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A-League: HAL 7 (2011 - 2012 Season)
'Brisbane On Verge Of Australian Sporting History'
Brisbane Roar put themselves on the verge of Australian sporting history on November 19, coming from behind to down Newcastle Jets 2-1 at Ausgrid Stadium to equal the long-standing 35-match unbeaten record of the Eastern Suburbs rugby league team.
The reigning Hyundai A-League champions were under all sorts of pressure at half-time in front of the 13,174 fans in attendance, with goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos having made some vital saves before Ryan Griffiths finally found a way past him on the stroke of the interval.
But the title-holders showed their character in the second spell, and soon after Newcastle ’keeper Ben Kennedy left the field with a broken nose after a collision with team-mate Tarek Elrich, the visitors levelled through Henrique before snatching the points seven minutes from time thanks to substitute James Meyer’s piledriver.
The offside flag denied Besart Berisha from increasing his lead at the top of the Golden Boot chart, but a bigger victory would have flattered the visitors, who extended their league lead thanks to this victory and results elsewhere.
Second-placed Sydney FC were overturned at the Sydney Football Stadium by Central Coast Mariners, whose 3-2 victory was greatly enjoyed by the visiting fans among the 13,947 present.
They saw Patrick Zwaanswijk unleash a long-range drive to give Central Coast the lead four minutes before half-time, and they doubled their advantage through Michael McGlinchey half-way through the second half.
Nick Carle dragged Sydney back into the contest fourteen minutes from time, but Troy Hearfield made the game seemingly safe for the visitors six minutes later, only for Brett Emerton to rifle home a free-kick two minutes from time in a match which saw Sydney bring the best out of Mariners’ goalkeeper Justin Pasfield on a handful of occasions in the final twenty minutes.
That result lifted the Mariners ahead of Sydney on goal difference, some six points behind Brisbane, but a point clear of Perth Glory, who rallied from two goals down to draw 2-2 at the league’s draw specialists, Melbourne Victory, on Sunday evening, despite playing the entire second half with ten men on the park.
Liam Miller’s dismissal eight minutes before half-time for what referee Chris Beath deemed a professional foul left the home team well poised to claim three points at Etihad Stadium, much to the delight of the 18,404-strong crowd.
And when Carlos Hernandez, from the penalty spot, and Danny Allsopp found the net before the hour mark had gone by, Melbourne looked home for all money. But goals in the last twenty minutes from Andresen - a superb free-kick - and, three minutes from time, Shane Smeltz, silenced the natives and gave the numerically challenged Western Australian team a welcome point from the match, Melbourne’s fifth draw in seven games.
Melbourne Heart kicked off the weekend’s action on Friday evening by scoring a 2-1 win at Gold Coast United, watched by just 4,031 fans at Skilled Park, where the bulk of them had hardly taken their seats when Matt Thompson emphatically opened the scoring for the visitors in the fourth minute.
Only the crossbar denied Marco Ritgers an equaliser soon afterwards, but a thumping free-kick from Peter Jungschlager drew United level just after the hour mark, although had the likes of Maycon had their shooting boots on, this goal would have long been of consolation value only to Gold Coast.
As things panned out, that’s exactly what it was, for Jonathan Germano’s deft lobbed finish restored Melbourne’s lead soon afterwards, an advantage they retained throughout the rest of the match.
How Gold Coast must wish they could attract crowds like Wellington Phoenix when the New Zealand-based team take their A-League fixtures around Godzone. Auckland, the country’s biggest city, was the latest stop on their mission to spread the footballing gospel, and the locals embraced the opportunity in record numbers.
20,078 fans - the biggest crowd to watch a regular season A-League fixture in New Zealand and, excluding play-offs, the fourth-biggest attendance to watch Wellington in action since their inception - converged on Eden Park to watch a 1-1 draw with Adelaide United, who looked to spoil the script somewhat when Bruce Djite netted the opener on the stroke of half-time.
Paul Ifill’s return from injury was to prove telling for the home team, as it was from his cross that Nigel Boogaard levelled the scores with a superb diving header. The Adelaide defender became the first player this season to score an own goal in the competition, but at least he did it in some style!!
All eyes will be on Brisbane’s clash with Perth at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night as the champions bid to make Australian sporting history - unbeaten match #36 beckons. Earlier that evening, Central Coast entertain Melbourne Heart at Bluetongue Stadium, while on Friday night, Adelaide and Newcastle lock horns at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Sunday’s fare sees Wellington back at Westpac Stadium for the visit of Sydney, while Melbourne Victory will fancy their chances of adding further to Gold Coast’s woes at AAMI Park.
Details: Hyundai A-League, Round 7:
Gold Coast United FC 1 (Peter Jungschlager (63)) - Melbourne Heart FC 2 (Matt Thompson (4), Jon Germano (68)); HT 0-1
By Jeremy Raune, from NZ
Details: National Youth-League, Round 5:
Sat 19 Nov - 3:00pm - Gold Coast United FC 3 - Melbourne Heart FC 2 - Owen Park, Southport
Details: Westfield womens W-League, Round 5:
Canberra United FC 3 (Sally Shipard 29’, Michelle Heyman 64’, 80’) - Newcastle Jets FC 1 (Gema Simon 77’)
Sydney FC - Bye
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