Week 25 of the 2010/11 A-League season provided a 23rd straight match in which league leaders Brisbane Roar were not defeated.
A 2-1 win over the Melbourne Heart on Saturday evening allowed the Roar to break an Australian national league record which was held by APIA Leichhardt of 1986/87 who managed 22 matches without a loss.
But the Roar were able to surpass that thanks to goals from Jean Carlos Solorzano and new star James Meyer, who netted his fourth goal in just his third match, putting one Brisbane hand on the Premier's Plate.
They are currently nine points and 11 goal difference clear of second-placed Central Coast Mariners and will clinch the minor premiership if they do not lose to North Queensland Fury on the weekend.
Saturday night also saw the Mariners notch up another win with a solid 2-1 effort against third-placed Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Patricio Perez and Josh Rose did the damage for visitors who went four points clear of the Reds and now look set to clinch a top-two finish.
The third of Saturday's triple-header saw Sydney FC keep their slight finals hopes alive with a 2-0 away win over Perth Glory thanks to goals from Nick Carle and Bruno Cazarine. The reigning champs are now six points out of the finals race with three matches left.
On Sunday, Wellington Phoenix jumped into that top six with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets at Westpac Stadium whilst Melbourne Victory closed the gap on fourth-placed Gold Coast United with a 2-0 home win courtesy of a superb Danny Allsopp double.
Midweek games this week involve the Victory and finals hopefuls the Jets at Etihad Stadium whilst Gold Coast host the Reds at Skilled Park - both matches are on Wednesday.
Brisbane Roar:2 (Jean Carlos SOLORZANO 5', James MEYER 62') Melbourne Heart: 1 (Gerald SIBON 75') Saturday, 29 Jan 2011 Skilled Park, Robina Referee: Matthew Breeze Crowd: 4,213 Yellow cards:BR - Mitch NICHOLS 45', Jean Carlos SOLORZANO 90'+2 MH - Gerald SIBON 45'+1, Matt THOMPSON 46', John ALOISI 63'
Adelaide United: 1 (Travis DODD 90'+1) Central Coast Mariners:2 (Patricio PEREZ 11', Joshua ROSE 30') Saturday, 29 Jan 2011 Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide Referee: Strebre Delovski Crowd: 12,109 Yellow cards:AU - Marcos FLORES 55' CCM - Pedj BOJIC 52', Patricio PEREZ 61', Rostyn GRIFFITHS 79'
Perth Glory: 0 Sydney FC:2 (Nicky CARLE 9', Bruno CAZARINE 53') Saturday, 29 Jan 2011 nib Stadium, Perth Referee: Gerard Parsons Crowd: 5,536
Wellington Phoenix:1 (Dylan MACALLISTER 20') Newcastle Jets: 0 Sunday, 30 Jan 2011 Westpac Stadium, Wellington Referee: Chris Beath Crowd: 10,917 Yellow cards:WP - Andrew DURANTE 53', Troy HEARFIELD 56', Vince LIA 68', Ben SIGMUND 80', Manny MUSCAT 82' NJ - Adam D'APUZZO 20', Nikolai TOPOR STANLEY 26' Red card:NJ - Ryan GRIFFITHS 66'
Melbourne Victory:2 (Danny ALLSOPP 28'/56') Gold Coast United:0 Sunday, 30 Jan 2011 AAMI Park, Melbourne Referee: Peter Green Crowd: 8,287 Yellow cards:MV - Rodrigo VARGAS 11', Tom PONDELJAK 47'
