Round 21 In The A-League With Ze Phibber
Round 21 has passed and can I tell you what, I'm happy. I'm so happy. There is not much that could bring me down now. If you are wondering why I'm such a happy chap I'll tell ya! It's because the bloody legends that are the Wellington Phoenix are up on top of the A league table. Number one, uno, poll position. Boom. Any way, better talk about all those other teams that are nipping at the heels of the mighty Phoenix.
The first game of the week was between Adelaide United and the desperate Central Coast Mariners. The match finished with Adelaide taking the W 2-1. Goals to Anthony Caceres (Cen), Marcello Carrusca (Ade) and Craig Goodwin (Ade). The Mariners came out firing and looked really dangerous early on. Caceres scored a great goal early on but Adelaide soon settled in and started to dominate the match and thanks to a very lucky absolute fluke of a deflection were able to seal the match. You would think this would be the nail in the coffin for the Mariners. They are down and out, struggling, wondering how they gonna make it through. Classic Scribe. But yea it will take something short of a miracle to make the top 6.
The second game of the week was between the Melbourne Victory and the Western Sydney Wanderers. Melbourne dominated the match and were deserving victors in the 3-0 match. Goals to Bersart Berisha (2, Mel) and Fahid Ben Khalfallah (Mel). Melbourne looked really dangerous in this match and if I had a Phibbers Player Of The Week that man above, Fahid Ben Khalfallah would have been the worthy recipient. Khalfallah set up all three goals and boy did he look good. His accuracy on his passing both short and long was impeccable and his ability to create chances out of no where is going to give the Victory a crucial element coming into the knock out stages.
The third game of the week was between Melbourne FC and the Newcastle Jets. Melbourne took out the match in comprehensive fashion. 4-0 was the end score with goals to Kew Jaliens (Mel), Harry Novillo (Mel), David Williams (Mel) and Ian Ramsay (Mel). Newcastle were very poor defensively throughout the match and Melbourne really took advantage and took it to them. Daniel Mullen had an absolute shocker just after half time where he gifted the ball to Melbourne through what I can only attribute to some sort of mental disorder? I'm not sure what he was thinking. I think he had forgot he had come out of the changing room at half time. It was poor and as a result he has received the Phibber's Knob Of The Week. City managed to move up into the top 6 thanks to this win, However they are only 2 points clear of Brisbane who have played two less games then City which will make the fight for 6th bloody interesting.
The fourth game of the week was between the Wellington Phoenix and the Perth Glory. This match was always going to be a cracker 1st v 2nd. Perth had lacked form since the mid season break but when you have the team they have it just takes one win for them to get their confidence back. It was not to be their day however as Wellington came away with the win 2-1. Goals to Roy Krishna (2, Well) and Rubén Zadkovich (Per). First things first we need to address the elephant in the room.
And the elephant is that absolute pinger that Zadkovich scored. Holy piss what a strike. I'm pretty sure that's the goal of the season. If you didn't see it it was a steam train from about 30 yards that hit the post and went in. Absolute cracker of a strike and clearly is the recipient of the Phibber's Goal Of The Week. In regards to the rest of the match both teams had their fair share of chances and it was a really even contest throughout the match. The decisive moment was when the great Glen Moss squared off with Irish superstar Damien Duff and denied him which set the Phoenix up for the counter which my boy Roy Krishna capitalised on. The loss has sent the Glory spiralling down to 4th position which is a very unfamiliar position for them.
The final game of the week was between Sydney FC and the Brisbane Roar. The matched finished in a thrilling 5-4 victory to Sydney FC. Goals to Henrique (Bri), Matthew Jurman (Syd), Marc Janko (3, Syd) Andrija Kaluderovic (Bri), Steven Lustica (Bri), Alex Brosque (Syd) and Dimitri Petratos (Bri). What an intense finish to the game. I'll tell you what Sydney fans would have been sweating! But all was well and they did prevail. It is also always going to be an exciting contest when you have three pens. Sydney definitely deserved the win they played to the conditions well, played some exceptional footy and showed real heart to not let the game slip away at the end.
As the knockout stages loom closer we have seen a new leader emerge. And it couldn't be a better team! Up the Phoenix. Let's hope they can keep up this form for the remaining matches.