Confirmed: Sydney FC 2-2 Adelaide United FC
10-man Adelaide United secured a valuable point against in-form Sydney to...yesterday, ensuring that John Kosmina's reign did not get off to a losing start. Also, Adelaide have a new manager...maybe should have done something about that during the week. Next time, I promise. Anyway, in what was a fairly interesting match which involved 4 goals, 2 penalties, 1 red card and 8 yellows, Adelaide definitely got a point they needed in this match.
For John Kosmina, this was a return to the Sydney stadium he left two and a half years ago, and it was a return to remember, as goals from Mullen and Vidosic ensured he got off to a fairly decent start to his Adelaide tenure, gaining the lead after only 8 minutes. To be fair to Sydney, they produced a fairly good performance themselves, but everyone will be talking about Adelaide's improvement. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to see this match, but I'll update as soon as I find out what happened.
Dukey's One 2 Watch: Melbourne Heart - Melbourne Victory
Date: Friday December 23
Kick-off: 8:00pm AEDT, 10.00pm NZDT
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
The closest you'll get to a European style derby match, and there is no love lost between these two sides, let me tell you. They share a stadium รก la AC-Inter Milan and they have been playing each other at least 3 times a season for the last...year.
Thus far, the head to head records are inconclusive - 1 win each and 2 draws. However, these are two sides on very different veins of form. Victory are just (seemingly) coming out of a slump, they won their last game (which I was CERTAIN they would lose), and all credit to them, they played well. But Heart are on another level. Look at the form table:
Melbourne Heart: WLWWW
Melbourne Victory: DWLDW
As you can see, Heart are on a bit of a run, but in this league (Roar aside) you don't get runs. I'm going to go with a Victory win. Yeah, you heard me, Victory to win. I think the pressure to maintain the run will be too much for an inexperienced Heart side, and Victory's veterans will see them through. This match has so far been very exciting, so make sure you tune in.
Perth Glory - Central Coast Mariners
Date: Friday December 23
Kick-off: 7:00pm AWST, 10:00pm ADST
Venue: nib Stadium
This is one of the most one sided fixtures in the A-League. 19 played, 12 CCM wins, 2 PG wins and 5 draws. Central Coast are on the form of their lives, and with a win in this match, could go 6 points clear of Brisbane at the top of the table. Mustafa Amini and Bernie Ibini-Isei are both on fire at the moment, and it is extremely important that they keep up their impressive work rate. The last match here was a 2-1 victory to the Mariners, and since then they have become and even more powerful force. Looking at the form tables...
Perth Glory: DLWLL
Central Coast Mariners : WWWWW
Just gonna put it out there - Central Coast will win this. Not that I don't like to support the underdog - I'm British, of course I do - but I can't see Glory winning this, and I can't see Coast throwing away the chance to be so far ahead in the table. I do, however, think they will have to work for it, Perth will be no pushovers.
Wellington Pheonix - Newcastle Jets
Date: Friday, 23 December 2011
Kick-off: 5.300pm AEDT, 7.30pm local
Venue:Westpac Stadium
Wellington have won this fixture 9 times, including winning the last one 2-0, while Jets have won it a paltry 4 times. Pheonix are on a decent run (WLWWL) while Jets are on anything but (LDWLL). However, I think Jets might take this...or it'll be a draw...yeah...this match will be a draw. No, who am I kidding, Pheonix will have this one. Pheonix to win.
I saw the Jets last week, and they looked tired towards the end of their match with Sydney, and with Wheelman suspended, the best I can see them getting out of this match is a point. Wellington have won 3 of their last 2, whereas Jets have the opposite record. Wins for either team will elevate them up to the upper echelons of the league, but for the most part, this is a very mid-table match. No seasons are going to be made or broken here.
Gold Coast United - Brisbane Roar
Monday, 26 December 2011
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEDT, 6.30pm local
Venue: Skilled Park
This is an important match.
Both teams are desparate for a win. For Brisbane, the prize is keeping up pace with the now-leaders Central Coast, and preserving their dignity and avoiding going on a record breaking losing streak (and just after their lossless one aswell). For Gold Coast, it means the possibility of sneaking off the bottom spot and rejoining the chase for a Finals place.
The so-called "M1 derby" is actually, believe it or not, more often won by Gold Coast (3 wins to 2, with 2 draws to boot). This is the worst possible time for Roar to lose. If they do...I can't see Postecoglu being in a job for much longer unless their is a dramatic reversal in fortunes. Anyway. The last match did end 3-0 to Roar, but coming off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Central Coast, and with Gold Coast's 3-0 victory against Adelaide still fresh in the mind, Brisbane fans are understandably nervous. I personally can't wait for this one, it should be awesome.
That's your lot for today, I'll try and keep updates flowing on our twitter feed (look to your right). If y'all would be so kind as to follow us on the blog, on twitter and on Faceybook, that would be much appreciated, and I promise you the other guys will start posting soon. It's not just me here :)
Hasta la pasta
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