18 SPORT MONDAY OCTOBER 16 2017

A-LEAGUE MONDAYntnews.com.au/sport sneaks home

EMMA KEMP derby after sustaining a sec- tious late decision the only Kaluderovic stole the at- mer Sky Blues fan favourite ond-half hamstring injury. barrier to the table’s top spot. tention with a neat halftime Ali Abbas’ introduction WITH two A-League wins Phoenix rose twice, Serbi- Skipper fed a finish. After the break, Bobo evoked resounding applause from two games and an 18- an frontman Andrija Kalud- cutting pass for Bobo to ram cushioned ’s from the crowd of 11,284, the month unbeaten home streak erovic and Dario Vidosic each home the opener. inch-perfect cross to head Iraqi’s new teammates intact, Sydney FC is seem- scoring to threaten a boilover Six minutes later and Syd- home Sydney’s third but mounted another comeback ROUND 2 ingly sitting pretty. at Allianz Stadium. ney had another, as Mierze- coach ’s via Vidosic. P W D L F A Pts But last night’s 3-2 win But it wasn’t quite enough jewski chased the ball to the cheer was soon replaced with Sydney’s chance to over- Melb City 2 2 0 0 4 1 6 Sydney 2 2 0 0 4 2 6 over Wellington may have against the defending cham- byline down and crossed for concern as Mierzejewski take City was Jets 2 1 1 0 7 3 4 come at a hefty price, with pions, as left-back to cannon into the cor- pulled up and clutched at his thwarted when an on-rushing Wanderers 2 1 1 0 4 3 4 star Polish winger Adrian Mi- Zullo complemented Bobo’s ner — his first A-League goal hamstring. was ruled off- Adelaide 2 1 1 0 3 2 4 erzejewski in serious doubt brace with his first goal in since 2008 when he was in The stress was compound- side despite the ball rebound- Glory 2 0 1 1 3 4 1 Phoenix 2 0 1 1 3 4 1 for this weekend’s Sydney nearly a decade, a conten- Roar colours. ed when, no sooner had for- ing off a Phoenix player. Mariners 2 0 1 1 3 7 1 Victory 2 0 0 2 1 3 0 Roar 2 0 0 2 1 4 0 Timely Taggart touch delivers draw to Glory in thriller ROUND 2 ADELAIDE UNITED 2 (Ryan Kitto 88m, Johan Absalonsen 90+2m) bt BRIS- A LATE second goal from BANE ROAR 1 (Massimo Maccarone Perth striker 8m) at Suncorp Stadium. Crowd: yesterday has earned Perth 11,178. Referee: Adam Kersey. Glory an away point in a 2-2 A- WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS 2 League thriller at Newcastle. (Oriol Riera 39m pen, The Jets looked set to start 69m) drew CENTRAL COAST MARI- their season with successive NERS 2 ( Asdrubal 21m, Daniel De wins until Taggart’s well- Silva 63m) at Spotless Stadium. placed header in second half Crowd: 11,650. Referee: Chris Beath. stoppage time. MELBOURNE CITY 2 (Marcin Budzinski As was the case last week, 45+3m, Bruce Kamau 65m) bt MEL- Newcastle came from behind, BOURNE VICTORY 1 ( after Taggart neatly flicked 55m) at Etihad Stadium. Crowd: home a fine right-wing cross 35,792. Referee: Peter Green. from in the NEWCASTLE JETS 2 (Roy O’Donovan eighth minute. 30m, 60m) drew Irishman Roy O’Donovan PERTH GLORY 2 (Adam Taggart 8m, followed up his hat-trick in the 90+2m) at McDonald Jones Stadium. Jets’ 5-1 opening round away Crowd: 16,633. Referee: Shaun win over Central Coast, with Evans. an equaliser in front of 14,833 SYDNEY FC 3 ( Bobo 29m, 49m, Mi- fans in Newcastle. chael Zullo 34m) bt WELLINGTON He was set up by Andrew PHOENIX 2 (Andrija Kaludjerovic Nabbout, who also assisted in 44m, Dario Vidosic 60m) at Allianz two of his goals last week. Stadium. Crowd: 11,284. Referee: Newcastle created most of Kurt Ams. the opportunities in the second half. Ben Kantarovski put then ROUND 3 (NT times) ahead with a close-range shot Friday: Adelaide United v Melbourne on the hour, after a Nikolai Victory at Adelaide Oval (6.20pm) Topor Stanley header from a Saturday: Melbourne City v Welling- Dimi Petratos corner hit a ton Phoneix at AAMI Park (4,05pm), post. They had more chances Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wander- to extend their lead, but Petra- ers at Allianz Stadium (6.20pm) tos and Ronald Vargas had Sunday: Brisbane Roar v Newcastle attempts saved by Glory goal- Jets at Suncorp Stadium (3.30pm), keeper . Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners Perth persisted and Taggart at nib Stadium (5.30pm) was denied once by a good save from before LEADING GOALSCORERS 4: Roy O’Don- finding the net for a second ovan (Newcastle) 3: Bruce Kamau time. The Jets are away to (Melbourne City) 2: Asdrubal (Mari- Brisbane Roar next Sunday ners), Bobo (Sydney), Dario Vidosic and Glory host the Mariners (Wellington), Adam Taggart (Perth), the same day in their first Lachlan Jackson (right) of the Newcatle Jets manages to get a cross past Perth Glory opponent Chris Harold during yesterday’s Johan Absalonsen (Adelaide), Oriol Riera (Western Sydney) home game of the season. A-League clash at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle Picture: DARREN PATEMAN Roar boss eyes crowd factors Budzinski’s first strike sets tone

MARCO MONTEVERDE season’s regular The Roar’s first home game MATT WINDLEY True to his haven’t got so much time to season home last season was against the word there was think what to do with the ball, I ROAR managing director crowd average Victory with a crowd of 15,805 MARCIN Budzinski’s smile not one City just shoot, very strong,” Mark Kingsman (pictured) has of 13,892. in attendance. Despite Kings- tells the full story. fan left disap- Not that Budzinski was en- blamed the timeslot and K i n g s m a n man’s belief that matches Because the Polish mid- pointed with tirely happy with his lot, con- Adelaide United’s alleged lack admitted the against Adelaide are not as fielder knows the question how Budzin- sidering he spurned a golden of drawing power for the disap- club had to attractive, a crowd of 15,605 marks surrounding his mar- ski fared in opportunity to make the score pointing attendance at the “work through” watched the Roar thrash the quee status at Melbourne City. Saturday’s 2-1 3-1 late, only to be denied by an club’s first home game of the the problem to help ensure a Reds 4-0 at Suncorp Stadium “I try to not think about Melbourne derby win, with the advancing Lawrence Thomas. A-League season. bigger crowd on Sunday when in December last year. that, but yeah, when somebody 27-year-old scoring the open- Budzinski said he and Mar- Just 11,178 people watched the Roar are again at Suncorp Crowd numbers aside, is marquee, maybe some peo- ing goal soon after coming on celo Carrusca were told to at Suncorp Stadium as the against the Newcastle Jets. Kingsman said people were ple have some expectations as a first-half substitute for the warm up after Malik was taken Roar continued their ordinary “It’s a concern … (but) Sun- “fabricating drama” when it about who that person is,” injured . down by Rhys Williams, with start to the campaign with a 2-1 day’s going to be better for us,” came to the Roar’s off-field Budzinski (pictured) says. As a way to make your the definitive call coming about loss to the Reds last Friday Kingsman said. “The (6.50pm) financial matters. A perceived “But I just try to show what mark: “It was the best way,” 10 minutes later after Malik night. kick-off time is never easy on a lack of resources and spending player I am and keep going. Budzinski said. succumbed to a hip injury. The attendance, which Friday and no disrespect to by the club’s owners, Indone- “I know it’s not my fault, “To this moment I have had In the second half Budzinski would have been lower if not Adelaide but if we would have sian conglomerate the Bakrie people have the right to have a lot of pictures, but I want to said he and his teammates for more than 2500 free tickets had a Melbourne Victory or a Group, have been touted as some expectations like that. show how I can play. This is a struggled at times, needing to being offered to a host of local Sydney, we would have had a reasons for Brisbane’s success- “But I will try not to disap- good example. do a lot of defensive running as clubs, was down on last bigger number there.” ive losses to start the season. point anyone.” “It’s maybe better that I Victory dominated possession.

NTNE01Z01MA - V1