Hutch: we'll shoot Bambi

Eyes on the prize ... so close, yet so far for the Mariners. Source: Peter Clark / News Limited

Central Coast skipper John Hutchinson has declared he is ready to commit the A-League equivalent of "shooting Bambi" and end the fairytale run of Western Sydney Wanderers.

Despite overseeing a football club whose battles make even Rocky look privileged, Hutchinson knows it's the Wanderers who have really captured the hearts of Australian sports fans in their debut season. Currently on an unbeaten run stretching 13 for games, the Sydneysiders head into Sunday's Allianz Stadium grand final engulfed by the type of hype that last Friday saw midfielder Shinji Ono knock both Sonny Bill Williams and Black Caviar off the back page.

Our grand final countdown is on!

Here's what you'll see... 

Melanie McLaughlin and Andy Harper deliver a special LIVE Grand Final edition of Kick Off at 8.30pm (EST) on Fox Sports 1 HD.

Joining the hosts will be former Adelaide United coach John Kosmina, Perth Glory captain Jacob Burns and Herald Sun journalist David Davutovic.

1pm EST: Re-live one of Australian sport’s greatest grand finals – the 2011 championship between Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners. 

2pm EST: Simon Hill and Mark Rudan take a look back at both team’s journeys to the decider on the Road to the Grand Final.

3pm EST: A bumper one-hour LIVE Grand Final preview show live from Allianz Stadium when Rudan is joined by Adam Peacock, Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater.

The hosts will deliver all the breaking news and team movements plus cross to both coaches to hear their thoughts ahead of their greatest test.

4pm EST: Hill and Harper take over the reins to call all the action for Fox Sports' live and exclusive coverage of Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners.

BRING IT ON!

Asked if ending said streak would be akin to downing Disney's most beloved baby deer, Hutchinson said: "Yeah, I think it would. I mean, the Wanderers story really is a fairytale, isn't it? And not just for the A-League but for all Australian sports fans.

"Any professional sports team that makes the grand final in its first year needs to be congratulated. They have some wonderful players, a top coach and we'll need to give them the respect they deserve."Despite contesting a grand final only months after the club was battling to pay players, the Mariners readily concede the Wanderers' yarn still deserves top billing this week.

"They're a fantastic story," said fullback Josh Rose. "At the start of the year no one gave them a chance yet they've stepped up, won the Plate and are now going for the lot. Even their supporters are setting an example for the entire league, challenging fans at other clubs to step up and support their teams the same way.

"So breaking that fairytale, it's going to be a challenge but one we're happy to accept."

When it comes to which man is most likely to spoil the fairytale, the smart money sits with striker Daniel McBreen - crowned the 2013 Golden Boot as the league's leading scorer.

McBreen said he was more concerned about neutralising the growing myth around the new club.

"Yes, they've been a great story for the media and for football fans generally," he said. "But the key for us is to make it like any other game. We need to treat them like any team that's there to be beat."

About the only player who completely shouted down our Bambi theory was defender Patrick Zwaanswijk.

"Yes, the Wanderers have done outstanding in their first season but they've had a lot of help," the Dutchman said.

"They got millions pumped into them by the FFA, have six foreign players, they also get a lot of extra things to everyone else. Hardly the Bambi story.

"It is a fairytale, yes, and no one can take anything from what they've achieved in their debut season. They're a great team with a great coach, great fighting spirit. We will have to be on our game to beat them."

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Hutch: we'll shoot Bambi

Eyes on the prize ... so close, yet so far for the Mariners. Source: Peter Clark / News Limited

Central Coast skipper John Hutchinson has declared he is ready to commit the A-League equivalent of "shooting Bambi" and end the fairytale run of Western Sydney Wanderers.

Despite overseeing a football club whose battles make even Rocky look privileged, Hutchinson knows it's the Wanderers who have really captured the hearts of Australian sports fans in their debut season. Currently on an unbeaten run stretching 13 for games, the Sydneysiders head into Sunday's Allianz Stadium grand final engulfed by the type of hype that last Friday saw midfielder Shinji Ono knock both Sonny Bill Williams and Black Caviar off the back page.

Our grand final countdown is on!

Here's what you'll see... 

Melanie McLaughlin and Andy Harper deliver a special LIVE Grand Final edition of Kick Off at 8.30pm (EST) on Fox Sports 1 HD.

Joining the hosts will be former Adelaide United coach John Kosmina, Perth Glory captain Jacob Burns and Herald Sun journalist David Davutovic.

1pm EST: Re-live one of Australian sport’s greatest grand finals – the 2011 championship between Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners. 

2pm EST: Simon Hill and Mark Rudan take a look back at both team’s journeys to the decider on the Road to the Grand Final.

3pm EST: A bumper one-hour LIVE Grand Final preview show live from Allianz Stadium when Rudan is joined by Adam Peacock, Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater.

The hosts will deliver all the breaking news and team movements plus cross to both coaches to hear their thoughts ahead of their greatest test.

4pm EST: Hill and Harper take over the reins to call all the action for Fox Sports' live and exclusive coverage of Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners.

BRING IT ON!

Asked if ending said streak would be akin to downing Disney's most beloved baby deer, Hutchinson said: "Yeah, I think it would. I mean, the Wanderers story really is a fairytale, isn't it? And not just for the A-League but for all Australian sports fans.

"Any professional sports team that makes the grand final in its first year needs to be congratulated. They have some wonderful players, a top coach and we'll need to give them the respect they deserve."Despite contesting a grand final only months after the club was battling to pay players, the Mariners readily concede the Wanderers' yarn still deserves top billing this week.

"They're a fantastic story," said fullback Josh Rose. "At the start of the year no one gave them a chance yet they've stepped up, won the Plate and are now going for the lot. Even their supporters are setting an example for the entire league, challenging fans at other clubs to step up and support their teams the same way.

"So breaking that fairytale, it's going to be a challenge but one we're happy to accept."

When it comes to which man is most likely to spoil the fairytale, the smart money sits with striker Daniel McBreen - crowned the 2013 Golden Boot as the league's leading scorer.

McBreen said he was more concerned about neutralising the growing myth around the new club.

"Yes, they've been a great story for the media and for football fans generally," he said. "But the key for us is to make it like any other game. We need to treat them like any team that's there to be beat."

About the only player who completely shouted down our Bambi theory was defender Patrick Zwaanswijk.

"Yes, the Wanderers have done outstanding in their first season but they've had a lot of help," the Dutchman said.

"They got millions pumped into them by the FFA, have six foreign players, they also get a lot of extra things to everyone else. Hardly the Bambi story.

"It is a fairytale, yes, and no one can take anything from what they've achieved in their debut season. They're a great team with a great coach, great fighting spirit. We will have to be on our game to beat them."

View the original article here

Rojas helps Victory shoot down Jets

Melbourne Victory ... Mark Milligan scores his second penalty in their smashing of Newcastle. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Archie Thompson's comeback has helped Melbourne Victory soar out of an A-League form slump to hand 10-man Newcastle a five-goal hiding.

Marco Rojas and Mark Milligan both scored twice, Milligan's goals both from penalties, as the Victory won 5-0 at AAMI Park on Sunday to climb to third.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Western Sydney	23	15	2	6	14	47
2	Central Coast	23	13	6	4	24	45
3	Victory	23	12	3	8	3	39
4	Adelaide	23	11	3	9	1	36
5	Newcastle	24	8	6	10	-11	30
6	Brisbane	23	8	4	11	1	28
7	Heart	23	8	3	12	-2	27
8	Sydney	23	8	3	12	-10	27
9	Perth	23	7	4	12	-3	25
10	Wellington	24	6	6	12	-17	24

It broke a run of three losses which culminated in last round's shock 6-2 defeat to Central Coast.

Thompson, sidelined with a hamstring injury while his team lost those games, was in the thick of it on return as the Victory scored three times in the first 30 minutes.

He played the ball which put Rojas clear into the box for an easy goal in the eighth minute.

Rojas, who was given far too much space by the Jets' defence, was again involved in the next, seven minutes later.

The New Zealander's corner kick found Victory skipper Adrian Leijer, who firmly headed home from the near post.

There was almost a replay two minutes later when another Rojas corner found the Victory's other central defender, Daniel Mullen, who also headed truly.

The goal was disallowed as Milligan was penalised for making contact with the head of Newcastle defender Ruben Zadkovich.

That didn't stop the home side for long.

Thompson was brought down after weaving into the box, earning the Jets' Taylor Regan a yellow card and Milligan a 30th-minute penalty, which he converted.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors early in the second half when Regan gave away another penalty and picked up his second yellow - for dragging down Mullen off the ball - allowing Milligan his second goal from the spot and reducing the Jets to 10 men.

With the win safe, Thompson was subbed off.

But the Victory kept surging.

Rojas showed off his fast feet to dribble past a defender and keeper Mark Birighitti and walk the ball into the net to make it 5-0 in the 66th minute.

The Jets - who rested strikers Emile Heskey and Michael Bridges and were missing Zenon Caravella and Sam Gallaway to injury - stayed fifth.

But their goal difference sank to minus 11, which could prove costly given the tight fight for the bottom two spots in the top six.

The Victory are all but guaranteed of a home elimination final but remain six points shy of the second-placed Mariners.

View the original article here

Jets shoot down Phoenix to go fifth

Successful trip ... Newcastle Jets grab a crucial three points against the Phoenix. Source: Ross Setford / AAP

Life without Ricki Herbert began on a dispiriting note for the Wellington Phoenix, whose A-League playoff hopes have virtually disappeared with a 2-1 loss to the Newcastle Jets.

The last-placed Phoenix produced a listless home display for interim coach Chris Greenacre, who had a day to prepare his team following the sudden resignation of six-year mentor Herbert.

His team failed to rise to the occasion in front of a small crowd of 4025 on Wednesday, their lack of cohesion allowing a slick Jets side to dominate and cement their place inside the top six.

The Phoenix remain rooted on 21 points, still six points outside the top six and with little hope of infiltrating the playoffs with just four games remaining.

The visitors broke a long drought in Wellington to climb to fifth on 30 points, although they've played one more game than fringe rivals Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC on 27.

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Re-live all the video highlights and key statistics from the Jets' win over Wellington at our A-League Match Centre.

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The sudden departure of striker Ryan Griffiths to Chinese Super League club Beijing Baxi FC rocked the Jets this week but their front division showed few ill-effects.

They found space easily, particularly in the first half when strikers Adam Taggart and Michael Bridges put them 2-0 ahead.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	22	13	6	3	25	45
2	Western Sydney	22	14	2	6	13	44
3	Adelaide	22	11	3	8	2	36
4	Victory	22	11	3	8	-2	36
5	Newcastle	23	8	6	9	-6	30
6	Heart	22	8	3	11	-1	27
7	Sydney	22	8	3	11	-9	27
8	Brisbane	22	7	4	11	0	25
9	Perth	22	6	4	12	-4	22
10	Wellington	23	5	6	12	-18	21

Taggart, 19, was unmarked 8m out from goal in the 19th minute to side-foot home a Joshua Brillante cross while more poor defending allowed the excellent Bridges to score with a low header off a free kick a minute before halftime.

The second half was a more even affair and former Jet Jeremy Brockie pulled a goal back in the 60th minute after

Louis Fenton struck a point-blank shot straight at the face of goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.

Brockie rocketed the rebound in for his 13th goal of the season.

The Jets still created the clearer chances from them, the best falling to Craig Goodwin, who cracked a shot straight at goalkeeper Glen Moss, playing his 100th A-League match.

Fenton was at the heart of the Phoenix's best moments but the visitors defended efficiently, led by Regan Taylor.

The result tipped history on its head for Newcastle, who hadn't won in Wellington since their first visit here in 2007, which was followed by eight Phoenix wins and a draw. The Jets also hadn't won any away match since round six this season.

Their concern ahead of Sunday's visit to the Melbourne Victory will be injuries which forced Zenon Caravella and Sam Gallaway from the field.

The Phoenix face an "away" game against the Melbourne Heart in Dunedin on Sunday, seeking to add to their one win in 10 matches in 2013.

View the original article here