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Jamie Samuel
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A-League Round 3 Update
All The Latest From Australia's Top Tier of Football
We have seen yet another exciting weekend of football and we are now at round 3, starting to discover who some of the in-form teams are, and who are the teams to beat. It was another weekend of close games and draws. Only one lopsided affair, when Perth caused a 3-0 upset over Melbourne Victory.
The Western Sydney Wanderers were able to bring home the points from New Zealand, after taking care of the Wellington Pheonix 2-0. After a goalless first half, Tomer Hemed’s strike in the 65th minute crossed the line and was paid a goal after a review, breaking the deadlock. Before Wellington committed their goalkeeper forward for a corner in the 93rd minute as the ball was run down the other end and put away by John Koutrombis, sealing a big result for the Wanderers. Next up, the Wanderers will host Macarthur on Saturday night, whilst Wellington will travel to face Newcastle on Friday night.
Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United played out a 0-0 draw. It was a fiery affair, with Javi Lopez being sent off in the last minute of the game with a straight red card. Brisbane blew a big chance to gain their first win of the season, they will hope to rebound next week when they travel to face the in-form Melbourne United in Geelong on Saturday night. Adelaide United will host the Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.
Western United caused a big upset at AAMI Park on Saturday night, defeating last year's champions Melbourne City 1-0. The decisive moment came as early as the 19th minute, after a through ball from Alessandro Diamanti, Dylan Wenzal-Halls struck a beautiful shot from the edge of the box past Tom Glover. This win moves Western United into third place. They will look to continue this form when they host Brisbane in Geelong next Saturday, whilst City will look to rebound against Perth Glory on Wednesday night at AAMI Park.
Newcastle fought back from being two goals down to cause a thrilling 2-2 draw with Sydney FC on Saturday night. Adam Le Fondre gave Sydney a 9th-minute lead after being brought down in the area and converted his spot-kick. Elvis Kamsoba would double that lead on the half-hour mark, after putting away a Le Fondre cross. Valentino Yuel would become Newcastle’s hero. First pulling an important goal back in the 58th minute, before scoring an incredible equalizer in the 64th minute, after taking on the defenders and powering a shot into the back of the net. Le Fondre was controversially denied a goal that would have given Sydney FC back the lead in the 78th minute after the VAR deemed him offside. Last year's grand finalists are still winless after three games, they will face a challenging trip to the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday afternoon, but could think about their first win opportunity very seriously. Whilst Newcastle will host the Wellington Phoenix on Friday night and also seek their first win of the year.
Macarthur FC defeated the Central Coast Mariners 1-0 to move to the top of the ladder at the end of round 3. Right on the stroke of halftime, Ulises Davila’s deflected strike would prove the decisive blow. It was deflected off Oliver Bozanic and deemed an own goal. But it would be all the Bulls needed to claim the top spot for now. They will look to continue this form when they travel to Sydney to face the Wanderers on Saturday night, whilst Central Coast will host Sydney FC on Sunday night.
With such an impressive start to the campaign for last year's wooden spooners Melbourne Victory, Sunday night’s 3-0 defeat to Perth Glory at AAMI park turned out to be a disaster. It was without a doubt the biggest surprise of the round. Right on half time, Rai Marchan put out a high foot and the VAR deemed it worthy of a red card, reducing the Victory to ten men for the entire second half. From there, it went downhill fast, as Perth made the breakthrough in the 66th minute, following a long-range strike from Antonee Burke-Gilroy off a corner kick. Burke-Gilroy’s cross found Ciaran Bramwell in the 74th minute, as he headed home the sealer, making it 2-0. Bruno Fonaroli’s 88th-minute long-range strike would add some icing to a very delicious cake, as Perth Glory completely outclassed an undermanned Melbourne Victory 3-0. Perth will remain in Melbourne to take on Melbourne City on Wednesday night. As for the Victory, they face a tough trip to the city of churches to take on Adelaide United on Saturday night.
Another engrossing weekend of football, close contests, great goals and sending offs galore. We look forward to more enticing football action ahead of round 4.
Jamie Samuel is our Aussie sports expert here at ThePyrrhic.com and will be covering the A-League throughout the season
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