Controversy as Villa keeper handed second yellow for shootout crowd taunting... but isn't sent off
Emi Martinez was saved by a new rule that resets yellow cards at the end of extra time, meaning his second yellow for taunting…
A-League boss Greg O’Rourke says it’s time for the game in Australia to have the confidence to stand up and face scheduling clashes with other football codes.
Brisbane host Western Sydney at Suncorp Stadium in the first A-League elimination final on Friday, the same night NRL heavyweights the Broncos take on the Rabbitohs, albeit in Sydney.
“At the end of the day this code needs to stand up and face this stuff head on. There’s no use us giving complete passage to other codes,” O’Rourke said on Monday.
The A-League boss is confident of drawing a strong crowd at Suncorp Stadium given the rivalry between Wanderers and the Roar.
“We would be pushing for 20-25,000 for a Friday night game,” O’Rourke said.
Western Sydney beat the Roar in the 2016 semi-final but have not managed a win against the three-time premiership winning club this season.
Both sides will face a short turnaround due to matches in the Asian Champions League (ACL) on Wednesday night.
The Roar take on Thailand’s Muangthong United and the Wanderers meet Japan’s Urawa Reds, games considered in domestic finals schedule.
“We needed to make sure we put on a good spectacle for our finals series but did not compromise clubs and their chance to stay alive inside the ACL,” O’Rourke said.
This season’s Golden Boot winner, Roar striker Jamie Maclaren, said he was excited by the prospect of multiple games in a week.
“It’s a short turnaround for Friday but players would much prefer to be playing rather than training,” Maclaren said.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Emi Martinez was saved by a new rule that resets yellow cards at the end of extra time, meaning his second yellow for taunting…
This season the top five leagues rankings of European football have been flipped on its head, as new competition heavyweights emerge. Just look at…
In all likelihood, just sixth spot remains up for grabs as we approach the final three rounds of A-League action in season 2023/24 and…
Not only did Erling Haaland's header hit the bar, but Bernardo Silva missed the rebound tap-in that came off his knee. Manchester City went…
After Manchester City saved Luka Modric's shot, the person in the stands didn't return the ball, holding up the penalty shootout for almost a…
Bayern Munich scored the only goal to defeat Arsenal 1-nil and progress to the semifinals. Former player Martin Keown says it's disappointing his former…