The harrowing scenes at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon were a reminder that for all our desire to see the A-League improve, some things are more important than three points.
Juande’s horrifying broken leg took the gloss off a pulsating end to Round 14, as a careless Melbourne City fought back from two goals down to force a 3-3 draw with Adelaide United.
The match was stopped for more than half an hour as officials treated the stricken Spaniard, with the Adelaide United substitute forced to wait approximately 13 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.
Plenty were quick to point the finger at the Australian Professional Leagues for their failure to have an ambulance on hand – as was previously standard practice – but this sounds like a Victorian government decision.
At any rate, the scenes that saw the 36-year-old treated on the pitch while his compatriot Javi Lopez was in tears were hard to watch, and broadcast commentators Simon Hill and Grace Gill deserve praise for the way they handled the difficult situation.
Juande’s injury took much of the sting out of Adelaide’s attack, and they duly conceded a last-minute equaliser when a mazy Jordan Bos run was ended by a trip from Alexander Popovic.
When Jamie Maclaren stepped up to convert the penalty – just – he slotted home the 25th goal of what was a pulsating round of action.
I was at the Big Blue at AAMI Park on Thursday afternoon and felt like I was watching a game in The Championship when Joe Lolley’s reverse pass was side-footed home by his English team-mate Adam Le Fondre.
Goalkeeping issues aside, all three goals in Sydney FC’s 2-1 win over their bitter rivals Melbourne Victory were worthy of winning any A-League game – and they set the tone for arguably the most entertaining round of the season.
Not that Brisbane Roar fans will care to revisit it, after a Reno Piscopo-inspired Newcastle Jets turned on the afterburners with four second half goals in their 4-0 win at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday.
There’s no denying Piscopo’s abundance of talent – even if he doesn’t exactly turn it on every week – as the Jets finally cast off the shackles to record their first win of the calendar year.
Reno Piscopo of the Jets (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
It was followed by three successive 2-2 draws on Saturday – how’s that for a quirky stat? – as Wellington Phoenix threw away a two-goal lead to share the points with Perth Glory in Palmerston North.
Glory were good value for their point as David Williams struck twice against his former club, but how the rutted playing surface was conducive to football is anyone’s guess.
It was more than matched in the entertainment stakes by Central Coast’s 2-2 draw with the Western Sydney Wanderers, with the home side fighting back after Brandon Borello had given the visitors the lead on the hour mark of a topsy-turvy encounter.
It was a genuinely absorbing clash played in front of a raucous atmosphere in Gosford, even if some of the Red and Black Bloc were more than a little over-exuberant with their celebrations.
It’s the A-League’s age-old problem – how to harness the unique atmospheres provided by active supporters when for a minority of these supporters, a night out at the football invariably means antagonising rival fans.
It’s the sort of selfishness that inevitably leads to over-the-top policing at A-League fixtures and encourages administrators to prioritise anything but the fan experience.
And given the seemingly endless parade of dodgy decision-making – two Western United players were allegedly treated for heat stroke after the club’s 5-0 win over Canberra United in the A-League Women on Saturday, which kicked off in 35-degree temperatures at 3pm – it would be nice if that minority of fans could see the bigger picture.
Because a thrilling round of men’s action proved there’s life in the A-League yet.
The question is whether the quality of football on display is enough to cover over the cracks created by the game’s administrators.
At work
Roar Rookie
I don't get it, if it was up to the broadcasters alone then they'd schedule all games on at night, or 5pm at the earliest. I reckon they'd love to bring in Thursday night games too.
At work
Roar Rookie
Thats true, but the short-term fix for that problem is by sacking Corica.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Both Segecic & Kucharski needs extended runs. TSS has stated this for awhile now. He has also stated that we need to give youth a go & I cannot agree with him more.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I dont disagree with that. However, I know if it was my name signing off on the game day activities, whether it was legislated or not, with that many people at the event under my duty of care, I would have had paramedics there. Much like many junior sporting events, music festivals, rallies........ Just because you don't have to provide it, doesn't mean you shouldn't. I thought 13mins to arrive was a pretty good effort. A family member of mine recently had to call the ambo's for their 3 year old child who took a fall and was unconscious at the bottom of some stairs...... over 30min for the paramedics to show.
josh
Guest
Sydney FC aren't doing so well.....time to have another go at the whole League.
Garry
Roar Rookie
"Bottles, boats, and bones: Search for treasure in the mid-century trash of Dead Horse Bay" found this :happy:
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
It would have to be semi-pro and predominantly focused in and around NSW/Victoria (pretty similar to the NSL).
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
theoharous has been a name in my database for close to a decade. He found it very tough in Europe - didn't speak the language, couldn't cook, lived alone, his teammates weren't overly friendly for quite some time, and he struggled to culturally adjust to Germany all the things i mentioned are the troubles/issues australian teenagers have when they get to europe. yes, they need to ask for assistance from the club they have signed for, but the FA needs to start showing a duty of care in helping australian teenagers transition to professional football in countries where they are not fluent in the language (but thats another story) EG. language classes once a day (15+ hours a week) should give you a very basic understanding of the language of the counry you are playing in. (german is also one of the easier languages in europe to pick up) - if he had his time again in europe, i'd bet my house he would do things differently. as for currently i don't want to be the voice of reason but he's not young anymore, (will be mid 20's by the start of next season) and its far too early to judge how capable he is based off the 2 cameo appearances so far (especially at home against a tiring wanderers backline)
chris
Guest
Punter you are 100% correct with the Mariners. They just keep producing these young good footballers and integrating them into their first team. The youngsters at Sydney, Segecic, Kucharski, Wood etc have been getting game time but they just seem to lack something. Maybe it is just confidence, but as a sub you need to come on and make a difference. The SFC guys just haven't done that (yet) when they have come on.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I wonder what Europeans and Foreign players think when they see a couple of massive Dead Horse bottles at the end of the pitch
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I concur. Adelaide is just positive. The youth they produce, the football they play, the atmosphere they create, the crowds they get and the tight knit team environment they have established. Other clubs should be aspiring to be like Adelaide and if Pelligra is an Adelaide company, they will understand, and take the club to a whole new level hopefully
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
There's a simple solution here Mike. Get some proper professional administrators. Not club owners, not blokes who think they know football, but proper administrators. You are bang on with your assessment of the round, it was the A-League at it's best. What about young Brimmer's free kick!!! And how about my beloved Jets, ever seen a grown man cry. Marvellous, bloody marvellous, let's hope they can take the same game form to Victory. I made the point to someone else on Sunday night, that football is only in it's professional infancy. You, Me, and almost 2 million footballers in Australia, and their parents and families would love to say that the A-League is the EPL, but it's going to take time. We'll make mistakes, we will learn and push forward, we will host a Women's WC and hopefully one day a Men's WC. The Backyard codes will throw the kitchen sink at us, just as they have for the past 18 years, but they haven't stopped us and they will never stop the growth of football in this country. It's never going to be and never will be the perfect evolution in the shortest possible time for football. Football will succeed because there are so many who want it to and they are going to invest blood, sweat and tears to ensure it does, we just need the Australian football faithful to show exactly what faithful means and we will get there. I just hope I see it in my lifetime. Keep the faith, support Australian football
Stevo
Roar Rookie
City gave away 2 goals, the first with Tilio totally misqueing a clearance out of the box and the second being the inexplicable wayward pass across the backline that neatly found Goodwin just a few metres from goal and bang. Otherwise, and apart from the terrible injury, it was a highly entertaining game. "they need to figure it out, because its embarassing hearing 50 adelaide fans outsing the majority of the stadium" I was at the goal end nearest the AU travelling fans and yes you could hear them but the City active supporters at the other end were very animated and making a lot of noise. So I don't agree with your description :unhappy:
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
What about the second division, outside of the FFA subsidising it , where is the revenue coming from.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Pun Monty says he thinks the WU boy will be a Socceroo he is that good and can't understand why he got no game time at WU...
Punter
Roar Rookie
Oh my Stevo, how could I forget Jordan Bos. Huge mistake for Adelaide 3rd goal & didn't hide & that mazy run to set up penalty, he is the heir apparent to Belich. I really like Jordan Bos.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
How was the Sydney Melbourne Victory game 8k and that was 6k. It looked like double at the first.
Garry
Roar Rookie
The good teams have someone driving them forward..Goodwin, Leckie & Niewenhoff are amongst them. Sydney has Brattan who is way past his use by date (like Brilliante at MV)
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I’ll be looking out to see if the AFL has ambos at games.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I would add Jordan Bos to the list of talented youngsters with big future. The guy has shown he can defend but also run with the ball into an attacking position, sliding past 2 or 3 defenders in the process. His marauding run gave us the penalty yesterday which resulted in ‘tap-in king’ JMac getting us a draw.