A-League Round 9 threw up just two results as the goals were kept to a minimum. Despite the lack of wins, Sydney FC managed to grab three points and jump to the top of the table, one point ahead of reigning champions Melbourne Victory who were the other side to record a positive result.
Friday night saw Gold Coast United host Wellington Phoenix at Skilled Park.
Miron Bleiberg's were expected to win the contest and bounce back to form after two losses on the trot but the Phoenix were able to snuff out any chances and record their sixth draw of the season.
Gold Coast United: 0 Wellington Phoenix: 0
Venue: Skilled Park Crowd: 4,209 Yellow cards:GCU - Robson '88 Wel - Vince Lia '88
On Saturday in Perth, the Glory were playing for top spot against bottom-placed North Queensland Fury but despite taking the lead just after half-time had to settle for a draw.
Fury defender John Tambouras made up for his penalty error by netting with less than twenty minutes to go to deny Perth a fifth win of the season.
Perth Glory: 1 (Mile Sterjovski (p) '49) North Queensland Fury: 1 (John Tambouras '71)
Venue: Members Equity Stadium Crowd: 12,872 Yellow cards:Per - Victor Sikora '44, Jacob Burns '45, Eugene Dadi '72, Wayne Srhoj '84 NQF - Ufuk Talay '25, John Tambouras '57, Jason Spagnuolo '85 Red cards: Ufuk Talay '45
Melbourne Victory hosted Brisbane Roar for the second time this season and it looked like it could be a repeat of that thrilling 3-3 result when Victory's Ney Fabiano headed home in the 4th only for his goal to be cancelled out by Brisbane's Reinaldo seven minutes later.
However, the goals dried up until the 72nd minute when Melbourne defender Adrian Leijer bustled his way through and put the ball into the back of the net to give the home side an important three points.
Melbourne Victory: 2 (Ney Fabiano '4, Adrian Leijer '72) Brisbane Roar: 1 (Reinaldo '11)
Venue: Etihad Stadium Crowd: 19,587 Yellow cards:Mel - Adrian Leijer '38 Bri - David Dodd '8, Danny Tiatto '37, Liam Reddy '38, Craig Moore '87
For the first time, the A-League held a Monday double-header due to public holidays in Sydney and Adelaide.
Sydney FC were first, playing host to rivals Central Coast Mariners in front of a healthy crowd at the Sydney Football Stadium despite some poor early weather.
The Sky Blues were dominant throughout the match but could not score more than one goal, a brilliant header from Terry McFlynn, although it was enough to send them to the summit of the league.
Sydney FC: 1 (Terry McFlynn '21) Central Coast Mariners: 0
Venue:Sydney Football Stadium Crowd: 13,887 Yellow cards:Syd - nil CCM - nil
The second of the Monday double and the final game of Round 9 was between Adelaide United and the Newcastle Jets.
The Jets were coming off three straight losses and needed an improved performance and it looked promising Jin-Hyung Song netted in the 6th minute.
It took a cracking volley from Adelaide's Cassio to take some of the points from Newcastle but at least the signs were positive for coach Branko Culina.
However, the Reds did have their chances and a missed penalty from skipper Travis Dodd proved costly in the end.
Adelaide United: 1 (Cassio '76) Newcastle Jets: 1 (Jin-Hyung Song '6)
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium Crowd: 12,090 Yellow cards:Ade - Cassio '23, Lloyd Owusu '87 New - Adam D'Apuzzo '36, Fabio Vignaroli '75
