Australia’s Favourite Football Fanzine AUSTRALIA V KUWAIT www.goalweekly.com $4 PREVIEW FOOTBALL’S FLIRT WITH MUSIC BATTLE OF THE MAN U 1999 V 2009 Season 5: Issue 2 Monday 2nd March 2009 Photo: Daniel Flis VICTORIOUS VICTORY! EVEN ERNIE CRACKS SMILE AFTER CLINCHING TREBLE VPL KICKS OFF / SOUVENIR VICTORY POSTER INSIDE TOP SHOT! You Snooze, You Lose: An unsighted Adelaide United ‘keeper Eugene Galekovic reacts late to Tommy Pondeljak’s 59th minute strike as the ball and the 2009 A-League Championship slips out of The Reds’ reach. Victory striker Archie Thompson realises the magnitude of the moment. Photo: Daniel Flis Grand Final 2009 A-LEAGUE FINALS VERSION IV MAGIC MOMENTS DEPT. Grand Final 2009 A-LEAGUE FINALS VERSION IV MELBOURNE VICTORY TRIPLE TREAT 1 - 0 FOR VICTORY! ADELAIDE UNITED Pondeljak Strike Settles Tight Final The ingredients were all there on Saturday Back to the game; desperation started to night. The revenge factor, the history mak- mount following Pondeljak’s nicely placed strike MATCH DETAILS PLAYER RATINGS - MVFC ing chance on both sides, the goalkeeper stuck a dagger into Adelaide’s hopes 30 minutes 1. Michael Theoklitos: 7 - Pulled off vintage showdown, the chance for redemption and a from the end. The crowd got what it wanted and now Melbourne Victory 1 (Tom PONDELJAK 59’) saves all night to keep Victory in charge and record breaking full house to witness it all. it hungered for more but the fi nal run home was a Adelaide United 0 showed great authority at the back. As the favourite to win the A-League title suffered one. Close calls and another dubious send- Saturday 28 February 2. Kevin Muscat: 5 - Kept all the Victory boys in for the second time and against the same club it had off kept the crowd on its toes. Danny Allsopp felt the Telstra Dome check and managed some decent passing but humiliated two years ago Melbourne Victory did not wrath of Breeze’s breezy attitude to red cards after Referee. Matthew Breeze his lack of speed let him down disappoint and etched yet another milestone in the some argy bargy got the better of the number nine Assistant Referees: Matthew Cream, Dennis Silk 5. Sebastian Ryall: 4 - Failed to assert himself but alas the fi eld was level again. Fourth offi cial: Peter Green league’s history books. on the match and didn’t infl uence much of the A single strike from former St Albans Adelaide came close and credit to Vidmar Crowd: 53,273 play boy Tom Pondeljak made the difference on a perfect who didn’t hold back and kept pushing with nothing 7. Matthew Kemp: 6 - Had a good game but let footballing night providing a much more entertain- to lose but the Victory defense held fi rm and rode Melbourne Victory line-up: 1.Michael THEOKLI- himself down in crucial moments ing spectacle than the 6-0 rout handed down by the victory train all the way to the fi nal whistle. TOS (gk), 2.Kevin MUSCAT (c), 5.Sebastian 8. Grant Brebner: 2 - Came on and failed to Archie Thompson two years ago. Vidmar praised his side’s will to press on RYALL, 7.Matthew KEMP, 9.Danny ALLSOPP, make any sort of impact gets two points for the Red and yellow cards were the differ- after the send off saying how ‘gutted’ he was for the 10.Archie THOMPSON, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS, fact that he didn’t make any game changing ence on the night and while I personally missed players. 14.Billy CELESKI, 15.Tom PONDELJAK (8.Grant errors the fi rst send-off due to the fact that I had to blagg “We deserved something more than pride. BREBNER 82’), 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 22.Nick 9. Dannny Allssopp: 5 - Found himself space my way into the stadium after Goal! Weekly was I certainly thought we had the upper hand, but when WARD ((19.Evan BERGER 55’ (17.Jose Luis LO- and got onto through-balls but then let himself “overlooked”, I witnessed Cristiano’s lonely walk you go down to 10 men it changes your game plan PEZ 88’). down by getting sent-off. to the change rooms wondering why match referee and it made it very diffi cult for the players tonight, 10. Archie Thompson: 4 - Was a shadow of Mathew Breeze had decided to ruin such an event. but I couldn’t be any prouder of the players.” Substitutes not used: 11.NEY FABIANO, 20.Mitchell himself on the night. Couldn’t fi nd space in the The accidental elbow to Roddy Vargas’ drew blood “It was a fantastic effort and they really LANGERAK (gk). box and spend a lot of the time on the ground. leading to a decision that Breeze will surely regret. wore their hearts on their sleeves.” Added the proud 12. Rodrigo Vargas: 7 - Held on fi rm in defense If Adelaide’s underdog status wasn’t clear Vidmar. Yellow Cards: Tom PONDELJAK 59’. and managed to keep his head together after his enough the Reds played almost the entire game with On the other hand Victory’s man in Red Cards: Danny ALLSOPP 64’. early bump. a numerical disadvantage and much to Melbourne’s charge took off his gloves and made plans for a night 14. Billy Celeski: 6 - Distributed the ball well on credit it exploited it well. With Adelaide’s match out with the boys stating “I had my most relaxed day Adelaide United line-up: 20.Eugene GALEKOVIC occasions but his crosses were largely unthreat- plans thrown on their head, the match turned scrappy and I’m going to stay longer than 20 minutes at the (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 7.Lucas PAN- ening and the usual headliners failed to fi re much to disap- after-party tonight.” TELIS (9.Paul AGOSTINO 62’), 10.CRISTIANO, 15. Tom Pondeljak: 7 - Got the winner and de- pointment of newcomers expecting Thompson put “They pushed us all the way in the league 13.Travis DODD (c.), 14.Scott JAMIESON (6. CAS- serves praise for a nicely placed shot but was too on a show. championship. They pushed us all the way tonight. SIO 73’), 15.Jonas SALLEY, 16.Daniel MULLEN, slow to match it with the younger players. The duel between the goalkeepers quickly They were tough competitors, but the bottom line 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 16. Carlos Hernandez: 6 - Let off a couple of took centre stage with Victory’s main man Michael is we’ve had a great year and we’ve thoroughly 24.Paul REID, threatening shots but was held in check most of Theoklitos producing jaw-dropping saves, which enjoyed it, but certainly it was a tough game tonight. the night. Reds’ keeper Eugene Galekovic matched at his end. While not even two championships will Substitutes not used: 27.Michael MARRONE, 17. Jose Luis Lopez: 1 - Came on for the last Two years ago Galekovic tasted A-League success change some punters’ opinion of Merrick the man at 28.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 30.Mark BIRIGHITTI two minutes after Berger fell on his head, which with victory but the bitter-sweet taste of losing the the helm of the country’s biggest club can take off (gk). didn’t give time to do much. top spot against Theoklitos saw him change colours. his shoes for now and savour this moment. 19. Evan Berger: 4 - Came on and tried hard Since then Galekovic has done well enough to catch That was it. Melbourne lived up to its Yellow Cards: Sasa OGNENOVSKI 37’, Scott JA- putting his body on the line for the sake of the the eye of national coach Pim Verbeek but despite name. The fans got a great piece of theatre, and MIESON 55’, Fabian BARBIERO 64’, Robert team. his personal triumphs Galekovic is still playing the new Etihad Stadium can keep watching Aussie CORNTHWAITE 80’, Travis DODD 90’. 22. Nick Ward: 1 - Had a shocking game and second fi ddle to Theoklitos who deserved the Joe football’s transformation into a giant. was rightly subbed off. Marsten medal for exploits on the night. Red Cards: CRISTIANO 11’. PLAYER RATINGS - AUFC ADELAIDE UNITED 20 Eugene Galekovic - 7 -Made some timely saves another solid performance 2 Robert Cornthwaite - 8 - Pivotal in the strength of United, consistent good performance 7 Lucas Pantelis - 6 -Yet again down on form, small infl uence on the game 10 Cristiano - 6 -Time on the pitch promising, a zealous tackle gave him an early shower 13 Travis Dodd - 7-Gave his all as captain, featured everywhere on the park 14 Scott Jamieson - 8 - Sterling effort gave 110% eventually succumbing to his ankle injury 15 Gwaye Jonas Salley - 7 -Strong and aggres- sive in midfi eld, stood his ground 16 Daniel Mullen 7 Stood up great display of hard defence, had some great runs 18 Fabian Barbiero 7 -Had his chances but un- successful, slightly down on form from last week 19 Sasa Ognenovski 7-Intimidated and held defence solidly as per usual 24 Paul Reid 7 --Another great game in midfi eld, had his owns chances to score Subs 9 Paul Agostino (70th) - 6 - Farewell perfor- mance could have gone from zero to hero but missed 6 Cassio (72nd) - 7 -Not as effective as he usu- ally is By Carlos Ibarra The Sweet Smell of Victory: Melbourne players celebrate ater the deadlock was fi nally broken. Photos by Daniel Flis Inset: Adelaide’s Christiano trudges off after receiving harsh marching orders from referee Matthew Breeze. ISSUE #2 Monday 2 March 2009 p3 ERREA SCOREBOARD Round 1 Oakleigh Cannons v Dandenong Thunder Jack Edwards Res Fri 6 Mar KO 8:30PM Altona Magic v Preston Lions Paisley Park Sat 7 Mar KO 7:30PM Sunshine Georgies v Hume City Chaplin Reserve Sun 8 Mar KO 5:00PM Melbourne Knights v Richmond Eagles Knights Stadium Sun 8 Mar KO 5:00PM Action between Preston and Melbourne Knights.