HARBOURSPORT  
A-LEAGUE
Last season saw Newcastle take the title, but their title defence
hopes took a pounding when they were thrashed 5-0 by a
rampant Melbourne Victory at Telstra Dome.
Honours were even early, with few scoring opportunities coming
in the first half hour. But on 40 minutes, a neat pass from Archie
Thompson found Carlos Hernandez within range and Victory
were on the board. Then on the stroke of half-time, a poor goal
kick from Ante Covic found Ney Fabiano, who delivered perfectly
to Thompson to give the home side a 2-0 lead at the break.
Newcastle were already on shaky ground, but a double by Danny
Allsopp shortly after the hour mark made sure of the result. And
in injury time, a pinpoint strike from Grant Brebner put the icing
on the cake to maintain the Victory's position at the top of the
table; while the reigning champions remain winless after 3 games.
Melbourne Victory 5 (C Hernandez 40, A Thompson 45, D
Allsopp 60, 64, G Brebner 90).
Newcastle Jets 0.
Yellow Cards : Victory -
Nil. Jets - T Elrich 22, J Hakansson 69,
J Wheelhouse 73.
Referee - M Shield. Crowd - 22,589 at Telstra Dome.

No New Zealand side has ever beaten Adelaide United at
Hindmarsh, and the Phoenix's chances of breaking their duck
were dealt a blow when star striker Shane Smeltz came down
with the flu and was unable to take his place in the side.
In the end, it's doubtful whether Smeltz's presence would have
made that much difference, such was Adelaide's dominance. The
final scoreline was 3-0, but it could have been so much more had
the Reds been able to capitalise on the multitude of scoring
chances they created.
Lucas Pantelis got the Reds off to a good start with a quality
header after 15 minutes, but despite numerous shots on goal
they were unable to add to that tally in the first half. But after
half-time the flood gates opened, with Brazilian import Cristiano in
unstoppable form. Cristiano scored twice within 15 minutes of
the restart, but despite creating plenty of chances was unable to
complete his hat-trick.
It was a disappointing night for Wellington, who remain stuck on
the bottom of the ladder.
Adelaide United 3 (L Pantelis 15, Cristiano 48, 60).
Wellington Phoenix 0.
Yellow Cards : Reds -
Nil. Phoenix - D Mulligan 34, L Gao 40.
Referee - M Breeze. Crowd - 7,832 at Hindmarsh Stadium.
ROUND 4 FIXTURES
Friday 12th September
Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United
(Telstra Dome, 8:00pm)

Saturday 13th September
Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC
(Energy Australia Stadium, 7:00pm)

Sunday 14th September
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast M'ners
(Westpac Stadium, 3:00pm)

Perth Glory v Queensland Roar
(Members Equity Stadium, 5:00pm)


ROUND 5 FIXTURES
Friday 19th September
Queensland Roar v Newcastle Jets
(Suncorp Stadium, 8:00pm)

Saturday 20th September
Sydney FC v Adelaide United
(Sydney Football Stadium, 5:00pm)

Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory
(Bluetongue Stadium, 7:00pm)

Sunday 21st September
Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
(Members Equity Stadium, 5:00pm)

All times shown are Sydney time
Sydney FC asserted themselves as title contenders early in the season, with a 5-2 victory in
an entertaining match at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The sky blues got off to an ideal start, when Alex Brosque weaved his way through traffic
to open the scoring in just the 2nd minute. Glory equalised 10 minutes later, but at 20
minutes the game was to be turned on its head.
Adrian Pellegrino was ruled to have brought Sydney veteran Steven Corica down in the box,
referee Peter Green having no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The Glory defenders were
furious, remonstrating with the referee; but that backfired when Dino Djulbic was sent off
for dissent. Corica made no mistake from the spot, and Sydney took the lead.
2-1 became 4-1 within a few minutes of half-time, with new signing Mark Bridge and young
gun Shannon Cole getting on the scoreboard. By the break Sydney had the game wrapped
up. Eugene Dadi converted a penalty in the second half to get one goal back, but Glory's
bad day got worse shortly before full-time when former Sydney FC now Glory player Nicholai
Topor-Stanley's boot caused a freak bounce of the ball to ricochet into his own net.
Sydney FC 5 (A Brosque 2, S Corica 21pen, M Bridge 39, S Cole 43, N Topor-Stanley 88og).
Perth Glory 2 (E Dadi 12, 67pen).
Yellow Cards : Sydney - Nil. Glory - A Pellegrino 20, D Djulbic 20, Amaral 86.
Red Cards : Glory - D Djulbic 20.
Referee - P Green. Crowd - 11,732 at Sydney Football Stadium.

Much of the pre-game talk before the Queensland Roar v Central Coast game was of the
return to competitive football of former Socceroo Mark Bosnich. Playing his first game for 7
years, taking the place of suspended Mariners' keeper Danny Vukovic, Bosnich has a credible
performance and despite conceding 2 late goals there was little doubt throughout the
evening that Bosnich's Mariners would take the points.
Matt Simon opened the scoring, but a second half burst that saw Jedinak and a double from
Dylan Macallister blew the scoring out; ensuring the Mariners would take their first win for
2008-09.
Queensland Roar 2 (C Miller 69, S Van Dijk 73pen).
Central Coast Mariners 4 (M Simon 31, M Jedinak 48, D Macallister 64,71).
Yellow Cards : Roar - L Reddy 15, D Tiatto 28. Mariners - M Simon 15, M Jedinak 18, A
Clark 77, D Macallister 78.
Referee - P O'Leary. Crowd - 12,185 at Suncorp Stadium.
  P
W
D
L
For
Ag
Pts
Diff
Str
Melbourne
Victory
3
2
1
0
9
2
7
+7
W2
Sydney FC
3
2
1
0
8
4
7
+4
W2
Adelaide United
3
2
1
0
5
1
7
+4
W1
Central Coast
Mariners
3
1
1
1
7
6
4
+1
W1
Queensland Roar
3
0
2
1
4
6
2
-2
L1
Newcastle Jets
3
0
2
1
4
9
2
-5
L1
Perth Glory
3
0
1
2
5
9
1
-4
L1
Wellington Phoenix
3
0
1
2
3
8
1
-5
L2
ALSO IN A-LEAGUE

A-League Round 1 2007-08
A-League Round 2 2007-08
A-League Round 3 2007-08
A-League Round 4 2007-08
A-League Round 5 2007-08
A-League Round 6 2007-08
A-League Round 7 2007-08
A-League Round 8 2007-08
A-League Round 9 2007-08
A-League Round 10 2007-08
A-League Round 11 2007-08
A-League Round 12 2007-08
A-League Round 13 2007-08
A-League Round 14 2007-08
A-League Round 15 2007-08
A-League Round 16 2007-08
A-League Round 17 2007-08
A-League Round 15 07-08 (part 2)
A-League Round 18 2007-08
A-League Round 19 2007-08
A-League Round 20 2007-08
A-League Round 21 2007-08
A-League 2007-08 Semis - Leg 1
A-League 2007-08 Semis - Leg 2
A-League 2007-08 Preliminary Final
A-League 2007-08 Grand Final
A-League Round 1 2008-09
A-League Round 2 2008-09
A-League Round 3 2008-09
A-League Round 4 2008-09
A-League Round 5 2008-09
A-League Round 6 2008-09
A-League Round 7 2008-09
A-League Round 8 2008-09
A-League Round 9 2008-09
A-League Round 10 2008-09
A-League Round 11 2008-09
Match Report - Syd FC v CCM (1/11/08)
A-League Round 12 2008-09
Match Report - Syd FC v Well (7/11/08)
A-League Round 13 2008-09
A-League Round 14 2008-09
A-League Round 15 2008-09
A-League Round 16 2008-09
A-League Round 17 2008-09
A-League Round 18 2008-09
A-League Round 15 08-09 (part 2)
A-League Round 19 2008-09
A-League Round 16 08-09 (part 2)
A-League Round 20 2008-09
A-League Round 21 2008-09
A-League 2008-09 Semis - Leg 1
A-League 2008-09 Semis - Leg 2
A-League 2008-09 Preliminary Final
A-League 2008-09 Grand Final
A-League Round 1 2009-10
A-League Round 2 2009-10
A-League Round 3 2009-10
PHOTO GALLERIES:

Sydney FC v Cent Cst M'ners (24/8/07)
Sydney FC v Wellington P'nix (14/9/07)
Sydney FC v Adelaide United (20/10/07)
Sydney FC v Cent Cst M'ners (28/10/07)
Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC (3/11/07)
Sydney FC v Queensland Roar (25/11/07)
Sydney FC v Perth Glory (15/12/07)
Central Cst M'ners v Sydney FC (22/12/07)
Adelaide United v Sydney FC (28/12/07)
Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory (20/1/08)
Grand Final - CCM v Newcastle (24/2/08)
Sydney FC v Queensland Roar (4/10/08)
Sydney FC v Cent Cst Mariners (1/11/08)
Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix (7/11/08)
Sydney FC v Queensland Roar (28/11/08)
Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC (7/12/08)
Central Cst M'ners v Sydney FC (13/12/08)
Sydney FC v Perth Glory (21/12/08)
Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC (27/12/08)
Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix (11/1/09)
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets (25/1/09)
Trial - Sydney FC v CC Mariners (6/7/09)
Sydney FC v North Q'land Fury (12/9/09)
Sydney FC v Cent Cst M'ners (5/10/09)
Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar (25/10/09)
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets (29/11/09)
Sydney FC v North Q'land Fury (5/12/09)
Sydney FC v Central Cst M'ners (23/12/09)
Sydney FC v Gold Coast United (17/1/10)