The intensity is about to pick up as the Hyundai A-League begins a run of Wednesday-night fixtures, with the Wellington Phoenix first up when they travel to play Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park tomorrow night.
Both teams go into the match on the back of good wins, with the Phoenix
preserving their long-unbeaten Westpac Stadium record in beating Sydney FC 2-1 and Melbourne fresh from a 3-0 home win over Brisbane Roar in front of 13,972 fans on Sunday afternoon.
The Victory will be without inspirational captain Kevin Muscat - likely to be out for a month with an ankle injury - and livewire attacker Robbie Kruse, who will miss at least a couple of games with a calf injury.
After a scoreless first half, Melbourne went ahead six minutes after the break when Tom Pondeljak, a halftime substitute, scored. Ricardinho added a second five minutes later and Grant Brebner scored again in the 72nd minute.
All Whites hopeful Costa Barbarouses replaced the injured Henrique in the Roar line-up after just six minutes but was later substituted as they slumped 0-2.
Like the Phoenix, Adelaide United won 2-1 at home to stretch their winning streak to four and their unbeaten start to the season to six with their win over Newcastle Jets. Mathew Leckie and Marcos Flores scored either side of the break and United held that lead until Jets substitute Sean Rooney's last-minute goal.
The Jets had most shots, 14-6, but the home side forced eight corners to seven and enjoyed 58 per cent of possession.
Central Coast Mariners kicked off the round as 1-0 winners - all but one of the five games won by the home team - over Melbourne Heart.
The only goal came from Daniel McBreen after 20 minutes. Visiting Heart played the last 38 minutes a player short after Michael Beauchamp's dismissal by referee Peter Green for alleged head-butting. Both coaches later agreed Beauchamp was unlucky to be red-carded.
The Mariners were slightly ahead in shots (13-10) but trailed the corner count (2-4) and the possession stakes, with Melbourne ahead on 55 per cent.
Perth were the only home team to lose, folding 1-0 to Gold Coast United at nib Stadium in the last game of the round. It was Perth's first loss of the season and Gold Coast's first win, on the back of a 24th-minute goal from captain Jason Culina.
The win continued Gold Coast's unbeaten record against the Glory.
"Very important," was coach Miron Bleiberg's response when asked how vital it was to get the first win.
"You know what happens to coaches who start the season and finish winless, then I have to go and work in the mineshaft.
"I think the way we played the first 60 minutes we deserved what we got. Jason missed the other clear chance that could have made it 2-0 and then I would have less grey hair."
Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell was particularly disappointed with his players' intensity.
"Obviously losing your undefeated record and losing at home is very disappointing," he said. "But, you know, we didn't deserve to win today."
Costa Barbarouses. Photo / Getty Images
The intensity is about to pick up as the Hyundai A-League begins a run of Wednesday-night fixtures, with the Wellington Phoenix first up when they travel to play Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park tomorrow night.
Both teams go into the match on the back of good wins, with the Phoenix
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