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Neill simply another foe

MELBOURNE Heart coach doesn’t care Goal worth toasting whether Socceroos skipper is treated as a villain at AAMI Park today. SOCCER He will treat the new Syd- ney FC signing as one more A GLASS of wine was about star the Heart have to com- the only celebration Western bat if they are to return to Wanderers coach the A-League top six. was planning Heart chief executive after his fledgling franchise Scott Munn tipped earlier in secured an A-League finals the week there would be ex- spot with a 1-0 home win over tra feeling in the clash, say- Glory last night. ing Neill ‘‘played’’ the Heart ’s first by indicating he would sign A-League goal secured West- with them before joining the ern Sydney’s seventh Sky Blues. straight win as they math- But Aloisi said he and his ematically ensured they squad’s sole focus was the would make the playoffs in three points needed to climb their first season. from eighth and overtake Wanderers became the first fifth-placed Sydney. team since Vic- ‘‘There’s no extra spice tory in 2006 to win seven on playing against any individ- the trot but were made to ual,’’ Aloisi said. work hard by a doughty ‘‘Against a team that is Glory outfit. around our position on the Ultimately, Wanderers table, if we win, we can go needed a touch of fortune at back into fifth place — it’s for the an important game.’’ deciding goal with Mooy’s But if the Melbourne 58th-minute shot deflecting crowd take a more personal off Glory defender Michael focus, it won’t bother the Thwaite and past goalkeeper Heart coach. . Aloisi said Sydney’s late- Asked if he would allow season resurgence was due himself any satisfaction at to their line-up of great indi- making the playoffs in the viduals headed by Alessand- club’s first season, Popovic ro Del Piero and including said: ‘‘Maybe with a glass of , Brett Emer- wine tonight, I will. ton, Ali Abbas and Tiago ‘‘But come tomorrow, it’s Calvano. back on and (we) start focus- ‘‘We’ve got good individ- ing on the next challenge.’’ uals also,’’ Aloisi said. That will be a blockbuster ‘‘But our team, most of the top-of-the table game against time when we play at home, the Central Coast Mariners we’re well organised and we in on Saturday. play well as a unit.’’ The Wanderers created the majority of chances and were the more offensively-minded side, although Perth com- Little fanfare peted well throughout. The Wanderers struggled for Jeronimo to find the final pass or shot in the persistent second-half United striker rain and weren’t as slick as in Jeronimo Neumann has some of their recent wins. been told to expect a torrid ‘‘It’s pleasing to come away time from home fans today with a win in such tough con- when he fronts up against ditions and against a side A-League strugglers the that’s improved,’’ Popovic Wellington Phoenix. said. ‘‘They came here to try When the two teams met and get a point if they could in Adelaide in October, Neu- but they are the important mann’s two goals in a 3-1 ones, when things aren’t qu- win were overshadowed by ite going your way. allegations of diving in an ‘‘Of course it (the winning incident that led to defender goal) was a deflection but it being sent off was good lead-up play to get and suspended. to that point. Sometimes you Skipper , get the luck you deserve.’’ who branded the Argentine Perth fought hard in their a cheat at the time, said the second match under care- Phoenix players let the is- taker coach sue lie in the build-up this and looked likely to add an- week. But he’s pretty sure other point to the three they the fans in Wellington secured against pacesetters haven’t forgotten. Aaron Mooy scores his first A-League goal and sends the Western Sydney Wanderers into the finals Picture: MARK EVANS Central Coast last week. ‘‘Hostile, I think,’’ he said of the reception Neumann could expect. ‘‘As a group, we haven’t really spoken about that, Mariners hand Victory a caning with six of the best but I’m sure the Yellow Fe- ver have got a few chants go- CENTRAL Coast rightfully their 1-0 win over Perth ear- SCORES alty for bringing down ing on for him.’’ held on to their place at the lier yesterday, a loss would McGlinchey in the box, only Durante believed there A-League summit by disman- have resulted in the Mariners WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS 1 (Aaron Mooy 58m) d PERTH for Daniel McBreen to miss could be a little bit extra in tling Melbourne Victory 6-2 surrendering top spot for the GLORY 0 at Parramatta Stadium. Crowd: 11,772. Referee: Ben Williams. the ensuing spot-kick. the challenges on the field, in Gosford last night. first time in 13 weeks. The Victory were gifted a but not because of what had Michael McGlinchey The Mariners came burst- CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 6 (Mitchell Duke 17m, 32m, Michael goal in the 70th minute when happened. Rather, he said, scored a hat-trick, Mitchell ing out of the blocks at a rain- McGlinchey 56m, 86m, 90+1m, Nicholas Fitzgerald 81m) d Mariners keeper Mathew both teams were desperate Duke netted a brace while lashed Bluetongue Stadium MELBOURNE VICTORY 2 ( 23m pen, 69m Ryan tried to defuse a danger- og) at Bluetongue Stadium. Referee: Strebre Delovski. for points with only six Nick Fitzgerald added to the in a game that delivered a tor- ous cross from Diogo Fer-

rounds to go. hosts’ goal haul to inflict a rent of goals and was awash reira, only to send the ball PUB: Adelaide are fourth on the third straight loss on the hap- with incident. Duke redeemed himself fourth goal of the season for a into Sainsbury’s path who NTNE-WS-24-F57KGE:MDA-TE: Y-C-CO-LO-R: table and won the two pre- less Victory, who remain in It was Duke who broke the when Victory gloveman 3-1 lead. scored an own-goal and put vious encounters this third spot. deadlock in the 17th minute, came way off his The Victory tried desper- the game in the balance at 3-2. season with the Phoenix. Mark Milligan was the sole getting on the end of a superb line, leaving his goal wide ately to get back in to the Substitute Nicholas Fitz- The Phoenix have drop- goalscorer for the visitors af- cross from Bernie Ibini. open for Duke to score. match with gerald got another one past ped to last after two success- ter Mariners defender Trent Duke then brought down The Mariners didn’t let up hitting the post. Coe in the 81st minute with ive defeats and have picked Sainsbury gifted them a con- Victory’s Daniel Mullen in in the second stanza and got The Mariners got the McGlinchey scoring two up a paltry four points from solation own-goal. the box to concede a penalty. more breathing space in the chance to go further ahead goals in five minutes in the a possible 24 since the start With Western Sydney Socceroo defender Milligan 56th minute when when Victory defender Ada- dying stages to seal the re- of the year. climbing to first place with stepped up to make it 1-1. McGlinchey scored his ma Traore gave away a pen- sounding win. www.sundayterritorian.com.au Sunday, February 24, 2013. Sunday Territorian. 57