Round 9 Review (Hyundai A-League)
It was an average round of football. The Round lacked crowds; no game had a crowd of over ten thousand. That makes it difficult for the fans, because the supporters are the ones that provide revenue for the players wages. It is normal for ebbs and flows to occur with regards to the quality of football played with there being a salary cap in place, however the consolation was that there were no scoreless draws.Reds v Sky Blues Review
Both teams were without in my opinion their best player; The Reds without Absalonsen and the Sky Blues had to play the game minus Ninkovic. Kitto looked lively early. Brillante nearly caught Izzo off his line. Mileusnic butchered a good chance, then the game changed when Brillante played an exquisite ball that Wilkshire expertly crossed the ball to Bobo who finished off the good lead up work. In the Second Half the Reds controlled the game, but they had no end product. The Reds were pressing high up the field, however, they lacked composure in the final third. The game finished one nil to the Sky Blues.
Wanderers v Roar Review
Remarkably the Wanderers went into the game without one of their three leaders in the starting line up, while the Roar had a few key injuries in defence. The game was tough and tight early. Unfortunately for the Wanderers they had two injuries in the first half to two attacking players; Sotirio and Riera. Bautheac played an insightful ball to Maccarone who put the ball in the back of the net shortly before Half Time. Roar substitute Franjic made an immediate impact with an intelligent finish to give the Roar a two nil lead. That was how the game ended.
Jets v City Review
Bouzanis made three saves in the First Half including a remarkable double save. Schenkeveld turned the ball over cheaply, with Nabbout pouncing on it with his first shot well saved by Bouzanis only to put the second effort in the back of the net in the thirty second minute. Shortly after Boogaard fouled Mccormack in the area, Mccormack buried the subsequent penalty to even the score shortly before Half Time. The winning goal came in the eighty-sixth minute with Muscat the City player who finished with what proved to be the winning goal; City finished two one winners. The fact that Bouzanis was the best player on the field in my opinion says that the Jets were unlikely to come away with anything from the game.
Phoenix v Victory Review
Troisi hit the post early on. Shortly after Berisha missed what appeared to be a simple goal for a player of his goal scoring calibre. Galloway played a pinpoint cross that was headered into the back of the net by Kaluderovic. Shortly after Kaluderovic had a brace with another headered goal! Early in the Second Half George missed a relatively easy goal. Barbarouses had a good shot saved by Italiano only for the rebound to be put into the back of the net by Berisha in the fifty-forth minute. In the fifty seventh minute George had a sublime corner put into the back of the net by Paracki for an own goal. Remarkably Troisi put Victory into the lead with a clever finish in the eighty-sixth minute. The game finished three two to the Victory.
Mariners v Glory Review
Both teams were pressing high up the field early on in the contest. In the First Half Grant made three key interventions. After the break Harold missed a golden opportunity to put the Glory into the lead. Harold showed great endeavour without finishing off his good work in the final third. Eventually the deadlock was broken with Powell finishing some good lead up work by De Silva. Substitute Powell gave the Mariners the ascendancy and momentum to win the game one goal to nil.