Missed any of the action from a drama-filled Round 4 in the Hyundai A-League? We’ve got you covered with our Monday morning wrap.
PENALTIES GALORE AT ALLIANZ
Not one, not two, but THREE penalties were awarded to Sydney FC as they claimed a 2-0 win over Perth Glory on Friday night.
Bobo smacked his effort from 12 yards against the post midway through the first half but made no mistake with a clinical spot kick just before the break.
Their third pen of the night late on was converted by Adrian Mierzejewski to keep the Sky Blues unbeaten.
CRAZY SIX-GOAL THRILLER IN WELLINGTON
What an incredible match.
The remarkable 3-3 draw between the Phoenix and Roar will be tough to beat for game of the season.
Wellington raced out of the blocks and netted three goals inside the opening 20 minutes, with Andrija Kaludjerovic scoring twice either side of a Roy Krishna thunderbolt.
But a double to Roar marquee Massimo Maccarone and a poacher’s effort from Avram Papadopoulos rescued an improbable 3-3 draw for John Aloisi’s side.
Incredibly, Fahid Ben Khalfallah could have won the game for the Roar in the dying stages but the Tunisian’s strike ricocheted off the upright.
10-MAN CITY HOLD REDS AT BAY
Scottish striker Ross McCormack fired City ahead from the penalty spot after just 11 minutes before smashing a cracking free-kick past Reds keeper Paul Izzo just five minutes later to make it 2-0.
Adelaide were given a lifeline on the hour mark with City midfielder Osama Malik shown a second yellow card for a clumsy foul on Nathan Konstandopoulos
But some desperate defending and an inspired performance from former Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic kept the Reds at bay as City claimed their fourth straight win to start the season.
City an early Championship contender?
JETS AND WANDERERS REMAIN UNBEATEN
Western Sydney icon Mark Bridge scored an eighth goal against the side he won the Hyundai A-League Championship with in 2007/08 on his return to McDonald Jones Stadium.
Jumpei’s sublime build-up work allowed Bridge to fire the Wanderers in front with a precise shot into the top corner after 16 minutes.
As the game entered its final quarter, red-hot striker Roy O’Donovan was denied by Vedran Janjetovic but Dimi Petratos followed up to fire home his third goal of the season.
The two sides stay inside the top four after an impressive opening month from both.
And the minute’s applause for injured Jet Ronnie Vargas was a nice touch from the fans.
WOODWORK TAKES A BATTERING IN GOSFORD
The Mariners were inches away – twice – from claiming their first win of the new season.
Connor Pain and Kwabena Appiah both struck the frame of the goal in the closing stages of a thrilling 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory.
Victory defender Thomas Deng also saw his first-half header cannon back off the upright.
Pain gave Central Coast the lead against his former employers, rifling a bullet into the top right-hand corner just before the hour-mark.
But Dutch star Leroy George scored an eye-catching free-kick equaliser to square things up less than ten minutes later.
It was a pulsating end to the weekend’s action with both teams still seeking a first win of the campaign.
