A-LEAGUE WRAP – Week 17: Jets down Roar, Phoenix too good for Heart and Glory cruise past Adelaide

Week 17 of A-League action took place on the weekend with a total of four matches being played because of the Gold Coast United versus Central Coast Mariners fixture being postponed.

The bottom versus top match was set for Friday night at Skilled Park in Robina but wild weather forced it to be called off and moved to February 22, but despite the non-event, the Mariners easily held their spot at the summit of the A-League table.

Last season’s runners-up are 10 points clear of second place which has now been taken by the ever-improving Wellington Phoenix who recorded a 3-1 home win over Melbourne Heart. Paul Ifill opened the scoring early before Alex Terra responded in the 35th minute but Chris Greenacre and IFills with a second did the damage in the second half as the ‘Nix made it three in a row whilst the Heart dropped to fifth with a winless run of six.

The weekend kicked off on Thursday night when Sydney FC held arch rivals Melbourne Victory to a 2-2 draw after falling two goals behind prior to half-time. Isaka Cernak and Fabinho netted for the Victory but Bruno Cazarine got one back early in the second half before ex-Victory defender Seb Ryall scored a very late goal to give the visiting Sky Blues a share of the points.

On Saturday, Jobe Wheelhouse scored the only goal of the game as the Newcastle Jets produced a much-needed 1-0 win over reigning champs Brisbane Roar, who fell to third, as the Jets moved up to seventh with their first win in five.

And the final match of the round saw Perth Glory make it four wins in five with a 3-0 away result over Adelaide United who have failed to salute in their past five outings. Shane Smeltz and Steve McGarry had the Glory two ahead by the 20-minute mark before Liam Miller rounded out the win with a late goal to allow Perth to move into fourth place on the table.

Wednesday night will see bottom club Gold Coast away to the Victory who sit eighth with just one win from their last seven.

2011/12 A-League season scores – Week 17

Melbourne Victory: 2 (Isaka Cernak 45’, Fabinho 45+2’)
Sydney FC: 2 (Bruno Cazarine 56’, Seb Ryall 89’)
AAMI Park, Melbourne – 28,053

Gold Coast United v Central Coast Mariners - postponed to February 22

Brisbane Roar: 0
Newcastle Jets: 1 (Jobe Wheelhouse 23’)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – 9,293

Wellington Phoenix: 3 (Paul Ifill 3’/64’, Chris Greenacre 54’)
Melbourne Heart: 1 (Alex Terra 34’)
Westpac Stadium, Wellington – 13,601

Adelaide United: 0
Perth Glory: 3 (Shane Smeltz 14’, Steve McGarry 20’, Liam Miller 82’)
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide – 9,063

 
The game is about opinions. Make yours heard! Join the tribalfootball.com
nation on Facebook today: Facebook.com/tribalfootball