Friday January 10: Newcastle Jets 1 - Melbourne Victory 1
A-League Week 14 round-up
Brendon Santalab scored a late winner in the Sydney Derby but Jordan Elsey’s dramatic header was the highlight of the weekend as Adelaide United won at Brisbane Roar.
Bradley Kanaris
Friday January 10: Perth Glory 3 - Melbourne Heart 0
Saturday January 11: Brisbane Roar 1 - Adelaide United 2
Adelaide United escaped from Suncorp Stadium with all three points on Saturday thanks to Jordan Elsey’s injury time header. The young defender, who was set for a loan spell in Hong Kong, instead returned to the Reds and provided the dramatic winner against top of the table Brisbane Roar. Until Elsey’s header dropped just over Michael Theo’s outstretched hand, it looked like Besart Berisha would be the hero as he returned from injury and scored in the 80th minute to draw Brisbane level. That goal equalized for the Roar after Jeronimo scored from a rebound on his own penalty in the first half. The Roar’s loss, coupled with Western Sydney’s derby win leaves just four points between first and second place. Adelaide are still not in the top six but they’re now just two points outside the finals realm and only four points from a third place finish. Brisbane play at Perth Glory on Friday night while Adelaide host the Wanderers on Sunday.
Saturday January 11: Western Sydney Wanderers 1 - Sydney FC 0
Brendon Santalab gave Western Sydney Wanderers a narrow derby win over Sydney FC on Saturday at Pirtek Stadium with his 87th minute goal. The goal was the second in three games for Santalab and provided a nice recovery for the Wanderers after losing at home to Wellington Phoenix on New Years Day. Western Sydney should’ve scored in the first half when Youssouf Hersi hit the crossbar with a long chip and Tomi Juric slammed his rebound off the crossbar just seconds later. But with the game headed for a scoreless draw, Santalab slipped in behind the Sydney defense and nicked in a mishit ball from Hersi to send the crowd into hysterics and pull the Wanderers within four points of first place Brisbane. A point would’ve put the Sky Blues into the top six but instead they remain hovering on the edge of a finals position. Sydney host Central Coast Mariners on Saturday in Round 15 while the Wanderers will play at Adelaide United on Sunday.
Sunday January 12: Wellington Phoenix 1 - Central Coast Mariners 1
The weekend’s final game will be remembered not for Wellington Phoneix’s fourth game without a loss or Central Coast Mariners’ fantastic first goal but by Daniel McBreen’s missed penalty. Matt Simon scored a thumping opener for the visitors early in the first half but was canceled out by Kenny Cunningham’s goal just seconds before halftime. McBreen’s penalty could have won the game for the visitors but instead the two clubs shared points on a windy day at Westpac Stadium. The point does lift Central Coast past Melbourne Victory for third place but only point meant lost ground against Western Sydney’s second position. Another point for Wellington keeps them in ninth place but they are now just five points from a finals position and either fifth or sixth place. Both teams play again on Saturday with Wellington hosting Melbourne Victory and Central Coast traveling to Sydney FC.
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