Early promise of fresh challenge to kingpins
REIGNING A-League champion Sydney FC got off to a winning start to open the new season while NSW rivals Western Sydney Wanderers and Newcastle showed early signs they will be among the challengers.
The Sky Blues beat an undermanned Melbourne Victory 1-0 in Saturday’s grand final rematch and coach Graham Arnold was quick to say afterwards his side was only at “30 per cent” of its capacity.
While Kevin Muscat’s men will be much stronger once internationals Mark Milligan, James Troisi and Kosta Barbarouses come back in – along with injured Argentinian import Matias Sanchez – it looks like last season’s two powerhouse teams will have a fresh and legitimate set of challengers to fend off.
A new-look Wanderers side shook off the turmoil of coach Tony Popovic’s shock departure last week to score a 2-1 home win over Perth Glory yesterday.
Goals in the last three minutes of the first half to Spanish striker Oriol Riera and Jumpei Kusukami secured the Wanderers’ first-ever openinground win and a victory for caretaker coach Hayden Foxe.
New recruits Alvaro Cejudo, Riera and Roly Bonevacia were prominent in a Wanderers side that impressed Perth coach Kenny Lowe.
“They recruited very well, they look an excellent side,” Lowe said.
The Newcastle Jets are poised to shake off seven seasons of mediocrity and mount a serious finals challenge after smashing arch-rival Central Coast 5-1, courtesy of a firsthalf hat-trick from new signing Roy O’Donovan.
But it wasn’t all bad news for the new-look Mariners, who scored first through new import Asdrubal and showed enough for Jets coach Ernie Merrick to tip that they too would be in the top-six mix.
“The Mariners, in my mind, will cause a lot problems for teams, they’re going to be very competitive,” Merrick said.
Widely predicted to be the wooden spooner, Wellington Phoenix made a steady start under new boss Darije Kalezic in a stubborn 1-1 draw with Adelaide United, who were tipped in pre-season to be one of the big improvers.
Both goals came in the first 10 minutes, with former Socceroo Dario Vidosic netting for Phoenix and Adelaide debutant Johan Absalonse quickly equalising for the visitors.
Adelaide defender Taylor Regan was taken to Wellington Hospital for an X-ray on a leg injury.
Two Bruce Kamau goals got Melbourne City off to a winning 2-0 start against a disappointing Brisbane Roar in the season opener on Friday night.
It was a grind for City but it was just the sort of start the team needs as it looks to rid its reputation as the neutral’s favourite in the A-League – a side sure to score a few goals, but concede just as many.
The Roar also has reason to be optimistic going forward once the likes of Brett Holman, Thomas Kristensen and Corey Gamiero reach full fitness and French recruit Eric Bautheac receives his visa.