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Queensland Roar have never won in New Zealand, and that record was to be maintained when the Brisbane side was held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Wellington Phoenix. The Roar got off to a quick start when a defensive mix-up saw Reinaldo unmarked within striking distance of goal to put the visitors on the board after just 5 minutes. But a quality strike from Shane Smeltz, continuing his strong form for the Phoenix, saw the ball hit the top corner of the Queensland net for an equaliser after 25 minutes. Despite numerous chances from both sides in the second half, the deadlock was unable to be broken again; and 1-1 was how it finished. The result effectively ends the Phoenix' finals aspirations, but cost the Roar an opportunity to attack the Mariners' place at the head of the A-League table. Wellington Phoenix 1 (S Smeltz 25) Queensland Roar 1 (Reinaldo 5) Yellow Cards : Phoenix - V Coveny 15, A Elrich 72, Daniel 90. Roar - R Kruze 47, H Seo 72. Referee - B Williams. Crowd - 9,384 at Westpac Stadium. Central Coast consolidated their hold on top spot on the A-League table with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh on Friday night. A cross to John Aloisi after 23 minutes set up the Mariners' first goal, and a mis-kicked attempted defensive clearance from the Reds landed at the lap of Sasho Petrovski to put the visitors 2 goals clear just 4 minutes after half-time. But far from sinking the Reds, the goal spurred them into action, and the home side began to lift around the ground. At 71 minutes, a header from Paul Agostino cut the margin to 2-1. Adelaide continued to press, forcing corner after corner and having one shot rebounding off the woodwork. As the pressure climbed, the yellow cards hanging over the Mariners continued to accumulate; but for all their dominance and pressure the equaliser was not to come. Adelaide United 1 (P Agostino 71) Central Coast Mariners 2 (J Aloisi 23, S Petrovski 49) Yellow Cards : Adelaide - P Agostino 33, D Giraldi 84. Mariners - A Clark 18, D Heffernan 60, J Hutchinson 75, T Vidmar 76, S Petrovski 81, J Aloisi 86. Referee - P Green. Crowd - 11,123 at Hindmarsh Stadium. Sydney FC's unbeaten run under John Kosmina's coaching came to a thumping end when they were humiliated 4-2 at home by bottom side Perth Glory. For one night, the once glamour side of football in Australia shook off their tag as strugglers and returned to the form that had made them a shining light in NSL days. A fine double from Billy Celeski before half-time took the wind out of the Sydney sails; and when a cross found its way to Nick Bertos to fire another score home just 4 minutes after the restart the Glory were holding a shock 3-0 lead. |
ROUND 17: Friday 14th December Wellington Phoenix 1 Queensland Roar 1 Adelaide United 1 Central Coast Mariners 2 Saturday 15th December Sydney FC 2 Perth Glory 4 Sunday 16th December Melbourne Victory 1 Newcastle Jets |
ROUND 15 POSTPONED: Saturday 22nd December Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC (7.00) ROUND 18: Friday 28th December Adelaide United v Sydney FC (8.00) Sunday 30th December Newcastle Jets v Wellington P'nix (7.00) Perth Glory v Queensland Roar (9.00) Sunday 31st December Central Coast M'ners v Melb Victory (6.00) |