Melbourne Heart kicked off Week 7 of A-League action with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Gold Coast United at Skilled Park on Friday night.
The visitors netted first through Matt Thompson inside 5 minutes before United hit back thanks to a brilliant 63rd-minute free-kick from Peter Jungschlager. The Heart were able to respond by going ahead again through Jonathan Germano five minutes after the equaliser to record their second victory of the season allowing them to move fifth and keep the Gold Coast on the bottom.
League leaders Brisbane Roar extended their unbeaten run to a massive 35 matches courtesy of a 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets at Ausgrid Stadium on Saturday. The Jets took the lead through Ryan Griffiths on the stroke of half-time but Brisbane hit back thanks to Henrique in the 57th minute and then went ahead with seven minutes remaining through James Meyer to equal the Australian record set by NSW Rugby League club Eastern Suburbs who went 35 undefeated in the late 1930s.
A late Nigel Boogaard own-goal allowed Wellington Phoenix to pick up a point at home in Auckland after Adelaide United edged in front through Bruce Djite just before the half-time break to leave the clubs sitting ninth and eighth on the table respectively whilst Central Coast Mariners claimed a prized scalp in the form of Sydney FC.
The Mariners produced a 3-2 result at the Sydney Football Stadium with Patrick Zwaanswijk and Michael McGlinchey putting them two ahead by the 66th minute before the Sky Blues gave themselves some hope when Nick Carle with just over ten minutes remaining. Troy Hearfield restored the visitors' two-goal buffer in the 82nd minute before Brett Emerton opened his A-League account but it was too late as the Central Coast replaced Sydney in second.
And finally, an action-packed battle at Etihad Stadium saw ten-man Perth Glory claw back from a two-goal deficit against Melbourne Victory to secure a 2-2 draw. Glory midfielder Liam Miller was sent off late in the first half for a rash challenge on Archie Thompson and the home side took advantage of the extra man when Thompson was again brought down, this time inside the box by Bas van den Brink, with Carlos Hernandez stepping up to convert from the spot.
Danny Allsopp made it 2-0 when he finished from close range prior to the hour-mark but a plucky Glory outfit hit back in the 71st minute when Brazilian midfielder Andrezinho scored with a stunning set-piece before Shane Smeltz grabbed a late headed leveler as Perth dropped to fifth and the Victory fell to seventh.
2011/12 A-League season scores - Week 7
Gold Coast United: 1 (Peter Jungschlager 63') Melbourne Heart: 2 (Matt Thompson 4', Jonathan Germano 68') Skilled Park, Robina - 4,031
Newcastle Jets: 1 (Ryan Griffiths 45') Brisbane Roar: 2 (Henrique 57', James Meyer 83') Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle
Wellington Phoenix: 1 (Nigel Boogaard (og) 85') Adelaide United: 1 (Bruce Djite 44') Eden Park, Auckland - 20,078
Sydney FC: 2 (Nick Carle 78', Brett Emerton 88') Central Coast Mariners: 3 (Patrick Zwaanswijk 40', Michael McGlinchey 66', Troy Hearfield 82') Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney - 13,947
Melbourne Victory: 2 (Carlos Hernandez (p) 53', Danny Allsopp 58') Perth Glory: 2 (Andrezinho 71', Shane Smeltz 87', red card: Liam Miller 38') Etihad Stadium, Melbourne - 18,404
