Outrageous comebacks, multiple send-offs, coaches blaming generational mindsets — this round had it all. Rob Brooks examines the rollercoaster ride that was the weekend’s A-League action.
Talking point of the weekend
Despite the well-documented controversy and disappointment surrounding the game in Australia at the moment, the A-League is still delivering the right kind of drama on the pitch.
There have been plenty of examples of that over the past few weeks, but none better than Adelaide’s 4-3…
Can issues with Australia’s national team be attributed to a lack of opportunities in the A-League? Rob Brooks puts this question to the test after a wild week in Australian football.
Talking point of the weekend
A quite extraordinary and depressing seven days in Australian football, which kicked off with the sacking of Australia women’s national team coach Alen Stajcic — for reasons yet to be fully revealed — and included the Socceroos’ departure from the Asian Cup at the quarter-final stage,…
Mat Ryan’s saves ensured Australia’s Asian Cup title defence remained alive in a penalty shootout win over Uzbekistan.
Australia’s Asian Cup title defence remains alive after narrowly defeating Uzbekistan 4-2 on penalties, after 120 minutes ended with the sides scoreless, in a truly uninspiring performance on Monday.
Positives
From an incredibly slow start, the Socceroos did eventually grow into the contest and by extra-time they were the only team who looked like they wanted to win the game. The heroics of goalkeeper Mat Ryan in the penalty shootout rewarded that effort, but there were very few positives take…
Controversial refereeing decisions sadly dominated the A-League headlines again this week. Rob Brooks explains that voices of discontent over perceived preferential treatment for some clubs are now too loud to ignore.
Talking point of the weekend
Do big clubs get the rub of the green when it comes to refereeing decisions? Obviously it’s a point well made across not only football, but every professional sport across the globe, and there is a fear that it is reaching boiling point in the A-League.
The…
Tom Rogic’s injury-time winner over Syria confirmed Australia’s place in the Asia Cup knockout rounds.
Australia progressed to the Asian Cup Round of 16 courtesy of a second-place finish in Group B, but did so in less than convincing fashion by narrowly defeating Syria 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Positives
Despite having pressure put on them by a Syrian team that needed a win to finish second in the group themselves, the Socceroos found just enough grit to get the job done, which will please coach Graham Arnold ahead of the more difficult contests.
The performances — and goalscoring — of Awer Mabil and…
The A-League finals series picture became crystal clear this weekend, Rob Brooks explains, as two wild comeback wins highlighted the chasm which has opened up between the top of the league and the bottom.
Talking point of the weekend
With just …
Rob Brooks wraps up a weekend of A-League action that was dominated by fiery encounters and red cards.
Talking point of the round
Four red cards stole the headlines across the league this weekend and, not surprisingly, each team to have a player sent off failed to pick up maximum points.
Central Coast Mariners defender Kalifa Cisse started the trend on Friday night when he dived in late on Sydney FC’s Siem de Jong to be shown his second yellow card midway through the first half. It was a real rush…
Australia started their Asian Cup title defence in their worst possible way with a shock 1-0 defeat to Jordan on Sunday.
Positives
There were very few redeeming features in the Socceroos’ performance as they played right into the hands of their opponents. Complete domination of possession meant little as Australia played sideways and backwards passes, allowing Jordan to sit back and defend comfortably. There were a couple of chances created by relative newcomer to the international scene, Awer Mabil,…
Australia’s quest to become the fifth nation to successfully defend an Asian Cup title will hinge on the depth of their squad when the tournament kicks off in the United Arab Emirates this weekend.
To hoist the trophy aloft on home soil in 2015, Australia needed to overturn an average run of form in which they won just a single game out of 11 matches the year prior. This time around, the Socceroos will have a fresh set of obstacles to overcome.
Injuries have, sadly, already seen off key midfielder…
The New Year may have been ushered in, but it was more of the same for clubs at the foot of the ladder. Rob Brooks has the A-League under a microscope in his weekly wrap-up.
Talking point of the round
Things are falling apart at the bottom of the table right now. That’s both figurative and literal for Central Coast Mariners, who watched on as a goal actually collapsed in their 4-1 home defeat to league-leading Perth Glory on New Years Eve.
So, not only are Central Coast experiencing the worst start…