Results from A-League action in Round 23 saw a new team jump to the top of the table as the top four begins to take shape.
Gold Coast United returned to the summit of the competition by replacing Sydney FC in the number one position after a narrow 1-0 win in Sydney yesterday whilst reigning champions Melbourne Victory slammed home a 6-2 reminder to the league that the past two weeks have just been a minor setback.
Elsewhere, the Wellington Phoenix continued their good recent form with an easy 3-0 win over North Queensland Fury, Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners had a 1-1 draw and the Newcastle Jets recorded their sixth win from their past eight with a 2-0 away result over the struggling Brisbane Roar.
Wellington Phoenix: 3 (Eugene DADI 47', Paul IFILL 78', Jon McKAIN 90') North Queensland Fury: 0 Date: Friday, 15 January 2010 Venue:Westpac Stadium, Wellington Crowd: 7,758 Yellow Cards:WP - Manny MUSCAT 28', Tim BROWN 55' NQF - Robbie FOWLER 35', Chris TADROSSE 46', Grant SMITH 86'
Adelaide United: 1 (Travis DODD 43') Central Coast Mariners: 1 (Nik MRDJA 39' (pen)) Date: Friday, 15 January 2010 Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide Crowd: 10,156 Yellow Cards:AU - Adam HUGHES 66', Lucas PANTELIS 67', CASSIO 67' CCM - Matt SIMON 64', Dean HEFFERNAN 78'
Melbourne Victory: 6 (Archie THOMPSON 4', Robbie KRUSE 12'/26'/39', Kevin MUSCAT 81' (pen), Carlos HERNANDEZ 83') Perth Glory: 2 (Rodrigo VARGAS 20' (og), Mile STERJOVSKI 53') Date: Saturday, 16 January 2010 Venue: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Crowd: 20,448 Yellow cards:MV - Nil PG - Jamie HARNWELL 32', Chris COYNE 35'
Brisbane Roar: 0 Newcastle Jets: 2 (Matt THOMPSON 50', Michael BRIDGES 55'(pen)) Date: Saturday, 16 January 2010 Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Crowd: 6,680 Yellow cards:BR - Adam SAROTA 78' NJ - Nil
Sydney FC: 0 Gold Coast United: 1 (Joel PORTER 19') Date: Sunday, 17 January 2010 Venue:Sydney Football Stadium, SydneyCrowd: 14,941 Yellow cards:SYD - Simon COLOSIMO 26', Mark BRIDGE 55' GCU - James BROWN 71', Steve FITZSIMMONS 87', Jason CULINA 09'+4
