Round 5 Review (Hyundai A-League)
It was an enthralling fifth round of football. Every game had an attacking flavour. Every coach endeavoured to play attacking football. Remarkably there was the first nil all draw of the season in the game between the Roar and the Mariners. The tempo was high and the football would be acceptable in any league in the world.
City v Sky Blues Review
Cahill got injured early in what was a blow for City. Bobo missed a golden opportunity to put the Sky Blues ahead. Fitzgerald had a good shot well saved by Sky Blues keeper Redmayne. The Sky Blues controlled most of the game in the first half with no end product. Ninkovic played a pivotal role in the balance of the game without finishing off his good work. In the fifty ninth minute Zullo crossed the ball and Wilkshire put the ball in the back of the net. Fitzgerald looked dangerous, but City had no one to finish off the good work. Kamau had a good shot saved by Redmayne. The game ended at one nil to the Sky Blues; they deserved the three points.
Jets v Phoenix Review
Roy O’Donovan was instrumental in the Jets gaining the ascendency in the first half. He finished with two goals at the half time break. They were relatively easy to score, but O’Donovan still had to have the composure to obtain a brace. Champness gave the Jets some youthful exuberance; he looked to get into the right channels and take advantage of pockets of space. He finished the game with an assist for the goal to be clinically finished by Nabbout. The Jets played with the characteristic attacking flavour that an Ernie Merrick managed side play with that resulted in a three-nil victory to the Jets. They are the highest scoring team in the A-League with thirteen goals.
Glory v Reds Review
The Glory had a chance to break the deadlock early on with a penalty. Izzo brilliantly saved the penalty taken by Castro. Taggart had an opportunity superbly saved by Izzo. Keogh forced yet another classy save by Izzo. Grant made a couple of imperative interventions. The game looked like it would finish at nil all until Mallia added some excitement to the mix with a pinpoint cross that Keogh finished off in the eightieth minute. When all was said and done the Glory deserved the three points which was emphasized by Izzo being the man of the match.
Roar v Mariners Review
The game was played at a slow pace early; it was a tough and tight contest. Maccarone got into good positions without capitalizing on the opportunities that he acquired. Both teams were playing decently without any end product. Neither team was getting into the eighteen yard box. Early in the second half the Mariners put together some good combinations. Young made a great save off De Silva. De Silva butchered two clear cut chances. Near the end of the game North had a header saved well by Kennedy. No one could break the deadlock with the game finishing at nil nil.
Victory v Wanderers Review
The Wanders linked up well early with no end product. George forced Janjetovic into a great save. Williams was playing a quality game in the beginning stages of the game. Austin got two yellow cards and therefore was sent off. Llorente had an exquisite cross finished off by Riera. Williams gave away a penalty against Kusukami. Thomas made a brilliant save against off Riera. The score was one-nil to the Wanderers at half time. Bridge had a marvellous opportunity. Cejudo missed a golden opportunity. George took an intelligent free kick finished off by Deng to level the score. That was how the game ended; a one all draw. Victory did well to out of the game with a point considering they were down to ten men.