SATURDAY OCTOBER 12 2019 SPORT 51 Victory’s life after Muscat ANNA HARRINGTON It also means tonight’s “We’ve got a new coach ticipates there could be more “He’s a passionate guy so Victory defender Scott Gallo- season opener will be the first and new management,” de- touchline verbal stoushes I’m sure it could continue – way and Connor Metcalfe all ACROSS 14 seasons in an Melbourne derby without fender Thomas Deng said with Kurz. myself and Marco might have new fixtures in their starting ever-changing A-League him. this week. “It might save me a bit be- words too – who knows?” line-up. there was one constant – While derby fixtures like “So it’s a different feel but cause I used to go back at Across town at City, players Victory have gone through Kevin Muscat’s presence at Besart Berisha and Bruno it’s also a new beginning for him,” Jamieson said. have buzzed at the enthusi- a significant squad overhaul, Melbourne Victory. Fornaroli have come and us – we’re very excited for the “He was obviously a very asm and approach of new with Carl Valeri and Keisuke Until now. gone, there is no bigger ab- season and we’re happy to good servant for Melbourne coach Erick Mombaerts – Honda among their depar- Muscat’s off-season depar- sence than Muscat. have Marco at the club.” Victory. something that has taken tures. ture means Victory will for But under new manager City full-back and skipper “But it’s exciting I think them to another FFA Cup Andrew Nabbout returns, the first time enter an A- Marco Kurz and with a hefty Scott Jamieson had grown for the league in a sense that final. as does Adama Traore, while League season without their squad overhaul to boot, Mel- used to trading words with Victory’s got a new manager, Much of City’s team has Kristijan Dobras, Jakob legend involved as a player, bourne are ready for life ever Muscat over the past two sea- albeit one from down the remained constant, with the Poulsen and Tim Hoogland assistant coach or manager. after. sons’ worth of derbies but an- road in Adelaide. likes of Craig Noone, once- could all start. Wanderers Rookie comes to relish their new home Sydney’s rescue A LATE header from Ryan Barbarouses. The VAR sys- EMMA KEMP McGowan has delivered tem also decided Adelaide’s Sydney FC a 3-2 win against lively newcomer Toure had IT’S back to where it all began Adelaide United in a rollick- squared scores 2-2. for Western Sydney, and the ing A-League season opener. In a narrow call, Toure glory days are beckoning. McGowan nailed a free was ruled onside when team- Today, Bankwest Stadium header in the 87th minute to mate Riley McGree played becomes the new Wanderland, settle a feisty Friday night an audacious lifted pass that the state-of-the-art facility the encounter at Adelaide’s paved the path to goal. club hopes will yield results Coopers Stadium. Toure’s score lifted the like their remarkable early suc- After Sydney’s Adam Le 9903-strong Adelaide crowd, cess and lure back the fans that Fondre produced a rapid which had earlier slumped created the best atmosphere in first-half brace, Adelaide ral- after Le Fondre’s quick-fire Australian sport. lied with replies to Nikola double. Already the Parramatta Mileusnic and Al Hassan Just 20 minutes in, referee Eels have reaped rewards from Toure. And just as the fizz ap- Alex King halted play for a the 30,000-capacity ground, peared to be dwindling, VAR check – he watched re- winning eight of their 10 reg- South Australian-born plays of a Le Fondre clip ular-season NRL games there McGowan produced the de- brush an arm of Adelaide this year before blowing the cisive moment of his first A- captain Michael Jakobsen in- Brisbane Broncos off the park League game. side the area, and awarded a in a 58-0 finals thrashing. Unmarked from a Bran- penalty. Le Fondre duly Now a revamped Wander- don O’Neill corner, McGow- scored. ers squad are out to follow suit an floated to five metres from Some six minutes later, as football fanatics return to goal and sweetly hammered the Englishman started and revel in steep grandstands and a header. finished a flowing play that the country’s first safe-stand- The season opener also diced Adelaide’s defence. ing section. included a straight red card But Adelaide answered Three months after chris- to Adelaide’s Ryan Strain, just before halftime when tening their new home against who was marched for felling Sydney’s Baumjohann tan- Leeds United, they begin a Le Fondre. gled with Ryan Kitto and the fresh A-League era against the And the fresh campaign Reds were given a free kick Central Coast Mariners – the featured three video assistant 20m out. Mileusnic produced same club they hosted for their review flashpoints, including a stunner: a curling strike inaugural game at the old Pir- Paul Retre of Sydney FC has the ball where he wants it against Adelaide Picture: AAP IMAGE an off-side call that denied a that eluded a diving Thomas tek Stadium back in 2012. goal to new Sky Blue Kosta Heward-Belle. CAULFIELD & RANDWICK DOUBLE YOUR WINNINGS ON FIXED ODDS RACES 1-4 | SATURDAY | IN BONUS BETS UP TO $50 EXC SA. APPLIES TO WIN COMPONENT ONLY (EXCLUDING STAKE). FIRST FIXED ODDS WIN BET ONLY. PROMOTIONAL T&CS APPLY AND AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE. GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. V1 - NTNE01Z01MA.