The protracted 20th round of A-League football produced the ultimate irony.
Under the weight of fatalistic hysteria around crowds, more empty expansion promises from the FFA, and poor pitches – chopped up by the bully boys at AFL house – the football was stunning.
It was compelling, controversial, poorly officiated and blessed with skill and drama that was unrivalled across the weekend.
Beginning two Fridays ago, when the Roar stunned Victory in Melbourne, and finishing late Saturday on the minefield that was Coopers Stadium, the league shone.
The only pity being that more people didn’t witness the drama in person.
Brisbane were outsiders against the Victory, with many still patiently expecting Kevin Muscat’s men to click into gear. As difficult as it is to comprehend, the club that has played finals in each of last five seasons might just not be the powerhouse they once were.
For John Aloisi, it was a crucial game and one which saw his team execute the gameplan that he had drawn up. Despite his critics, Aloisi has taken nine points from the last 12, all the while fielding a squad with an average age that caused many to question his recruitment.
John Aloisi (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
In the face of mockery at his ageing list, the manager promised wins late in the season, as players returned from injury and combinations began to form. Right now, he appears somewhat vindicated. The final seven rounds will be the acid test.
As the Roar start to see some of the home fans slowly drifting back into the stadium, which was evident in the last home match against City, the manager will continue to parade in the technical area with a confidence and resolve.
The Saturday night fixture on the first weekend of the split round saw Sydney FC demolish Melbourne City in one of the most anticipated clashes of the season.
As a contest it was nothing but a disappointment, yet as a spectacle it was stunning. Milos Ninkovic and Adrian Mierzejewski orchestrated the performance and Bobo continued his frightfully effective run in front of goal.
The Western Sydney Wanderers continued their revival this round – twice.
The embarrassment of a sub-standard pitch at Spotless Stadium for their clash with Wellington and the subsequent postponement of the fixture saw the red and black with the chance to nab six points in as many days.
The first part of the equation was a cake-walk, with a 4-0 drubbing against the seemingly hapless Phoenix (more on them later), yet it was the following Friday night’s match-up with the Jets that would be their real test.
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It developed into something of a chaotic fiasco, with an early disallowed goal for the Wanderers, two penalties and one of the most atrocious VAR decisions of the season that somehow suggested Nikolai Topor-Stanley should be able to make his hand disappear at the speed of light.
It was a dramatic night of football capped off by Andrew Nabbout’s equaliser from the corner of the box that rumbled the stadium and recalibrated goal of the year assessments.
Twenty-four hours later and facing an axe-swinging John Kosmina, a frustrated fan base and an insecure future, Wellington took on Perth in the ‘credibility derby’. Most were oblivious to the fact that the Phoenix had in fact secured seven points from their last 15 and, despite two recent 4-0 losses, had improved considerably before that.
They jumped the Glory early and the stunning left-foot strike from wunderkind Sarpreet Singh rivalled Nabbout’s hit. Diego Castro pulled back the lead with a free kick that penetrated the defensive wall.
The goal was well worked by Perth and came about via the growing popularity of attackers making a nuisance of themselves in the wall, providing excellent distraction for the defence and limited vision for the keeper.
From the height of heights, Castro sank to the lowest of lows after a slightly too clever panenka appeared more like a poorly played tennis drop shot and Tando Velaphi, standing completely still, took it with ease.
With such drama unfolding it seemed likely a winner would be found, and sure enough it was, after Roy Krishna created space in the box and Shane Lowry deflected the cross into his own net.
Roy Krishna. (AAP Image/SNPA, Ross Setford)
It was mayhem and I loved every minute of it – probably because my team wasn’t involved and I had tipped the Kiwis.
Then, Saturday night saw the cherry on top with some insanity thrown in for good measure.
Adelaide United were robbed in the first half against the Central Coast Mariners. As I called the game, the staggering number of decisions that went the visitors’ way fuelled the fury of the fans and Marco Kurz looked more and more like Vesuvius about to erupt.
In the end he did, and earned a yellow for his trouble. Andrew Hoole had the Mariners in front early from a set piece and things worsened for the Reds as Ersan Gulum was red-carded for bringing down Trent Buhagiar outside the box.
As a straight red it was a ridiculous decision and Buhagiar, expectedly, exaggerated the minimal contact. From an impartial standpoint, one couldn’t help chuckle as a sweaty and pressured Shaun Evans consulted the VAR and Kurz went ballistic at all and sundry. You could feel it all coming to the boil and Gulum’s reaction might see him in a spot of bother during the week.
A second goal to the visitors from Ryan Strain’s unfortunate header into his own net appeared to seal the deal for Wellington yet somehow – and I am still trying to work it out – Adelaide found a goal via Jordan Elsey’s head and began to look the stronger side.
When George Blackwood found the net in the 83rd minute, the comeback was complete and only some good luck saw the Mariners hold on for a point.
It was a round of football I will never forget, and all amidst match day one in the Asian Champions League. But that is a completely different story of disappointment, drama and controversy, and another that just makes football so great.
clipper
Guest
It's like the gamble who loves reporting the big win but somehow never mentions all the losses.
Perry Bridge
Guest
"replAy"......not 'reply'.
Perry Bridge
Guest
The kick - it's okay, he probably got it where he intended it to go - - whether he'd execute it that well 2 out of 10 or 6 out of 10 - you tell me. In all sports sometimes we'll focus on the reply of the 'fluke that worked' and ignore the 5 previous failed attempts.
Mitcher
Guest
“The kick”?
Nemesis
Guest
What's happening at Suncorp on Friday? Are you all getting together to watch CCM vs NIX on the stadium's big screen?
Waz
Guest
If your lot turn up to Suncorp on Friday you will hear a bubble bursting ?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
My boys are coming home with a wet sail. Will peak come finals — show Sydney FC who rules this town!
Perry Bridge
Guest
The defenders fell away a little too easily and the kick was delivered in the end under too little pressure (that slide tackle was the "oh, look at me, I tried, but my effort took me to ground and I don't have to chase him now" - he had too much time to settle and the second defender really failed to go at him with any intensity and he suitably admonished himself afterward although the manager will look at that and think "Don't show me that body language after the event - show me intensity when the ball is there to be defended.". The back heel that set him up was more the highlight - and he finished nicely using that bit of time to settle on the kick and curl it back in to the far top corner. But that's not what I was querying. Mr.Thomas has thrown in a comment that I feel to be unwarranted. A. the AFLX at Allianz was scheduled before the host for the W-League was decided. B. Hindmarsh was used by the AFLX on Friday (and looked patchy before they took to the field) C. the HAL shares it's venues with other users. So be it. D. the AFL doesn't have access to venues that are still in cricket mode. So be it. E. the AFL had access to any other venue with a vacancy via commercial arrangement. So be it.
Nabbout
Guest
The combinations and backheel or dummy and the finish of petratos was excellent Saying that wsw had risdon and Ikonomidis carrusca playing some nice interchangeable football too.
Melange
Guest
Great goal Nabbout, so good that no one's talking about Petratos' beauty! More next week please?
Melange
Guest
Absolutely, completely wrong on CCM game Stuart. The last defender DID take out the attacker. The opinions on Buhagiar I've heard are based on whether most strikers in his position would have gone down, insinuating he took a dive. have a look at the replay, he was easily moving past Gulum, Gulum had a hand on his shoulder then gave him a shove with his elbow for good measure, giving any striker the opportunity to go down, but no-one I've heard in commentary mentions that there appears to be contact with the legs. Definite red, stupid defending, outragous reaction from Adelaide staff and players. Is Kurtz complaining about any of Isiais dives? Are you? And he DEFINITELY dives! (would have him on my team any day of the week by the way). Give us your character assassination on him. "the staggering number of decisions that went the visitors’ way fuelled the fury" - I can't find stats to back up or refute your claim here, but watching the game I had a feeling that the ref had a good game, making only a couple of obvious mistakes. I think a better statement would be "the staggering number of hysterical reactions from Adelaide players and staff fuelled the fury ". Did you notice Strain going of his brain at the ref in the second half which brought a chorus of boos from the home crowd? All because his appeal for a goal kick didn't go his way in an incident where it CLEARLY went out off him. Bosnich claiming last night that it was good how Gulum and Kurtz reacted to the red because it shows their passion is ridiculous! ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!! I have a passion for hamburgers, if a hamburger seller gets my order wrong is it ok for me to scream obscenities at him, clap agressively in his face and scream "good one c@cksucker" which is what Gulum is alleged to have done? A potentially great game despite the horrible pitch soured by Adelaide's antics.
Nabbout
Guest
Perry How did you like Andrew Nabbout goal?
Nabbout
Guest
Pretty awesome round of a league .. The WSW v jets game was thrilling, the var created some issues , but somehow the v a r referee didn't send off Wayne brown or Michael Thwaites for ugly tackles . The creative play of petratos nabbout Rodrigues ikonimeddes carruscs and rishon was terrific. Both goalkeepers made some great saves as well . A round to showcase how this good this a league is . Nabbout apparently got espn goal of the week . Worldwide
jupiter53
Roar Pro
Couldn't agree more. The ref's immediate reaction was "no penalty". I would guess because in real time it was obvious that NTS's hand position was due to him having just played the ball, and that he had no time to react when the ball rebounded and hit his hand. [I make this distinction to differentiate from the defender who is trying to block a shot and has arms/hands spread out; if the ball hits their hand that is justifiably a penalty even if they did not have time to move, because their arms should not have been in that position in the first place]. The problem is that a slow motion replay removes the sense of real time and you end up with a ludicrous decision like this.
Kangajets
Guest
Perry What did you think of Nabbout s goal ?
Perry Bridge
Guest
" and poor pitches – chopped up by the bully boys at AFL house" Really? Do explain.
Bob
Guest
it was the best round of teh season. more like it please
Kangajets
Guest
Just some more thoughts abt the wsw v jets game Apart from the terrific goals , crazy penalty, good crowd atmosphere , but can’t wait until Wsw are back at parramatta. Wayne brown imo should have got a red card for his bad challenge.... I don’t want him anywhere near the Jets first team . He is not good enough and is a thug Michael thwaite should have had 2 yellows, he got away without warning for his fist professional foul on Rodriguez and his foul to get a yellow was pure anti football. Overall it was a terrific game and a draw was a good result. Both keepers made some great saves . Nabbout great goal, has taken a bit of the praise away from petratos Ikonomidis risdon and Rodriguez who all played very good gsmes The jets were looking like winners until Bonevacia decided to suck the momentum out of the game by falling down to roll around the grass a lot , it gets dull waiting for his antics How is a referee able to stop these deliberate time wasting fake injuries,???? because it’s a blight on the game
Square Nostrils
Guest
Nabbouts goal was magic by any standard of league in the world. The difficulty of an outside of the boot goal with a wicked bend, shouldn't be underplayed. The A-League needs more long range goals. They dont have to be technically brilliant like Nabbout's to be spectacular, just long range. Had to laugh as the camera turned to Ernie after the goal. Wouldn't matter if he won the lottery or a meat tray at the local RSL, same impression of an Easter Island statue. The standard of football as always is the key to enticing football fans to watch the A-League, but also intensity is important. Seen a few more intense matches since Christmas, with some good quality football at times, but not enough football fans are bothering to watch the league to find this out this season. Hopefully The visit of FIFA and AFC delegates this week sorts out the way forward, because the A-League on the basis of matches since Christmas, deserves better attention all round.
Kangajets
Guest
The handball pen was ridiculous, the ball richochet from a split second The offside goal against wsw . I can live with those offside decisions which might be fractionally incorrect. So I’m still not convinced that the v a r is worth it .