- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
It is hard to know who were the bigger winners from another absorbing round of A-League action – a lucky Western Sydney Wanderers or their plucky counterparts Adelaide United.
The Wanderers played well in patches in their 2-1 win over Perth Glory at Pirtek Stadium, but there was an element of luck about substitute Brendon Santalab’s winner.
Western Sydney’s super sub might have had Fox Sports’ Robbie Slater waxing lyrical about his acrobatics, but Santalab’s high foot had Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe hopping mad come the full-time whistle.
“I don’t mind them getting it down, passing it through people, combination play, a great finish – but when someone’s sticks a foot six-foot in the air above the left-back’s head and they get a goal from it anywhere on the park, it’s a free-kick all day long,” Lowe thundered.
The Glory tactician had a point – we’ve seen free-kicks given for that kind of manoeuvre elsewhere on the pitch – although Wanderers fans might argue that on the balance of play, their team deserved to win.
Romeo Castelen’s 62nd-minute opener marked a belated return to form in front of goal for the dazzling Dutch winger, and the Wanderers certainly look like they have the depth to mount a serious title challenge.
They could find surprise package Adelaide United an unexpected obstacle, with the Reds continuing their 13-game unbeaten run in the league with a 3-0 thumping of Brisbane Roar.
Not only were the Reds vastly superior to a shell-shocked Roar outfit, but in livewire winger Bruce Kamau, Adelaide’s underrated coach Guillermo Amor contains a genuine x-factor.
As impressive as the hosts were in front of a healthy crowd at Coopers Stadium, questions must be asked of the Roar on the back of another insipid performance.
Having rested German playmaker Thomas Broich due to a neck complaint, the Roar looked all at sea against their clinical hosts – with Spanish midfielder Corona having gone off the boil, while compatriot Javier Hervas is not up to the task of replacing him.
John Aloisi reckons Broich will be back for the vital home clash with the Wanderers next week, and he’d better hope that goalkeeper Michael Theo finds some form and fast, with the veteran having conceded 11 goals in his last three starts.
Questionable goalkeeping has plagued plenty of sides this season and Sydney FC shot-stopper Vedran Janjetovic is unlikely to have endeared himself to Sky Blues fans after being beaten at his near post by Kosta Barbarouses in a bruising 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory.
Victory bossed the Big Blue but were pegged back by an inspired David Carney, who turned back the clock to smash home a virtuoso solo goal.
Carney could well prove an inspired signing by Sydney coach Graham Arnold, but the same can hardly be said for Senegalese stopper Jacques Faty, who not for the first time cost his team dearly with a needless red card.
With Faty now suspended, Sydney will have their playing stocks severely tested over the coming weeks, not least if skipper Alex Brosque is ruled out for a prolonged period by a recurring hamstring injury.
With Perth Glory and a resurgent Newcastle Jets breathing down their necks, the Sky Blues can ill-afford any slip-ups in a difficult run home.
And with Melbourne City crashing to Wellington Phoenix across the Tasman to kick off the round, the question must be asked: is there a genuine favourite to win the Premiers’ Plate?
Next week’s round of matches could prove pivotal, with the Wanderers looking to maintain their lead at the top against a faltering Roar, while Melbourne City could land a hammer blow against a beleaguered Sydney FC side battling on two fronts.
And with Newcastle suddenly throwing themselves into the mix – and a word of congratulations must go to their horde of travellings fans in Gosford yesterday – the race for a finals spot is about to get very tight indeed.