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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:
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.
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.