Queensland Roar 2 Adelaide United 2.

A fast paced game. Adelaide looked composed and played most of the football. Nathan Burns scored a tremendous goal from distance. Burns looked sharp all night despite flying back from Olyroo duty in Qatar this week.

But did Adelaide Coach Aurelio Vidmar err?

With Adelaide leading 2-1 and Roar's returning Socceroo sent-off for his second bookable offence Roar Coach Frank Farina pushed three up front in an effort to save the game.

Amazingly Vidmar took central defender Ange Costanzo off. Was he injured? He didn't appear to be. Two minutes later Sasa Ognenovski headed home a free header from six yards.

Adelaide somehow drew this game, but they were a joy to watch.

Nathan Burns was superb controlling forward play. Olyroo Bruce Djite skinned Moore in one magical moment and later stooped low to score a well worked goal.

The Roar weren't pretty. Ante Milicivic looked off the pace. Has the ageing striker really got a goal threat left in him?

Danny Tiatto did well on his return but looks wasted at left-back.

Adelaide will entertain all year. The Roar well, they are lacking fluidity up front, but if you can draw when you play badly all is not yet lost.

 

Sydney FC 0 Central Coast Mariners 1

Sasho Petrovski came back to score against his old club. Wouldn't you know it!

The Mariners looked strong and fit. They really took the game to Sydney and if Nik Mrdja had scored instead of hitting the post in the first half we could have all turned off at half-time.

The Mariners have a real goal threat this year and a strong squad. Petrovski did what he was bought to do. And later Coach Lawrie McKinna was able to bring Tom Pondlejak, Matt Simon and Greg Owens on.

What did Sydney Coach Branko Culina think?

An ineffectual strike force with Alex Brosque and new boy Adam Biddle looking lost.

With Nikolai Topor-Stanley gone, Iain Fyfe and Terry McFlynn are asked to play out wide. Sydney lack creativity from full-back, they lack any real strike threat. They lack a pattern.

But somehow Sydney created a few chances. Juninho was causing problems around the box, but unlike Dwight Yorke, Juninho won't control a game.

Sydney can improve. David Zdrillic may impose himself on opposing teams, allowing Steve Corica and Juninho to link around him.

Ruben Zadkovich and Robbie Middleby will add width and pace, but the question remains where will the goals come from?

Culina's Asian Champions League honeymoon is long over.

Next week they play Burns and Djite! Lose that and Culina could be under pressure.

 

Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory.

A great noisy record crowd of over 14,000 in New Zealand for football. Hallelujah.

"The referee's an Aussie," sang the crowd when Referee Mark Shield gave a free kick to Victory.

The Phoenix kicked the ball as high as possible in the first twenty. Kevin Muscat kicked a penalty, Danny Allsopp kept missing, and Ross Aloisi kicked Kevin Muscat and came off worse. Déjà vu?

The Kiwi commentators were upset that Australia had claimed the Kiwi born Archie Thompson as his own. Russell Crowe also got a mention. Then the Phoenix got a penalty, they missed. But they started to put the Victory under the pump, when really Allsopp should have put Victory 3-0 up early on.

Ljubo Milicevic went off early injured. Daniel tried to score from a penalty he took. Can you do that in Brazil?

But Daniel is probably the most exciting footballer in New Zealand for years.

And just when the New Zealand crowd produced the loudest chant every heard in NZ football, Victory's Joe Keenan produced a strong skilful run from left back. He found Allsopp and as the commentator said, "Allsopp doesn't miss from there." He didn't this time.

And of course 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in football.

Sure enough Ricky Herbert's side showed the salary cap equalizes everything and it was somehow 2-2 as the fitter Kiwi side clawed back.

Two points lost for Victory. But what a lift for the Phoenix in front of a record crowd. Great stuff.