The penultimate round saw some regulars joined by a couple of Team of the Week rookies and the line-up might just surprise you.
GK – Danny Vukovic: The Perth keeper may have had his net breached twice against the Victory but two of his saves were out of the Oliver Kahn book of keeping. His diving effort to stop Connor Pain-s strike particularly spectacular.
LB – Rhyan Grant: He was all over Kwabena Appiah-Kubi like a cheap suit, but that doesn-t mean he wasn-t effective. One of the most improved players in the league this season, Grant did his job to the best of his abilities and it was once again good enough.
CD – Shannon Cole: Moved around a bit but he was in everything. Absolutely hammered Ali Abbas early in the piece, but made up for that by getting Brett Emerton sent off and then scoring a cracking goal. No Mooy, no Shinji, no worries!
CD – Zac Anderson: Ah the tower of power strikes again. There might not be a better defensive header of the ball in the competition. Anderson was strong for Central Coast against Adelaide and saw off Neumann, Juric and Djite.
RB – Josh Risdon: It hasn-t been his year, but it was his weekend. Risdon has that happy knack of performing when it matter and perform he did. Perth-s season all bar over, enter the hero. Risdon cutting on to his left and drilling it past Nathan Coe at the far post.
LM – Iain Ramsay: Can 45 minutes get you into team of the week? Yes it can. A passenger in the first half, Ramsay turned on the afterburners in the second stanza and his cross should have been netted by Jeronimo, his volley from long range also deserved better than the crossbar when Justin Pasfield was stranded. He was Adelaide-s spark.
AM – Thomas Broich: I said to put the German in your fantasy team. He just loves the big occasion and yet again he proved it. He danced past just about every Heart player at one point in this match and his goal was of the highest quality.
DM – John Hutchinson: Gritty and gutsy, that-s what Hutchy is and for the Mariners he was key when Adelaide were laying siege to their goal. Captain-s knock.
RM – Ivan Franjic: Mike Mulvey-s stroke of genius might just be putting this man at right midfield. He killed it. Melbourne Heart had no answer to his pace and movement. Won a penalty and has looked resurgent in recent weeks, much like the Roar.
F – Kwabena Appiah-Kubi: He-s come a long way in just one season, but this kid is electric, from his haircut all the way down to his flashy boots. An attacking weapon he caused Sydney headaches all night long and had it not been for the combined efforts of Grant and Tiago he surely would have scored.
F – Daniel McBreen: May have been written off more times than I can count but the veteran striker just keeps coming back for more. Mitch Duke would do well to learn from him because their work rates are similar, McBreen just seems to position himself better. Everything he did against Adelaide was golden, much like the boot he is favourite to receive.
