Adelaide, Melbourne wins reward Phoenix, JetsADELAIDE - Saturday, 6 February 2010Away losses by both North Queensland on Friday, and Brisbane tonight at Hindmarsh Stadium saw the end of both travelling sides in this season's A-League campaign. On the converse, the real beneficieries were the Wellington Phoenix and the Newcastle Jets who now together with Perth Glory who are in Sydney today to decide the remaining Top 6 slots left after Melbourne Victory, Gold Coast and Sydney FC decide the top 3 places. The appearance of the Phoenix will be the first-ever for Ricki Herbert's coaching reward as a football manager and also that of a NZ-based franchise in either of the A-League or the NSL since the Football Kingz debuted in the tough Australian Leagues in 1999. Meantime, the Adelaide United side led Brisbane Roar at the break in an entertaining match at Hindmarsh thanks to a 7th minute goal from Barbiero. Lucas Pantellis then extended that lead with a second goal in the 51st minute, in a continuation of the football displayed in Christchurch last weekend, whilst the Brisbane Roar looked a little subdued despite dominating possession, but definitely not showing the same urgency as they did across the Ditch despite having the Dutch international Patrick Kluivert helping out on the training field over the past week. For the winners, their win will have a bearing how they will fare in the forthcoming Asian Champions League campaign, when they host WCC representatives the Pohang Steelers in a fortnight. Another match with a bearing on who finishes in the play-offs draw will be the postponed match to be replayed Monday night at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford when Central Coast host the Newcastle Jets. Both the Reds goals resulted from first-time strikes in front of goal which gave the Roar custodian little chance to react. Latest table: HYUNDI A-LEAGUE TABLE 2009-10 [rd 26]
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