Defending champions Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory, the team seen as most likely to succeed them, took the advantage in the first round of A-League semifinal action but are by no means certain of going all the way to the grand final.
Sydney, playing in front of a
21,112 crowd at Aussie Stadium, raced to a 2-0 lead over Newcastle Jets before leaving their home ground 2-1 winners.
In Adelaide, 15,575 turned up at Hindmarsh Stadium and went away reasonably happy with a scoreless draw against a Melbourne side who had run away with the Hyundai A-League minor premiership.
Headers from Alex Brosque, after 14 minutes, and Mark Milligan 15 minutes later, gave Sydney a handy buffer over the visitors.
With key midfielder Terry McFlynn forced out of the Sydney midfield a minute or so into the second half, Newcastle seized the initiative with key playmaker Nick Carle relishing the extra freedom afforded by McFlynn's absence.
After one near miss, substitute Milton Rodriquez got one back for the Jets in the 72nd minute to give them some hope. Rodriquez had replaced Vaughan Coveny in the 58th minute - the only change in the Newcastle side for whom All White midfielder Tim Brown played the entire match.
Newcastle will be at home for Friday's second leg at EnergyAustralia Stadium fully aware a 1-0 win will be enough, under the away goals rule, to keep their hopes alive.
Melbourne will have a 50,000-plus crowd to cheer them at the Telstra Dome on Sunday for their second leg with Adelaide.
Should either team win, they will book the short route to the final. A scoreless draw would need extra time and perhaps a shoot-out but any other draw would get Adelaide through on the away goal rule.
Adelaide dominated, as expected at home, but failed to turn 27 penetrations into the Victory penalty area into goals. They also won the corner count 8-0 to further emphasise their hopes for Sunday's return.
The loser of the Melbourne v Adelaide game will play the winner of the minor semifinal between Sydney and Newcastle (in a one-off game) to find the second finalist.
