A-League All Angles: Sydney FC show class; Melbourne City grab win, Mariners into top four

WHAT went right and what went wrong for your A-League team in round nine, all the goals and what comes next as Sydney kick clear, Melbourne City find form and the Mariners move into fourth.

a league all angles football

A-LEAGUE All Angles: What went right and what went wrong for your A-League team in round nine.

David Carney was influential for Sydney again.

SYDNEY FC

SCOREBOARD: 1-0 win over Adelaide (Bobo 45’)

WHAT WENT RIGHT?

In the end it was the result more than anything – proof yet again that this Sydney side has the will to win engraved through its heart. Under the hammer from Adelaide for much of the first half, Sydney taught the home side a lesson in ruthlessness. The winning goal was superbly worked – a sweeping pass from Josh Brillante, a clever run and sliding cutback from Luke Wilkshire and an alert finish from Bobo – but the victory was all about sheer bloodymindedness and a determination to leave with the points.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

If there’s one thing concerning Graham Arnold it’s the fact that his team is producing results without hitting the heights. That might sound counterintuitive, but Sydney have not been at their best for a couple of weeks, and Arnold knows that’s a situation that can’t go on indefinitely. Defensively his side got out of jail a couple of times on Friday night, most notably when Nikola Mileusnic headed a glorious chance over the bar with the Sydney goal gaping.

COMING UP: v Western Sydney, ANZ Stadium (Saturday night)

SELECTION TABLE

There are question marks over Milos Ninkovic, after the Serbian playmaker missed his second consecutive game in the wake of a kick on the calf suffered against Adelaide in the FFA Cup final. His loss would be felt acutely in the derby, though David Carney has performed admirably as an understudy. Matt Simon is definitely available again after serving a one-match ban.

- Tom Smithies

It was a tough night at the office for Wandereres’ Raul Llorente.

WESTERN SYDNEY

SCOREBOARD: 2-0 loss to Brisbane

WHAT WENT RIGHT?

There wasn’t much to savour amid drenched conditions – Raul Lorente’s attacking forays down the left confirmed his quality, and there was a flurry of attacking intent at the start of the second half. Coach Josep Gombau refused to be downhearted, talking about his project as something that won’t happen overnight, on which basis presumably Western Sydney can only improve.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Hard to know where to start. Oriol Riera missed a glorious chance to open the scoring early on thanks to Lorente’s cross, then seemed to suffer a muscle strain and limped off after barely quarter of an hour. When Jaushua Sotirio followed suit soon after, half of Western Sydney’s attacking section had succumbed to injury. Gombau’s side rarely looked like fighting their way back into the contest after that, against a side down on confidence and manpower.

COMING UP: v Sydney FC, ANZ Stadium (Saturday night)

SELECTION TABLE

Riera and Sotirio are due to have scans on Monday, but muscle conditions rarely heal that quickly and both are in doubt for the derby. Robbie Cornthwaite will be available again after serving a one-match ban.

- Tom Smithies

ADELAIDE UNITED

SCOREBOARD: lost to Sydney FC 1-0

WHAT WENT RIGHT?

Adelaide had a fantastic start and kept control early. Sydney couldn’t deal with the constant switches of play to the overlapping Reds flanks. Adelaide’s forwards were getting into some ideal goal scoring positions inside the box and the refreshing display of right back Ryan Strain added to United’s attacking forays in a brilliant opening 19 minutes. Algerian international Karim Matmour also played his best game for United in an advanced midfield role.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Switching off for Sydney’s only goal was a total disaster after what should have been an easy ball played out of the Reds penalty box. The Reds didn’t get its shape right to deal with a switch of play to Luke Wilkshire when they had ample time to do so. To make matters worse, once the ball went over the head of left-back Ryan Kitto still there was no urgency to defend.

Bobo thanked the Reds for the gift in the end. Also United’s poor finishing in front of goal when chances were few and far between cost the Reds at least a point.

COMING UP: v Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium, Friday, December 8

SELECTION TABLE

Adelaide’s Danish winger Johan Absalonsen (thigh) is still a few weeks away from a return but the good news is that stopper Taylor Regan (ankle operation) is eager to give himself a chance of making the trip to face Victory on Friday. Vinni Lia (knee) sitting on the bench on Friday is another welcome sign while the return of Michael Marrone and Ben Garuccio from suspension should make training very competitive this week.

- Val Migliaccio

PERTH GLORY

SCOREBOARD: lost to Central Coast 1-0

WHAT WENT RIGHT?

Perth was well organised from kick off and repelled everything Mariners threw at them in Gosford. Searching for a second away win of the season after belting Melbourne City 3-1 last weekend, Glory appeared to be heading for a consecutive away win. Glory was looking for a sucker punch to take back to WA in a clever game plan for the understrength side.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

A few seconds of poor decision-making in the 73rd minute was all it took for Glory’s game plan to be ripped apart. Danny de Silva dragged Glory out of position before a hesitant defence allowed Blake Powell to steal some space and plant a shot into the roof of the net to score his first of the season.

COMING UP: v Newcastle Jets at nib Stadium, Saturday, December 9

SELECTION TABLE

Glory boss Kenny Lowe must surely be wondering if he is any closer to regaining his key men in time for the clash against Jets. But the chances don’t look all that bright with Johnny Warren medal winner Diego Castro the closest to resuming from a calf injury while goal machine Adam Taggart is still, according to the club’s injury update, two to three weeks away from overcoming a hamstring problem.

- Val Migliaccio

MELBOURNE VICTORY

SCOREBOARD: 3-2 win over Wellington (Berisha 54, Paracki OG 57, Troisi 86)

WHAT WENT RIGHT?

Victory’s second half on Sunday was a huge reminder of what this power-packed side can produce when it is on song. Staring down the barrel of a loss that would have sent it down to the foot of the table, Victory came back from two goals down with a barnstorming 45-minutes that was also pleasing for the return to form of out-of-sorts Socceroo James Troisi. Leroy George was superb once again, as he has been all season, but the best thing that came out of the game for Victory was Besart Berisha. OK, the striker missed a couple of sitters, but he scored once, laid off the assist for Troisi’s winner and was generally just lively all across the park. Can be Victory’s barometer and proved that here. If he keeps that level of intensity up then Victory is always going to be hard to stop.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Hard to fault the two goals too much from a defensive point of view as Andrija Kaluderovic’s headers were well taken, but Jason Geria (first) and Thomas Deng (second) were well beaten in the air. The second goal was another instance of Lawrence Thomas being caught off his line, but it’s hard to imagine the shot-stopper would have had much chance of keeping the ball out no matter where he stood for that one. Victory was again the victim of an interesting VAR intrusion. Berisha looked to have scored a legitimate opener early in the first half, only for it to be overturned due to the most marginal of offside decisions. Hard to tell if the correct call was made. Probably was, but it was far from definitive.

COMING UP: v Adelaide, Etihad Stadium (Friday night)

SELECTION TABLE

Matias Sanchez had his best game starting in place of the suspended Mark Milligan, but you’d have to assume the Socceroos vice-captain comes back in to take on Adelaide this week. Interesting, then, what happens with Leigh Broxham. On face value he was dropped, with Stefan Nigro purely favoured at left back. But there is a school of thought that suggests Broxham may have been kept as a midfield super-sub if Sanchez’ indifferent start to his Victory career continued.

- Matt Windley

WELLINGTON

SCOREBOARD: 2-3 loss to Melbourne Victory (Kaluderovic 29, 31)

WHAT WENT RIGHT?

Andrija Kaluderovic’s headers were world class. The first was the result of a pinpoint Scott Galloway cross, which he rifled home, the second was pure placement from the top of the box that caught Lawrence Thomas off his line.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Tough questions need to be asked again in Wellington this week after another big lead at home was inexplicably let go. A few weeks ago it was a 3-0 gap against Brisbane that resulted in a 3-3 draw, now this time a 2-0 half time lead against Victory was turned into a 3-2 loss. When the tide turned on Sunday it turned in a big way and there were few Phoenix hands going up to stem the bleeding. When Victory got a roll on not only did it look inevitable that the visitors would win the game, but arguably the hosts were then lucky to get away with such a narrow margin of defeat.

COMING UP: v Brisbane, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast (Saturday)

SELECTION TABLE

Michael McGlinchey copped a knock late in the first half and had to come off at the break, replaced by Adam Parkhouse. Gui Finkler’s pre-season was blighted by injury but, after the Brazilian made way for McGlinchey in the starting line-up, one could only assume the out-of-form midfielder would come back in if McGlinchey isn’t right to face Brisbane on Saturday. Darije Kalezic needs to find some sort of spark, but it’s difficult to see where it’s going to come from. Dylan Fox may be able to return from a hamstring injury.

- Matt Windley

Massimo Maccarone was on target for Roar.

BRISBANE ROAR

SCOREBOARD: beat Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 (Maccarone 45’, Franjic 66’)

WHAT WENT RIGHT?

Two quality goals and a clean sheet. Few gave a patched-up Roar side any hope of returning to Brisbane with all three points, but that’s they did thanks a clinical strike from Massimo Maccarone and sweet left-footed curling effort from substitute Ivan Franjic. At the back, the returning Daniel Bowles stood tall in his first A-League match since suffering a serious knee injury in February. French attacker Eric Bautheac was all class in a man-of-the-match display.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Roar still need better quality when it comes to final cross or pass. If they can provide better service to Maccarone regularly, the veteran Italian marksman will continued to find the back of the net. Meanwhile, Brisbane coach John Aloisi became the second A-League mentor to be yellow carded this season for dissent

COMING UP: v Wellington Phoenix, Cbus Super Stadium, Saturday, December 9

SELECTION TABLE

Roar’s injury list remains extensive, but centre-back Jade North is contention to return this weekend, as are Brett Holman and Fahid Ben Khalfallah, who were both ruled out late last week with minor injuries. Corey Brown was an unused substitute on Saturday in his return from a torn hamstring, and will be pushing for first-team inclusion.

- Marco Monteverde

Manny Muscat got Melbourne City back to winning ways.

MELBOURNE CITY

SCOREBOARD: 2-1 win over Newcastle (McCormack 40 pen, Muscat 86)

WHAT WENT RIGHT?

Melbourne City’s first 40 minutes were abhorrent, but the turnaround after Ross McCormack’s penalty was stark and credit has to go to coach Warren Joyce for whatever it was he said at the halftime break. Credit, too, has to go to goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, who showed once again that he would have to be the A-League’s best credentialled reserve shot-stopper with an exceptional display. Bouzanis kept his side in it with a string of classy saves in the first half. Luke Brattan, who has endured an up and down start to the season, was also excellent in midfield.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Eugene Galekovic’s back injury suffered in the warm-up was a setback to City’s plans but, as outlined above, Bouzanis filled in with aplomb. Marcin Budzinski’s form continues to be a concern. The marquee midfielder failed to impose himself yet again on Saturday night, so much so that Joyce binned him at halftime in favour of winger Bruce Kamau.

COMING UP: v Central Coast, AAMI Park (Sunday)

SELECTION TABLE

It won’t be clear for a few days yet how Galekovic’s back pulls up, but Joyce won’t be in any mind to risk his No.1 given how well Bouzanis played. Last-gasp goal-scoring hero Manny Muscat copped a fifth yellow card of the season against the Jets and so will have to sit out Sunday’s game against Central Coast. Bart Schenkeveld can shift to right back if required, but Nick Fitzgerald also filled that role with some success against Perth the week before. Budzinski’s chances are starting to run out, so the injured Marcelo Carrusca could come into the mix this week if he proves his fitness - which he is expected to do - or, Tim Cahill could receive just a second start of the season having once again come on late against the Jets. Osama Malik is available to return from suspension and is well liked by coach Joyce, which could mean another reshuffle of the midfield and defensive stocks ensues.

- Matt Windley

NEWCASTLE

SCOREBOARD: 1-2 loss to Melbourne City (Nabbout 32)

WHAT WENT RIGHT?

Andrew Nabbout’s renaissance of the past season and a bit continues apace with the former Melbourne Victory attacker netting yet another goal. It was another enterprising display from the Jets in attack in the first half of Saturday night’s clash with Melbourne City and with a little bit of luck - and maybe a little less rain around - Ernie Merrick’s men could have had a few more for their troubles.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Won’t be too many concerns about the performance in the Hunter Valley this week despite the loss. There are excuses, with Roy O’Donovan, Wayne Brown, Daniel Georgievski and Nick Cowburn out and Ronny Vargas still sidelined too, of course. Nigel Boogaard’s take down of Ross McCormack for the first half penalty was unnecessary and may well have changed the course of the match, but City is a solid side and the Jets won’t lose too many admirers in falling short in this one.

COMING UP: v Perth, nib Stadium (Saturday night)

SELECTION TABLE

That this week’s game is in Perth adds another layer of intrigue to selection for the depleted Jets this week given that Georgievski (knee), Cowburn (knee), O’Donovan (groin) and Brown (calf) are probably all close to resuming, but may not respond well to the travel schedule. Ernie Merrick says O’Donovan - out for three weeks now - is itching to return, but is being held back. Of the injured four, Englishman Brown is probably most likely to make the trip to Perth, but calf injuries are tough to gauge. In better news long-term for the Jets, Merrick says Vargas’ moon boot is off and the Venezuelan midfielder is tracking towards a return in late February or March.

- Matt Windley

The Mariners are up to fourth.

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

SCOREBOARD: beat Perth Glory 1-0 (Blake Powell 78’)

WHAT WENT RIGHT?

Blake Powell’s goal was one to remember thanks to great work from Daniel De Silva. The playmaker started the move by winning the ball deep in his own half, and then ran the best part of 80 minutes in setting up Powell. The Mariners continue to play quality football under coach Paul Okon.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

That the Mariners couldn’t make the most of other opportunities they created ensured the contest was tighter on the scoreboard that it should have been. They will need to be more clinical against the competition’s better teams.

COMING UP: v Melbourne City, AAMI Park, Sunday, December 10

SELECTION TABLE

Defenders Storm Roux (ankle) and Josh Rose (calf) are a chance to be available for Sunday’s battle against Melbourne City. Spanish striker Asdrubal is also in contention to return from injury to lead the Mariners’ attacking line.

- Marco Monteverde

Originally published as A-League All Angles: Sydney FC show class; Melbourne City grab win, Mariners into top four