to opening the scoring on 15 minutes when a McCallum cross to the back post found its way to Elisa D’Ovidio but her goal bound header was hacked off the line by Abby Erceg.

With 18 minutes gone, McCallum found the net after running through the Adelaide defence but the goal was bizarrely chalked off.

Assistant Jarrad Kennington flagged for another player being in an offside position, however referee Renee Silvester failed to consult with him and, presuming he meant McCallum, disallowed the goal.

Despite being under pressure for the majority of the half, it was the visitors who went in from on 41 minutes when a curling free kick from Ann Mayo found the top corner of Carly Telford's goal.

However, Glory drew level in injury time at the end of the half when Gill finished past Kristi Harvey when the ball fell to her in the area.

The second half followed much of the same pattern as Glory continued to control the game, though they hit double figures for offsides which greatly disrupted their play.

Chances were few and far between, with both sides trying their luck from range, but neither keeper was really tested until the 80th minute when Harvey blocked D'Ovidio's attempted lob.

The game looked set to finish a goal apiece until the 88th minute when D'Ovidio latched on to a long ball forward by Telford to score low into the bottom corner.

It was a deserved win for Glory in the end having been the better side, though Adelaide will be disappointed to have lost so late on.

Perth Glory: 1. Carly Telford, 2. Sarah Carroll (9. Rosie Sutton 65), 3. Carys Hawkins, 4. Bronwyn Studman, 5. Shannon May (8. Ella Mastrantonio 76), 6. Sasha Andrews, 12. Kathryn Gill, 13. Elisa D’Ovidio, 14. Collette McCallum, 15. Elizabeth Milne, 17. Marianna Tabain (19. Shawn Billam 90).

Subs: 20. Zoe Palandri.  

Adelaide United: 1. Kristi Harvey, 3. Alex Natoli, 5. Abby Erceg, 6. Cassandra Tsoumbris (11. Grace Henry 76), 7. Rachael Quigley (2. Ruth Wallace 46), 9. Marijana Rajcic (18. Georgia Macri 55), 13. Ann Mayo, 15. Emma Checker, 16. Jessica Waterhouse, 17. Laura Johns, 19. Holly Patterson.

Subs: 12. Elise Whorlow.

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W-LEAGUE: Roar edge out Victory

Melbourne Victory suffered their first loss at home since Season Three of the Westfield W-League after a 1-0 loss to Brisbane Roar.

Victory dominated possession and attack for most of the game, with the visitors securing the 3 points after a Vedrana Popovic free kick. As well as sitting last on the ladder, Victory will have to wait on news regarding Matilda Ashley Brown who was stretchered off towards the end of the game with what looked to be a knee injury.

Victory dominated most of the possession and attack during the first 15 minutes, with Stephanie Catley delivering into the box from the left hand side a number of times to no avail. Brisbane took advantage of the first free kick of the game paid by referee Rebecca Durcau, with Vedrana Popovic putting the visitors 1-0 up at the 17th minute mark after Brianna Davey was unable to stop her powerful shot.

There was an evident momentum shift after the goal, with Brisbane pressing through midfielder Tameka Butt, however all three of her attempts floated over the crossbar.

Captain Louisa Bisby had Melbournes first long range shot of the game at the 38th minute mark, the long range kick from outside the box going just wide of goalkeeper Hoshima Kishi. Amy Jackson also had the chance to score the first for the Victory, her volley at the 40th minute missing just to the right. 

Players were welcomed back on to a sunbathed pitch in Melbourne during the second half, and Victory took the first opportunity of the half to try and grab an equaliser. US import Jessica McDonald had her first real opportunity of the game after a Stephanie Catley stopover and cross into the box, however the shot hit the upright.

Brisbane substitute Emily Gielnik, the equal highest goal scorer against Melbourne, had the opportunity to double the visitors lead after Jacksons header landed right in the path of the striker, with her shot floating just wide.

McDonald had a number of chances late in the half to snatch a draw for the home side, however most shots drifted just wide of the goals. After the game, McDonald stated that Melbourne had "great opportunities… we just couldn't finish."

Victory will also be concerned about forward Ashley Brown who was stretchered off late in the game with a suspected knee injury. The Matilda looked lively after being substituted on in the second half. 

Melbourne play their next game against Newcastle in Geelong, while fourth placed Brisbane host Sydney.

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Centurion Cassio rewarded with Reds victory

Adelaide United wingback Cassio has helped produce a fairy-tale result for the Reds as a goal in his 100th A-League appearance helped United to a 3-1 win over Wellington at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The Reds fought back from a goal down to produce an emphatic win and end their opponents’ unbeaten start to the 2012/13 season.

Phoenix import Stein Huysegems continued his purple patch with his third goal in four games. The Belgian’s composed finish in the 42nd minute separated the sides at the break before an opportunistic goal to Jeronimo Neumann in the 55th minute levelled the scores.

Cassio took the game by the scruff of the neck in the 68th minute as he took the ball from the left-back position into the attacking third, before a sharp one-two with Neumann gave the 32-year-old time for a composed finish at the near post.

Neumann put the icing on the cake in the 85th minute after a deft through-ball from Dario Vidosic opened up the Phoenix defence, leaving the striker with an easy task to secure his brace.

United started the brighter of the two sides as they looked to force short inter-linking passes to hold possession inside their attacking half.

Iain Ramsay proved a threat down the left wing as he looked to expose his marker Leo Bertos. A number of long balls over the Wellington defence found the left-footer however his final ball was often left lacking as the Reds failed to produce a cutting edge in their attacking play.

The match needed a splash of inspiration and when it came it was no surprise that Barbadian Paul Ifill was on hand to deliver it. The winger’s chipped through-ball to Stein Huysegems beat the Reds’ offside trap leaving the Belgian with a simple task to beat Galekovic for a Wellington lead in the 42nd minute.

The Reds found their equaliser through an opportunistic goal to Jeronimo Neumann in the 55th minute. Carrusca’s attempted long-range strike was almost cleared by the Wellington defence only for the ball to deflect off Osama Malik and into Neumann’s path who on-hand to slide home his second goal of the season.

Cassio’s 100th game was rewarded with just his seventh league goal to give the Reds a 2-1 lead in the 68th minute. With the ball spread wide by Galekovic, the 32-year-old beat substitute Benjamin Totori for pace and burst into the centre of the park. Just as the wingback looked to be running out of steam he played a quick one-two with Neumann before sliding a neat finish past Paston at the near post.

Wellington’s chances were all but ended in the 77th minute as Ben Sigmund was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Neumann as he ran through on goal. Bruce Djite’s introduction was the catalyst for the move as his flick-on header put the Argentine through on-goal.

An exquisite through-pass from Vidosic to Neumann in the 85th minute gave the Argentine his brace and cemented the win for United as they cruised to their third win from the opening four games of the season.

Goal(s): Huysegems 42’ (1-0), Neumann 55’ (1-1), Cassio 68’ (2-1), Neumann 85’ (3-1)

Adelaide Starting XI: Galekovic (gk) (c), Malik, Fyfe, Cassio, Carrusca, van Dijk, Vidosic, Golec, Bowles, Ramsay, Neumann.

Subs: Djite, Watson, Ferreira, Hall (gk).

Wellington Starting XI: Paston (gk), Muscat, Lochhead, Smith, Bertos, Ifill, Huysegems, Brockie, Fenton, Sigmund, Durante (c).

Subs: Totori, Boyd, Lia, Moss (gk).

Crowd: 8497
Referee: Jarred Gillett

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Heskey inspires victorious Jets

The Newcastle Jets made it three wins on the trot after overcoming a rather uninspired Melbourne Victory outfit at Hunter Stadium this evening, extending their undefeated run at home against the Victory under coach Van Egmond. 
 

In front of 13 912 vocal Novocastrians, the Jets cemented themselves in the top two of the ladder, courtesy of crowd favourite Emile Heskey who brilliantly netted back to back goals in the 54^th and 57^th minute.

Van Egmond’s wish to work on controlling the game through their high tempo retention based game plan became obvious from the outset. However, both teams struggled to find their feet early, causing an arm wrestle to ensue in attempt to rid the congestion. Despite Emile Heskey offering a lot individually early on, his poor service that has plagued the Jets the last few weeks continued into the first half.  

The Victory overcame the weight of Jets possession in the first half to create the most opportunities, particularly late in the second half thanks largely to striker Marco Rojas. Several impressive saves from Birighitti were the difference.  

Van Egmond’s words in the sheds obviously resonated with the men in red and blue. Griffiths move into the centre, coupled with Zadkovich’s move to the right wing paid dividends immediately in the second half, with Heskey calmly netting a deflected cross from 19 year old Josh Brilliante in the 54^th minute.

The Novocastrian crowd again erupted three minutes later when Heskey latched onto a Dominik Ritter header into the six yard box, slotting an overhead kick for his fourth goal in the last three games.

The Victory struck back in the 71^st minute, with Archie Thompson breaking his Victory drought via a miscued clearance from Tiago Calvano.

Goodwin again showed why he has been touted as a future Socceroo, demonstrating class through his distribution from the left flank. His replacement James Virgili was equally impressive when he entered the game at the 79^th minute mark, consistently creating opportunities through his raw pace.

The Jets effectively wound down the clock in the final moments to deserve their gutsy win, triggered by the best half of football they’ve played this year. As Heskey left the pitch in the 85^th minute, the crowd rose as one in appreciation, and deservedly so.

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Steph Catley: Western adventure

On Saturday morning my alarm woke me up at 6:30am; I packed my boots and threw my Melbourne Victory bag into the back of my car and went off to training. 

I picked up Rebekah Stott on the way and was surprised to see that she’d brought two bags worth of clothes for an overnight trip. Overly cautious Stotty!

Image Credit: Melbourne Victory Women

On arrival at training, Amy Jackson’s lift drove off with all of her gear in the back of his car and then didn’t answer his phone for the next hour. This left her with just a pair of boots. Luckily AJ rarely ever panics! She got her gear back before we left for the airport.

I found myself in trouble already because I’d worn shorts instead of the flare-pants that we’d apparently been told to wear (missed that memo). After debating that it’d be hot in Perth and that I needed to change into skins for the flight anyway, Naomi (Team Manager) had won the battle easily. She’s probably one of the most organised and brilliant team managers I’ve ever had to pleasure of travelling with!

On the flight, Rebekah Stott excitedly pointed out that the singer from the show Offspring, Clare Bowditch, was on our flight. She was so excited by this that she put an episode of Offspring on her laptop and watched it for the remainder of the trip to Perth.

On just about every single flight I’m on I usually end up next to my best pal Brianna Davey. Generally we have the exact same taste in music, so much so that we count down and press play on our separate iPod’s so that we can listen to the same song without annoying the entire plane.

I also shared a room with Bri. She’s pretty much the perfect roomie; laid back, likes the same music as me, brings her GHD hair straightener wherever she goes, doesn’t snore and is one of my best friends!

We had a meeting that night where it was announced that Louisa Bisby would captain us for the game, it was a privilege to have such an experienced and talented player lead us into our first match.

The bus ride to the ground was a dead silent one as most players opted to listen to their own music and prepare themselves for the game in their own way.

As we arrived at the ground, it was a familiar site for me as I’d played at Intiga Stadium at least once a year over the past four seasons. But for many of our girls it was their first time arriving at not only the stadium in Perth but at their first ever Westfield W-League game.

As we entered the change rooms where our jumpers hung high on the walls displaying our last names boldly, I could feel the nerves. We had four debutants; Jackie Vogt, Cindy Lay, Tiffany Eliadis and Rachel Alonso. None of them looked flustered on the ball whatsoever during the game and I am extremely proud of every single one of them for how they approached the game and performed on Sunday. They are all fantastic players with bright futures.

We’d had an interrupted pre-season but we are an extremely positive team and went into the game against Perth ready to give it everything. Working extremely hard during the game, the standout performers for me were Enza Barilla and Gulcan Koca – both provided attacking flair and were defensively solid. Although we gave it everything we could, Perth were the better team and played some really attractive, structured football.

Grazed and bruised, we walked back into the change rooms a little stumped. It was an unusual feeling. We’d lost, and losing does not sit well with me or with any of the girls that wear the Victory jumper. But there was a certain feeling of “we are capable of so much more and we will reach our best” buzzing around the room. I felt comfortable with the fact that we would not let this first loss define our season.

After finding ourselves in a bit of a pickle at Melbourne airport on the way home with a very well-mannered but petrol-less cab driver, we had to sit in his cab at the petrol station for a good twenty minutes! We arrived home safely and were all craving sleep.

We have now had another week training underneath our coach Mike Mulvey and we feel revitalised and will once again be the team that no one wants to play against. With three internationals set to join the team in the coming weeks, a few missing links will be filled and we will be ready for anyone.

Now, we approach our first home game on Saturday. Last season, we were undefeated at home and aim to do the same this time around.

Brisbane is a tough and experienced side and we head into the game as the underdogs, a label that has stuck with us throughout most of the W-League’s existence. It is a label that does not faze us and we will be more than ready to face the Roar on Saturday.

Last year we attracted some really good crowds to the Veneto Club in Bulleen, so make sure to get down there and support us on Saturday. There’s nothing like a big, home crowd to pump us up for the game ahead.

Hope to see you there!

Read all of Steph's columns for The Football Sack. 

Winner of 2011/12 Female Footballer of the Year in the Australian Football Fan Awards, young star for Melbourne Victory Women Stephanie Catley is a current Matilda and is a born and bred Victorian. Catch the W-League every week at your local ground or if you can't make the game watch it on ABC1.

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Sack Podcast reaches 100 episodes

Host Jack Quigley works a grey tee.

It's the Friday Show on The Football Sack podcast which means it's time for Pat and Jack to discuss results, goals, decisions and incidents from the Hyundai A-League.

On this week's Friday Show the boys talk seagulls and salmonella.

Who is the A-League's true 'hard man'?

And we also find out the real reason why Emile Heskey came to Newcastle, and it's not why you'd think, though it is understandable. Enjoy.

LISTEN NOW

About The Show
With over 100 episodes experience, we know football podcasting. The Football Sack has won the best Australian football podcast award for the past two years. Funny, irreverent and a little bit cheeky, the Friday Show is an extremely light-hearted look at the Hyundai A-League.

Subscribe and listen on iTunes, or download the second episode for season eight straight from the web.

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Seagulls

Ange should train a team of seagulls to attack the opposition! The latest cartoon from the Hyundai A-League Webcomic "Sack Attack" by Agaki Bautista....

MORE SACK ATTACK WEBCOMICS

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5 reasons to stop watching the A-League this week

Like a Boss...chaart.

Some guy called Phil liked the A-League this week. So what. I was at that Sydney derby and there was at least 50 seats spare. Plus I couldn't get reception at the ground. Sell out? More like cellphone out.

You should stop watching the A-League. Hell, you should stop watching football completely after such a horrible weekend. Here's why.

 1. Bosschaart still hasn't returned. 
It's been a year since Brisbane Roar struck back and won the A-League for a second year running and Pascal Bosschaart still hasn't returned to save the Sky Blue from these DeathStar-building numptees.

2. Three derby games and no red cards. 
Bring back the biff. Where's our Johns brothers? Where's our scandal? Why is the A-League so fucking family friendly? 

3. Melbourne Victory beat Adelaide 2-1.
Now that's just unrealistic. I call WWE style storytelling. As real as a punch from Bret Hart.

4. Phoenix might still win the league 
They came close against Brissy and are showing signs of bringing the universe to it's knees by winning the league. All of Australia are scared of our whale impersonating friends who have a strange affinity for beaches. We will take you on the beaches, Wellington. Our beaches. Yeah, I dunno either.

5. Ono cam. 
I tried to replicate this high quality TV at home midweek but only came up with Omo cam. Dirt is good, but I got a little dizzy watching the washing machine do its thang. I blame the A-League for my resultant fall and lump on my forehead.

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The Jacob Burns drinking game

Loved by many, hated by more, Perth Glory skipper Jacob Burns certainly divides opinion amongst A-League supporters.

With that in mind, we've come up with a great way for you to get a little bit extra out of his performances, so grab a six pack, park yourself in front of the tv and get that drinking arm nice and loose!

• Perth Glory tweets a pic of Jacob shirtless reading a match programme before the game – three fingers.


• Cleans out the opposition’s best player accidentally on purpose – two fingers


• Booked in the first 10 minutes – finish your drink


• Draws blood – two shots


• Twists an ear / nipple / random body part of another player – two fingers


• Commentator says “He’s not that type of player” – one finger


• Takes out his own player in a tackle – two fingers


• Fixes his side parting mid game – three fingers


• Assist – three fingers


• Goal – four fingers


• Three votes in the Alex Tobin Award – finish your drink


• Someone on Twitter immediately makes a joke about Thomas Broich – two fingers, unfollow them


• Makes it through 90 minutes without getting booked – drink lots, the apocalypse is coming

Let us know how you got on via the comments section below or on Twitter!

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Hayley Crawford: Slipping against Sydney

What a way to start the new Westfield W-League season!

We always knew that Sydney FC away was going to be a tough, interesting game for us but I don’t think anyone would have expected the six goal thriller that it was.

The mood in the dressing room before the game was calm and as soon as the first whistle blew we clicked into gear. Both sides had early chances on goal on what would have to be one of the biggest fields we have ever played on (thank God I’m not a winger).

As the game played out we opened the scoring and at one stage were 3-1 up and I thought that was a lead we would comfortably hold onto. Sydney had other ideas and as momentum played into their favour we were rocked by a ten minute spell of constant threats on goal which resulted in Sydney clawing back to tie the game 3-3.

As the final whistle sounded the draw felt more like a loss. The team were left to ponder the one that got away.

Many positives can be drawn out of the game; the goals scored, the combinations formed and the point awarded on the road to what is a great team in Sydney FC.

We now have to move on from that result and the disappointment as we to turn our attention to our next big challenge; League Champions Canberra United in what will be our first home game of the season.

We will train hard this week starting today with a double session of weights in the morning and a field session tonight and hopefully come away on Saturday with our first win and the full three points.

See you at the game..... Hayley

Club Captain for Westfield W-League side Newcastle Jets, Hayley has represented Australia at many levels including the Matildas. Catch the W-League every week at your local ground or if you can't make the game watch it on ABC1. Read Hayley's other columns for The Football Sack!

This season, the Newcastle Jets launched a Facebook page just for their W-League team, be sure to like it.

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Crossbar: Healthy Chris Harold

Three rounds into the Hyundai A-League and it just keeps getting better and better.

Sydney and Melbourne Victory got their first wins of the season against their bitter rivals and the Jets took the win in the F3 Derby with a little help. Emile Heskey and Alessandro Del Piero both scored again. Perth did what they needed to do to stop John Aloisi's unbeaten start to coaching, Hayden Foxe took his ensemble over to Perth. Big crowds all round the country (and in NZ of course). Has the A-League ever looked healthier? I think not.


These snuck under the Crossbar and into The Sack (Likes)
1. Ange Postecoglou fist pumps. He got three weeks worth out of his system on Friday night.

2. Adrian Zahra making his return to the A-League.

3. The new stands at Perth; when finished it will be a fantastic place for football.

4. Heskey and Del Piero scoring. Again.

5. The Sydney Derby. Yeah baby!!

6. Besart Berisha. He's been lost in all the marquee hype but he's still doing the business.


What went over the Crossbar (Dislikes) 

1. We were able to send a guy 13 miles into space and he jumped and landed all good yet we can't make material of shorts, shirt, socks and under-garment/skins match. Perth Glory is the worst with the different shades of purple. Wellington's canary yellow 'skins' look terrible.

2. Fox Sports' microphone in front of 'The Shed'. Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children!

3. Only 20k at Etihad on Friday night. It was Melbourne v Adelaide FFS.

Things we learned: 

This seasons competition is going to be as even as ever, there is no stand-out good or bad side.

Things we already knew:

The Sydney derby has taken too long to get going, but now its here, its awesome.

Things we could change if we had superpowers

More marquee players of the standard we have right now. We'd zap Mario Jardel with some sort of laser beam out of our eye that turned him into Totti.

Hero of the week:

Mark Milligan. Victory are so much better with this Socceroo in their side.

Villain of the week:

Referee Ben Williams. He had a stinker.

Player to watch:

Archie Thompson. Still up there with the best players in the league, no question about it.

Next week's prediction:

1. Brisbane will score six against the hapless Wanderers.

2. Heskey and Del Piero will both score again in Week Four.

3. Jacob Burns will go through a game without getting a yellow card.

Last weeks predictions:

1. Adelaide will thump Melbourne Victory -  WRONG

2. You won't see a spare seat in the house at the Sydney derby -  (sadly) WRONG

3. Western Sydney will score a goal - WRONG

Worth a punt:

Brisbane at home to WSW next week will be like printing your own money.

The Quick Wrap

Melbourne Victory 2 (Milligan 52' Rojas 68' )

Adelaide United 1 (Vidosic 50' pen)

Etihad Stadium

Victory finally got some points on the board and it was all the sweeter to do it against the original rival, Adelaide.

Newcastle Jets 2 (Griffiths 5' pen, Heskey 62')

Central Coast Mariners 1 (Ibini 71')

Hunter Stadium

Zadkovich should have been sent of in the first 30 seconds, Heskey 'won' a dodgy penalty. The Mariners were well up against it. Exciting finish!!

Western Sydney Wanderers 0

Sydney FC 1 (Del Piero 56')

Parramatta Stadium

What a night for Australian football, the beginning of a great rivalry, Del Piero scored again. What a buy Sydney FC, hats off to you.

Wellington Phoenix 1 (Huysegems 16')

Brisbane Roar 1 (Berisha 39')

Westpac Stadium

Wellington are strong at home, Brisbane are strong everywhere. the draw was the right result here.

Perth Glory 2 (Heffernan 39' Mehmet 85')

Melbourne Heart 0

NIB Stadium

Back at NIB stadium for the first time this season and although the place resembles a construction sight the Perth fans still make plenty of noise. Hard to gauge where Heart are at right now. 

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