A-League - Football - Sport

Thursday August 28, 2008

Ahmad Elrich might not have his Porsche, but his drive for quality has never left him.

Thursday August 28, 2008

Bolton playing through the pain

WHEN Sydney FC fought to hold on for a 0-0 draw against Melbourne Victory in the opening match of the season, most pundits and fans couldn't heap enough praise on goalkeeper Clint Bolton.

Wednesday August 27, 2008

A-League calling on expats to shed tiers for Queensland and country

WITH expansion of the A-League imminent, Football Federation Australia boss Ben Buckley is planning a recruiting drive to Europe to convince second-tier Australian players they should start thinking about coming home.

Monday August 25, 2008

One piece of Cole warms up Kosmina

YOU couldn't have scripted a more perfect fairytale for Sydney FC midfielder Shannon Cole on Saturday night.

Dead-ball king breathes new life into Sydney

GOING into Saturday's match in Gosford, John Kosmina pondered the obvious conundrum: How will Shannon Cole deal with the increasing attention?

Victory put boot into Wellington

TWO first-half goals from Danny Allsopp enabled Melbourne to see off the Phoenix in a high-scoring encounter in New Zealand yesterday.

Loss snatched from victory's jaws

FOR the second week running, Central Coast Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna saw an unlikely victory fall into his lap during the second half - and then had to watch it get snatched away just as quickly.

Sunday August 24, 2008

Cole turning into a diamond

SYDNEY FC's misfortune with injured, suspended and Olympic players last week turned fruitful last night when one of the unheralded youngsters given a chance in their absence scored an 80th-minute winner against the Central Coast Mariners in front of 10,932 rugged-up souls at Gosford.

Roar look to sink Reds on counter

QUEENSLAND Roar are banking on Adelaide United's attacking ambition to bring the Reds undone at Suncorp Stadium today.

Louts in crowd flare-ups could score lifetime bans

FOOTBALL Federation Australia is taking an iron-fisted approach to hooliganism at A-League matches, considering permanently moving games between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory to Friday nights and introducing mandatory five-year bans for louts.

Merrick's pool of midfield talent overflows

MELBOURNE VICTORY'S midfield stocks are at bursting point as coach Ernie Merrick juggles an embarrassment of riches ahead of his side's clash with Wellington in New Zealand today.

Saturday August 23, 2008

Buoyed Cole and the commotion

WHILE Sydney FC coach John Kosmina accepts the shadow of Mark Bosnich looms large over tonight's match against Central Coast Mariners, he's just as interested to see if unsung hero Shannon Cole can cope with the burden of expectation after one of the most impressive debuts in the A-League's short history.

Moore's knee a headache

QUEENSLAND Roar's depleted defensive stocks face a massive challenge against Adelaide United tomorrow with skipper Craig Moore in doubt with a knee injury.

Friday August 22, 2008

Jets steal a point in thriller

Newcastle skipper Jade North has scored a goal in the 94th minute to hand Newcastle Jets a thrilling 3-3 draw against Perth Glory in a pulsating A-League encounter at Members Equity Stadium.

Elrich on a mission to find mojo

Ahmad Elrich might not have his Porsche, but his drive for quality has never left him, writes Michael Cockerill.

Townsville revved up for green light

NORTH QUEENSLAND FC boss Don Matheson insists the A-League hopefuls have "over-performed" in presenting their final bid to join the competition to Football Federation Australia.

Davids looking for a kick - at $30,000 a game

DUTCH great Edgar Davids is looking for a guest stint in the A-League, and Sydney FC have not ruled out making a move for the dreadlocked midfielder if he drops his asking price.

Thursday August 21, 2008

Fit and focused Bosnich plans to make most of Mariners lifeline

AFTER six weeks proving himself on the training paddock, controversial goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has finally reached his goal of winning a short-term guest stint with the Central Coast Mariners.

Wednesday August 20, 2008

Thompson cleared of major injury

STAR Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson is expected to miss just one more game, after scans yesterday cleared him of major damage to an injured foot.

Confusion reigns as Zdrilic hits Sydney FC with compensation claim

A DISPUTE is brewing between Sydney FC and former player David Zdrilic, who is fighting for injury compensation through the players' union even though he has been released from his contract and hasn't played for the club since just before last Christmas.

Tuesday August 19, 2008

Proof that players are still made in the backyard

FEW goals, three draws, average crowds, and trumped-up reports of a "riot" at the SFS might suggest the A-League's new season opened with a whimper rather than a bang. It wasn't a blazing start, true enough, but scratch the surface and their was one big plus: recruitment.

Monday August 18, 2008

Keeper's late brilliance denies Roar

QUEENSLAND Roar were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in their season-opener in New Zealand yesterday after twice being denied by Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss in the dying stages.

This is just the start: Simon

MATT SIMON may have broken one of the more celebrated goal droughts in the A-League, but the robust Central Coast Mariners striker knows he has to keep scoring if he wants to make this his breakthrough season.

Kossie mines rich seam in Cole

THE width of the upright may have denied Shannon Cole a debut goal in the A-League, but Sydney FC's least-celebrated recruit could be the smartest piece of business the club has done for years.

Sunday August 17, 2008

Dodd strike means United start at the top

Adelaide United captain Travis Dodd sent the Reds to the top of the A-League table after sealing a 1-0 home win over Perth Glory with a thumping first-half strike today.

Lawrie draws comfort from positive start

CENTRAL COAST coach Lawrie McKinna is already looking forward to hosting Sydney FC next week, knowing a number of his regulars should be back on the park.

Sydney, Victory lack finish in nervy opener

SYDNEY FC and Melbourne Victory have played out a scoreless draw to start their A-League campaigns, despite turning on a tense game with numerous scoring opportunities.

In good nik

CALL Nik Mrdja's phone and you get an abrupt voicemail prompt: "You know what to do."

Spotlight on Cristiano but Reid the key

THERE is little doubt new striker Cristiano from Brazil will be the name on most Adelaide United supporters' lips as they file into Hindmarsh Stadium today to watch the Reds battle Perth Glory.