We asked if it was falling apart for the Mariners and whether Sydney could make it two in a row… What do we know?
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory: Is it all falling apart?
Ha, what fools we were. You question the Mariners, you get burned. This game, perhaps more than most, shows why Graham Arnold-s side are top of the league.
Bereft of some of their big performers, Arnie had to go into his squad and as a result his side looked somewhat out of sorts against Glory.
But that didn-t stop them stealing a goal and all three points, with the classic “ugly win” of a champion team.
Just as when Rogic was called up for Qantas Socceroos duty, the Mariners showed they have enough strength in depth to cope, even if they weren-t at their best.
Glory can perhaps feel a little hard done by, given their positive performance and the contentious nature of Bernie Ibini-s goal but that-s the difference between a good team and a title winning team.
Adelaide United v Sydney FC: Two in a row?
Ha, what fools we were. This was an abject performance from Sydney, and once they conceded they looked shorn of any confidence of self belief that they could come back into the game.
Frank Farina-s honeymoon period is well and truly over and if it carries on this way, he might start looking up divorce lawyers. That battling win against the Mariners was clearly the exception, rather than the rule. Don-t call it a comeback.
That said, this was also a terrific performance from Adelaide United; hungry, composed, attacking and creative – everything Sydney weren-t. The Reds hit the post at least five times and really should have buried the visitors by a much greater margin.
Dario Vidosic and Bruce Djite, in particular, were both excellent. Vidosic should have had a hat-trick and Djite did everything but score. This performance was just was John Kosmina needed – and just what Frank farina didn-t.
Melbourne Heart v Newcastle Jets: Can Heart see out 90?
Well they won the match, but did they see out the 90? Not really. They were clinging on to what might have been an undeserved lead by their fingertips, after Josip Tadic converted a controversial penalty that left Gary van Egmond abusing referee Chris Beath at halftime, and then spent the second stanza going back into their shell.
They invited the Jets in time and time again, but Newcastle were simply unable to find the killer blow in the final third. One would think the win might give Heart some confidence, but they looked as devoid of that as Hayden Foxe did good fashion sense.
A win-s a win but John Aloisi has a lot of work to do with his team.
Wanderers FC v Melbourne Victory: Who is the real deal?
Shinji Ono that-s who! For all the hype surrounding Marco Rojas it was Ono who stood tall. Every week he gets better and better and the Wanderers improve as a result.
This week he scored two screamers and drove the Wanderers midfield. More and more it-s Ono who looks like the buy of the year, it-s Ono who delivers more than the other marquees and the Wanderers dominated an out of sorts Victory as a result.
Maybe it was the European transfer talk, but Marco Rojas had a very off game and Archie Thompson was similarly ineffective which hurt the Victory badly, as did the early loss of Gui Finkler to injury.
But the truth is this, the Wanderers bossed the Victory and Melbourne didn-t have the answers.
Here-s another truth: you better believe the Wanderers can win the Premier-s Plate and Grand Final.
Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix: Can the Roar withstand the young Phoenix?
If Louis Fenton had of put any number of gilt-edged chances away early on they likely wouldn-t have, but that-s a case of shoulda, woulda, coulda.
Brisbane on the other hand dominated large portions of the match and the old firm of Broich and Berisha stood tall to deliver Brisbane their first back-to-back wins of the current campaign.
So withstand the Nix they did and they did more than that. it was actually Wellington who spent most of the evening on the back foot and owe a debt of gratitude to Mark Paston for keeping them in the game as the Roar started to show why they are still a threat.
There will be plenty to come out of this game, including a likely suspension for Manny Muscat for use of the elbow, another Berisha blow-up to deal with, Mitch Nichols and Matt Smith needing to kiss and make up and possible a spray at the referee from Ricki Herbert.
Interesting times lay ahead
