A-League 2016/17 – Round Ten – Expansion

SYDNEY FC 1 MELBOURNE CITY 1

WELLINGTON PHOENIX 3 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 0

WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS 0 MELBOURNE VICTORY 3

PERTH GLORY 1 NEWCASTLE JETS 2

BRISBANE ROAR 4 ADELAIDE UNITED 0

Roar Finally Come Good

After a run of four consecutive draws, Brisbane Roar finally came good in front of their home fans with a 4-0 demolition job of the reigning champions Adelaide United.  A brilliant brace for Thomas Kristensen in the first half brought his personal tally to five for the season.  In the second half Thomas Broich and Jamie Maclaren finished the job.  For Maclaren it was his fifth goal in six games and a goal he dedicated to his late grandmother.

The resounding victory was welcome relief for the Roar and have had goal scoring woes all season.  The win helps give the club a positive outlook on recent weeks.  They are now undefeated in eight games with four wins and four draws.  They remain same way off the pace to catch league leaders Sydney FC but they are right in the mix with the two Melbourne clubs and have some daylight between them and the rest of the league.

News and Notes

• In some positive news for the club, Matt McKay signed a contract extension keeping him on for another season.  He, alongside Thomas Broich, are looking as good as ever this season.

Matt McKay has re signed with @brisbaneroar so here’s a pic of him with a cake pic.twitter.com/oOPytackXs

— A-League Flashbacks (@ALFlashbacks) December 5, 2016

• It was a great Sunday afternoon out at Suncorp as fans were treated to the W-League fixture between Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United prior to the kick-off of their male counterparts.  The Roar won 3-2 and Matilda star Katrina Gorry scored this peach of a goal.

.@KatrinaGorry will a long range 💣 to open the scoring early for @brisbaneroar. #BRIvADL#wleague#Gorrylazopic.twitter.com/2tLIc2YfGM

— The Women’s Game (@TheWomensGame) December 11, 2016

• The Wanderers unveiled a video of the new Parramatta Stadium which is scheduled to finish construction in 2019.  It looks like it will end up being the finest football stadium in Australia.
• The FFA confirmed that there will be two new teams in the competition for the 2018/19 season.  They are currently exploring bids from every state as well as Tasmania, ACT and New Zealand.  It’s exciting times ahead for the competition.  It will be great to see the league one day reach 16-18 teams to really give the competition some additional depth.  Hopefully the new teams will be from the likes of Canberra and Tasmania which seem to be genuine untapped markets in which they can grow the game.
• Perth Glory were much fancied in the pre-season but defeats to the likes of Central Coast and Newcastle Jets are ruining any serious title challenge that they could mount.
• In their first game without Ernie Merrick, the Phoenix win 3-0.  They are yet to pick a new full time replacement although the smart money is on Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx.

Bonus Video

The Roar’s four nil win at home against Adelaide brought back fond memories of the last time the club achieved such a feat – five years in 2011 when they won their maiden championship.