Sydney FC 1 – 0 Melbourne Victory -Hyundai A-League 2016/2017

Sydney FC have all but confirmed they’ll be this season’s Hyundai A-League premiers after accounting for rivals Melbourne Victory 1-0 at a soggy Allianz Stadium on Friday night. A close range finish from Sky Blues marquee Bobo just after the interval proved to be decisive in a Big Blue that had fans on the edge of their seats throughout, rain notwithstanding. The match-ups between Victory forwards Marco Rojas and Jai Ingham and Sydney FC wing backs Michael Zullo and Rhyan Grant was a real feature of the contest, with all four players creating plenty of scoring chances. A pulsating first half saw Bobo and Filip Holosko both come close to breaking the deadlock from dangerous balls across the face of goal, while skipper Alex Brosque had a couple of shots well saved by Lawrence Thomas. At the other end Rojas terrorised Sydney’s backline with his pace, teeing up Ingham for their best chance but the 23-year-old blazed his effort straight at Danny Vukovic. The home side took the lead early in the second stanza with Holosko setting up his former Besiktas teammate, who hammered home his 11th goal of the campaign. Victory had a golden chance to equalise shortly after when Rojas played in Besart Berisha but the Albanian missed his chance to close in on the magical 100 A-League goal mark when he spooned his shot over the bar. The Sky Blues came close to doubling their advantage when Brosque had a point blank shot saved by Thomas late on but they held their nerve and now lead Victory by 11 points with five rounds to play.

GOALS Sydney FC 1-0: Bobo, 50’ Josh Brillante chipped the ball over the heart of Victory’s defence, with Holosko lurking out wide to collect the clearance. The Slovakian floated the ball into the back post allowing Bobo to charge onto it and half-volley home from inside the six-yard box. CROWD 13,310 @ Allianz Stadium Re-live the action on Twitter @ALeague, @SydneyFC, @gomvfc, #BigBlue

Source : Football Federation Australia

Wellington Phoenix 3 -3 Perth Glory-Hyundai A-League 2016/2017

Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory have shared the spoils following an exhilarating 3-3 draw at Auckland’s QBE Stadium on Saturday night. Keen to avoid a season sweep in the Distance Derby, the Phoenix got off to a rollicking start with Kosta Barbarouses having an early shot smothered on the goal line. Glory also showed their intent to attack from the off but it was the home side who broke the deadlock through the returning Gui Finkler, with the Brazilian dedicating the goal to his new baby girl. The Phoenix doubled their advantage when Roy Krishna calmly slotted his 11th goal of the campaign but Glory pulled a goal back following a delightful piece of individual skill from their frontman Andy Keogh. Wellington looked to be headed for back-to-back wins when Barbarouses bent the ball into the back of the net early in the second stanza. However Glory fought back with a fine finish from Adam Taggart and a sublime free kick from Diego Castro to set up a grandstand finish with ten minutes to play. Both sides had chances to net a late winner as play went from end to end in a heart-stopping finale but in the end both sides had to settle for a draw, which on balance was a fair result.

WOW! One of the matches of the @ALeague season. Stats: https://t.co/ZOMNMY0F0j #ALeague #WELvPER pic.twitter.com/2vCWhtiD1k

— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) March 4, 2017

GOALS 1-0 Wellington Phoenix: Gui Finkler, 10’ The Brazilian cracked a shot from an acute angle after being played into space, which took a deflection off Joe Mills giving Liam Reddy no chance before it rippled the back of the net. 2-0 Wellington Phoenix: Roy Krishna, 25’ A long ball from Matthew Ridenton found the run of Shane Smeltz, who was able to hold the ball up before finding his Fijian strike partner. Krishna weaved his way around Rhys William before shooting low and hard inside the far post. 2-1 Perth Glory: Andy Keogh, 34’ Dino Djulbic picked out the run of the Irishman with a long pass, who was able to chest the ball down on the run, taking him past a couple of defenders, before firing past Glen Moss. 3-1 Wellington Phoenix: Kosta Barbarouses, 46’ Some swift ball movement from the Nix following a turnover teed up the All Whites international on the edge of the box and he bent a beautiful left footed shot inside the far post. 3-2 Perth Glory: Adam Taggart, 67’ The Glory striker got on the end of a cross from Josh Risdon, with Moss making a great save to keep out the header but Taggart was quickest to react to the second ball and was able lash it home. 3-3 Perth Glory: Diego Castro, 80’ Glory’s marquee man lined up a free-kick on the edge of the box and proceeded to hit it perfectly over the head of Moss and inside the far top corner to draw his side level. INJURY WARD Glory defender Joe Mills had to be replaced midway through the first half with a hamstring injury, with Marc Warren coming on for his first appearance since Round 12. Re-live the match on Twitter @ALeague, @WgtnPhoenixFC, @PerthGloryFC, #WELvPER

 

Source : Football Federation Australia

Western Sydney Wanderers FC 0 x 0 Adelaide United-Hyundai A-League 2016/2017

Western Sydney Wanderers have edged two points clear in sixth despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Adelaide United at Spotless Stadium on Saturday night.

In a meeting between the competition’s two lowest scorers, the hosts were left frustrated as a string of lost opportunities meant their dominance went unrewarded.

Young Wanderers forward Lachlan Scott had the best sights of goal during a first period in which they were camped inside Adelaide’s half.

Daniel Margush was called on for a pair of smart saves after the restart but the Reds discovered more space going forward, albeit without penetration.

Wanderers continued to press and Kearyn Baccus flashed a late chance wide while Terry Antonis struck the crossbar with a stoppage-time free-kick as they were forced to settle for a fifth draw in six matches at Spotless Stadium.

 

GOALS

Statistics pointed to a narrow margin and the contest proved to be just that. Western Sydney should have made more of their supremacy, but Guillermo Amor will take heart from his side’s more competitive second-half.

Re-live the match action on Twitter

@ALeague, @wswanderersfc, @AdelaideUnited, #WSWvADL

Source : Football Federation Australia

Central Coast Mariners 2 -3 Melbourne City FC-Hyundai A-League 2016/2017

Melbourne City have climbed back to third on the Hyundai A-League ladder after notching a dramatic 3-2 win against a 10-man Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Sunday afternoon. In a see-sawing affair City skipped to an early two goal lead courtesy of a Bruno Fornaroli free-kick and an own goal from Mariners skipper Nick Montgomery.

However Central Coast found a way back into the contest after netting either side of the interval, via a Fabio Ferreira set-piece strike and a Ruon Tongyik own goal. The home side looked the more likely to go on and grab a winner until a brain fade at the back led to goalkeeper Paul Izzo being sent off and Fornaroli restoring City’s advantage from the penalty spot. Despite being down a man Paul Okon’s side fought gallantly in search of another equaliser, with substitute Josh Bingham coming close to finding the back of the net with his first touch.

Some cynical fouls from both sides ensured a disjointed end to the contest but City were able to hang on, banking a valuable three points and dealing the Mariners’ finals aspirations a serious blow. Catch up with all the action at the match centre here GOALS 0-1

Melbourne City: Bruno Fornaroli, 4’ Nick Montgomery gave away a foul on the edge of the box inviting Fornaroli to step up and he proceeded to stroke the ball inside the far post, leaving Izzo rooted to the spot.

0-2 Melbourne City: Nick Montgomery OG, 16’ City punished their opponents on the break with Fornaroli finding Fernando Brandan, who bombed down field before teeing up Anthony Caceres whose pass was swept into his own net by Montgomery.

1-2 Central Coast Mariners: Fabio Ferreira, 45+1’ The Portuguese winger tried his luck from distance from a free kick, with his thumping effort taking a wicked deflection off Tongyik, giving goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen no chance to react. 2-2 Central Coast Mariners: Ruon Tongyik OG, 47’

A cheap turnover from Neil Kilkenny playing out from the back allowed Kwabena Appiah to pounce, with his cross into the box turned into his own net by City’s retreating central defender.

2-3 Melbourne City: Bruno Fornaroli pen; 64’ Fornaroli held his nerve from the spot after earning his side a penalty, hammering his shot down the middle after substitute goalkeeper Ivan Necevski had committed to one side.

KEY MOMENT The Mariners were fuming when their cries for a first-half penalty were denied after Connor Pain was bundled over in the box by Ruon Tongyik. Paul Okon’s frustration at the decision was only compounded when City immediately went up the other end and doubled their advantage.

RED CARD The Mariners shot themselves in the foot when goalkeeper Paul Izzo was unable to clear an under hit back pass, with Fornaroli there to pounce.  Izzo dragged the City skipper down in the box when he was destined to score giving the referee no choice but to brandish a straight red card.

Re-live the action on Twitter @ALeague, @CCMariners, @MelbourneCity, #CCMvMCY –

Source : Football Federation Australia

Newcastle Jets 1 -3 Brisbane Roar FC-Hyundai A-League 2016/2017

Brisbane Roar have come from behind to claim a massive three points against a 10-man Newcastle Jets following a 3-1 win at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday night.

The home side opened the scoring from the penalty spot but were dealt a huge blow with just a third of the match gone when Jason Hoffman was sent from the field for what appeared to be a dubious second yellow card.

The Jets toiled hard with ten men but a second half brace from Jamie Maclaren saw Brisbane take the lead, with teenager Nicholas D’Agostino confirming the result late on with his first Hyundai A-League goal.

The result sees the Roar move back into fourth, while the Jets remain in eighth, three points outside the top six with five rounds to play.

 

GOALS

1-0 Newcastle Jets: Andrew Nabbout pen; 10’

Returning Roar defender Corey Brown was penalised in the box for a challenge on Aleksandr Kokko. Andrew Nabbout stepped up for the home side and confidently buried the spot kick.

 

1-1 Brisbane Roar: Jamie Maclaren pen; 62’

Andrew Hoole was adjudged to have dragged down Thomas Broich in the box from a corner, with Jamie Maclaren stepping up and calmly slotting the ball past Tomislav Arcaba from 12 yards.

1-2 Brisbane Roar: Jamie Maclaren, 74’

Newcastle’s goalkeeper could only parry a long range shot from Spanish midfielder Manuel Arana, with Maclaren reacting brilliantly to volley home the rebound first time.

1-3 Brisbane Roar: Nicholas D’Agostino, 90’

The visitors worked the ball nicely in attack following  a turnover, with a rebound falling to the feet of the 19-year-old who fired it past Arcaba to ice the result.

RED CARD

Stand-in Newcastle captain Jason Hoffman was given his marching orders on the half-hour mark after picking up a second yellow card for blocking an attacking run by Arana. The Jets’ frustration was compounded when coach Mark Jones was sent to stands for his reaction to the decision.

Re-live the action on Twitter

@ALeague, @NewcastleJetsFC, @brisbaneroar, #NEWvBRI

FULL TIME | A @jamie_maclaren double helps @brisbaneroar to an important three points in Newcastle! #NEWvBRI #ALeague pic.twitter.com/LYG97Dx2DB

— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) March 5, 2017

Football Federation Australia

Westfield Matildas’ dramatic win at Algarve Cup

The Westfield Matildas have secured a 2-1 comeback victory over China PR at the Algarve Cup overnight thanks to teenager Ellie Carpenter’s late winner.

The Aussie teenager popped up in the six-yard box to head home from a corner with six minutes remaining.

It was the Wanderers player’s debut goal for Australia and came after China PR’s Wang Shanshan fired home the opener on 36 minutes.

Aussie sub Emily Gielnik’s smashed a fabulous equaliser just after the hour mark before Carpenter’s debut goal helped secure Australia’s second victory of the tournament.

This was Australia’s second win of the Algarve Cup after a 3-2 victory over the Netherlands was preceded by a 1-0 loss in the opener to Sweden.

The result ensures the Matildas finish top of Group C after three games.

Football Federation Australia

Jackson Irvine netted a cracker in Burton Albion’s 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday

Caltex Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine has scored a contender for goal of the season for Burton Albion in the Championship as they drew 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday morning (AEDT).

Irvine equalised midway through the first half with a thumping strike from the edge of the box which blazed past keeper Lee Westwood and into the bottom corner.

 

It was the 24-year-old’s ninth goal of the season for the Brewers, an excellent return for the midfielder.

And Albion could have taken all three points from promotion-chasing Wednesday, with Lloyd Dyer’s shot on the turn going inches over the bar in the final 10 minutes. But in the end they had to settle for a point which keeps them three points and three places above the relegation zone. Elsewhere, fellow midfielder Massimo Luongo got through a full 90 minutes as QPR held off a fast-finishing Barnsley to win 2-1. A goal in each half from Idrissa Sylla was enough for QPR to take the win at Loftus Road, making it four wins from their last five for Ian Holloway’s side.

Football Federation Australia

10 cool facts about Ellie Carpenter

It’s time you got to know more about Westfield Matildas rising star, @CarpenterEllie.

1. She debuted for the senior women’s national team as a 15-year-old in Japan at the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament a year ago

2. She was selected in the Australian team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio… aged just 16! She turns 17 in April

3. She became the first player born in the 21st century to play for the national team

4. She’s set to play a part in Australia’s clash with Denmark at the Algarve Cup this Thursday morning

5. She’s a Wanderer. As in she plays in the Westfield W-League with Western Sydney Wanderers

6. She scored her debut goal for Australia against China PR this week at the Algarve Cup

7. Her middle name is Madison and she’s from Cowra in country NSW, where she grew up on her family’s farm

8. She left at just 12 years of age to chase her footballing dream at the Westfield Sports High football program in Sydney

9. She’s a brand ambassador for O Cosmedics (they’re on Instagram)

10. She has 2518 followers on Twitter. And on Instagram elliecarpenterr has almost 21k followers. So start following her…

Football Federation Australia

Caltex Socceroos squad named for Iraq and UAE World Cup Qualifiers

Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou has named a 30-man squad for two crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers later this month with Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Massimo Luongo and Mitch Langerak included after missing November’s 2-2 draw with Thailand.

The extended squad for the matches against Iraq (March 23 in Tehran) and the UAE (March 28 in Sydney) includes seven uncapped players, seven from the Hyundai A-League and 15 players who were not in Thailand for the last World Cup Qualifier in November.

The squad will be trimmed to 23 following this weekend’s matches with players all over the world given one final chance to press their claims to be part of the squad.

 

“We have named an extended squad with a few notable returns but we will make a final decision after this weekend’s matches around Australia, Asia and Europe,” Postecoglou said. “With the Asian leagues and some countries in Europe only just starting I wanted to have another look.

“There is also recognition for some players who have been in good form in the A-League and have the characteristics to fit in with some of our experienced players as we move into an important stretch of qualifying.

“It is encouraging to have the experience of Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Mass Luongo, Mitch Langerak and James Troisi back in the squad but we also have some players who have been on the fringe who have been knocking on the door of both the squad and the starting side.”

 

Postecoglou has named James Troisi for the first time since November 2015 and Rhys Williams, who was a member of Postecoglou’s first Socceroo squad in November 2013 before injury curtailed his international career for more than three years.

Caltex Socceroos squad for 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers v Iraq and United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Name	Club, Country	A International Caps (Goals)
Mustafa AMINI	Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF), DENMARK	–
Aziz BEHICH	Bursaspor, TURKEY	11 (2)
Nathan BURNS	FC Tokyo, JAPAN	24 (3)
Tim CAHILL	Melbourne City FC, AUSTRALIA	94 (48)
Milos DEGENEK	Yokohama F Marinos, JAPAN	5 (0)
Ryan EDWARDS	Partick Thistle FC, SCOTLAND	–
Alex GERSBACH	Rosenborg BK, NORWAY	2 (0)
Craig GOODWIN	Sparta Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS	3 (0)
Rhyan GRANT	Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA	–
Chris IKONOMIDIS	Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF), DENMARK	6 (0)
Jackson IRVINE	Burton Albion FC, ENGLAND	7 (0)
Mile JEDINAK	Aston Villa FC, ENGLAND	68 (15)
James JEGGO	SK Sturm Graz, AUSTRIA	–
Tomi JURIC	FC Luzern, SWITZERLAND	20 (4)
Robbie KRUSE	Liaoning Whowin FC, CHINA	48 (4)
Mitchell LANGERAK	VfB Stuttgart FC, GERMANY	6 (0)
Mathew LECKIE	FC Ingolstadt 04, GERMANY	37 (3)
Massimo LUONGO	Queens Park Rangers FC, ENGLAND	24 (5)
Awer MABIL	Esjberg Fb, DENMARK	–
Riley McGREE	Adelaide United FC, AUSTRALIA	–
Matthew McKAY	Brisbane ROAR FC, AUSTRALIA	59 (2)
Mark MILLIGAN	Baniyas FC, UAE	53 (5)
Aaron MOOY	Huddersfield Town AFC, ENGLAND	21 (5)
Mathew RYAN	KRC Genk, BELGIUM	30 (0)
Trent SAINSBURY	FC Internazionale Milano, ITALY	21 (3)
Brad SMITH	AFC Bournemouth, ENGLAND	14 (0)
James TROISI	Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA	26 (4)
Daniel VUKOVIC	Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA	–
Rhys WILLIAMS	Perth Glory FC, AUSTRALIA	14 (0)
Bailey WRIGHT	Bristol City FC, ENGLAND	12 (1)

2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – MATCH DETAILS

Iraq v Caltex Socceroos                                  

Thursday 23 March

PAS Stadium, Tehran (Iran)

Kick off 4.30pm (11pm AEDT)

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Caltex Socceroos v United Arab Emirates

Tuesday 28 March 2016

Sydney Football Stadium

Kick off 8pm           

Both matches will be broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports and the Nine Network.

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FIFA World Cup Qualification: AFC Second Round – Group B Standings

Group B	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
Saudi Arabia	5	3	1	1	9	5	+4	10
Japan	5	3	1	1	8	5	+3	10
Australia	5	2	3	0	8	5	+3	9
UAE	5	3	0	2	7	6	+1	9
Iraq	5	1	0	4	6	8	-2	3
Thailand	5	0	1	4	3	12	-9	1

 

Source : Football Federation Australia

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