A-League: Sydney FC defeat Wellington Phoenix, screen goes blank on Mirza Muratovic goal

Stunning strikes from Calem Nieuwenhof and Luke Brattan gave the Sky Blues a 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix, and Brisbane Roar beat Melbourne Victory 3-1.

Luke Brattan of Sydney FC scores a goal during the A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Sydney at WIN Stadium on Saturday. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

New season, same Sydney FC. Stunning strikes from Calem Nieuwenhof and Luke Brattan either side of the break were enough to give the Sky Blues a 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix.

They were made to work hard for the victory on Saturday, but the result was still a statement to the rest of the competition from Sydney, who are on a quest for the A-League’s first ever three-peat.

The Nix threw everything at Sydney in the final, nailbiting 20 minutes of the game, but left Wollongong’s WIN Stadium – their home away from home this season – with no points to show for their efforts.

It had been a fairly even contest, particularly in the first half, until the defending champions went in front.

And Calem Nieuwenhof’s strike was worthy of Sydney’s first goal of the season. The 19-year-old debutant unleashed a thunderbolt off his right boot that flew into the top corner to give the Sky Blues a deserved lead on the half-hour mark. Steve Corica will be delighted with Nieuwenhof’s performance.

It was a fast-paced game, with the Nix defending admirably. But there was nothing they could do to stop Nieuwenhof’s strike.

They did, though, manage to level things up.

Wellington’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time was unsighted, at least by those watching on TV. The goal may well have been a worldie from Mirza Muratovic, but the broadcast went black and viewers had to take Brenton Speed’s word for it until a replay was found.

Nevertheless, it was a sucker-punch for Sydney. They had dominated the latter part of the half and Wellington’s goal appeared to come from nowhere.

Mirza Muratovic of the Phoenix celebrates scoring the goal with team-mates. Picture: Getty Images

It wasn’t much of a setback for the Sky Blues, who took the lead again soon after the break when Nieuwenhof’s effort was upped by Brattan.

Standing over a free-kick about 30 metres out from goal, Brattan smashed the ball with the outside of his boot into the top corner. Again, there was nothing the Phoenix could do about it.

But they came so close to snatching an equaliser deep into injury time, only for the VAR to correctly rule Tomer Hemed’s goal off-side.

Technology is a wonderful thing, but it also has a knack of failing at the most inopportune moments.

With Sydney in front just minutes before the break, Wellington equalised through Muratovic.

But as reported above, the broadcast went black, leaving viewers completely unsighted and it wasn’t until the second half that a replay of the goal was found. And it was a wonderful finish, just as Mark Bosnich had described, not hit with great pace, but into the bottom corner, and even Phoenix’s own social-media crew made light of the situation on the club’s official Twitter account.

The Sunday Telegraph

Show of Roar power as Brisbane beat Victory 3-1

Nick D’Urbano reports: Brisbane Roar have played spoiler in Melbourne Victory’s homecoming with an impressive 3-1 win at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Saturday.

Warren Moon’s men took their chances when it mattered with Scott McDonald opening the scoring early on.

Callum McManaman’s scintillating strike for the Victory brought the game level to the adoration of the thousands in attendance.

However, Macaulay Gillesphey and Dylan Wenzel-Halls found the net after the break to seal the Roar’s first win of the campaign.

The Roar celebrate a Macaulay Gillesphey (fourth from left) goal during the A-League match between the Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Saturday. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

After a frantic opening, Wenzel-Halls found himself in a pocket of space with his strayed effort turned home by McDonald in the 17th minute.

Originally, the goal was ruled offside but after an intervention by VAR, McDonald was in-fact onside – resulting in the opener.

Victory fans wouldn’t have to wait long for an equaliser as English import McManaman responded with one of the great debutgoals on 25 minutes.

The 29-year-old dispossessed Brisbane fullback Corey Brown before cutting in on to his left and lashing the ball into the top corner.

Moments later, Grant Brebner’s charges thought they had the lead when Nick Ansell’s header ricocheted off the post and justdidn’t clear the line.

Brisbane came out of the tunnels firing and was rewarded in the 60th minute when towering defender Gillesphey nodded homefrom a Brown corner.

The Roar made it three on 78 minutes when Wenzel-Halls latched on to a Tom Aldred clearance and coolly put the ball home toseal the win.

Moon heaped praise on his 23-year-old forward Wenzel-Halls.

“You won’t come across a hungrier, a player with more desire than Dylan Wenzel-Halls,” Moon said.

“He has got the want and the will to work hard but the only thing that is missing from his game is goals. It’s not for a lack of trying, he is working hard and tonight I was so pleased for him.”

New Japanese signing Riku Danzaki and midfielder Jay O’Shea were also superb.

Sunday Herald Sun