Week 5 of A-League action saw another bunch of surprise results as the table begins to take shape.
On Friday night, Central Coast Mariners scored a late winner to down Wellington Phoenix 2-1 in New Zealand with Matt Simon netting in the 81st minute to send his side to fifth position. Mariners young gun Bernie Ibini-Isei gave the visitors the lead early in the second half before Chris Greenacre leveled for the 'Nix with just over 20 minutes left but Simon edged Central Coast ahead to give them a second win of the campaign.
Adelaide United scored late to force a 1-1 home draw with Melbourne Heart after the visitors went ahead through Brendan Hamill just after half-time. Spase Dilevski got the Reds back on level terms in the 77th minute just after the Heart lost Simon Colosimo to a red card. The Heart remain at the foot of the table without a win as Adelaide are just one spot above them having taken just once point from their past three outings.
New Zealand international Jeremy Brockie scored an early double as Newcastle Jets went second with a 2-0 home victory over Perth Glory who dropped to third as Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar played out an exciting 2-2 draw in front of more than 24,000 at Etihad Stadium.
The Victory had goalkeeper Ante Covic and defender Matthew Foschini sent off in the first half but still managed to hold out the Roar who took the lead when Henrique netted from the penalty spot in the sixth minute. Archie Thompson responded with two goals in the 10th and 22nd minutes before Thomas Broich got the Roar back in touch with a 28th minute leveler as the reigning champions took their unbeaten streak to 33 matches.
And finally, Sydney FC came from two goals down against Gold Coast United to win 3-2 allowing them to move to fourth. Kristian Rees and Dylan Macallister put United ahead before Sydney responded through Bruno Cazarine, Nick Carle and a late Karol Kisel penalty.
A-League season 2011/12 scores - Week 5
Wellington Phoenix: 1 (Chris Greenacre 69') Central Coast Mariners: 2 (Bernie Ibini-Isei 48', Matt Simon 81') Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Adelaide United: 1 (Spase Dilveski 77') Melbourne Heart: 1 (Brendan Hamill 49', red card: Simon Colosimo 76') Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide - 10,294
Newcastle Jets: 2 (Jeremy Brockie 10'/11') Perth Glory: 0 Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle - 12,383
Melbourne Victory: 2 (Archie Thompson 10'/22', red cards: Ante Covic 2', Matthew Foschini 37') Brisbane Roar: 2 (Henrique (p) 6', Thomas Broich 28') Etihad Stadium, Melbourne - 24,820
Sydney FC: 3 (Bruno Cazarine 60', Nick Carle 63', Karol Kisel (p) 90') Gold Coast United: 2 (Kristian Rees 22', Dylan Macallister 46') Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney - 11,051
