Summary
And that’s where Sportwatch ends this Saturday. We were treated to a beauty of a tennis match between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, and reminded how brilliant the former is as he propelled Serbia into the ATP Cup final. In the A-League, Wellington were too good for Western Sydney while Brisbane and Melbourne City played out an entertaining draw. But enough from me. We all need to mosey on over to our liveblog of the Australia-Spain ATP Cup semi-final. Our host with the most is Jonathan Howcroft. New balls, please!
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A-League: FT: Brisbane Roar 2-2 Melbourne City
Inman has a great chance to score a hat-trick and win it for the Roar deep into injury time, but it’s not to be and these teams can’t be split. An entertaining game, but a funny one all the same, with City dominating large parts but twice having to come from behind to share the spoils. It’s certainly a point Brisbane will take against one of the better teams in the competition, but City will likely view this as an opportunity lost. And maybe Brisbane will, too. They were pretty good. Yep, a funny game.
🏁 FULL TIME @MelbourneCity came from behind twice but couldn't find the crucial winner against @brisbaneroar. #BRIvMCY #ALeague pic.twitter.com/d7sdeJ3kBS
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) January 11, 2020
89 mins: Brisbane Roar 2-2 Melbourne City Jamieson has a pop from distance, to no avail but he gets marks for effort and intent. Five minutes of added time. The Fox commentators reckon it should be 7-8 minutes and that time keeping in the A-League needs to be looked at. There will be a further delay with Galloway rolling an ankle and leaving the field, meaning City will finish the game with 10 men.
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83 mins: Brisbane Roar 2-2 Melbourne City City make their final change, with Berenguer making way for Abdulahi. There are some tired bodies out there.
This is why playing in Summer is so bad, ruins the games #BRIvMCY
— WH (@_Wintermute) January 11, 2020
79 mins: Brisbane Roar 2-2 Melbourne City Another change for City, Atkinson off for Galloway, and another yellow card, this time for Hingert after his challenge on Noone. But the biggest moment in these past few exchanges is Gillesphey’s excellent piece of defending to deny Maclaren a very agreeable shot on goal well inside the box. Still all square.
74 mins: Brisbane Roar 2-2 Melbourne City More substitutions. Roar have now spent their pennies, with Amadi-Holloway off for O’Donovan, while for City Wales makes way for Colakovski. The game looks mired in a cagey period, neither side wanting to hand over the advantage. Perhaps this is the calm before the storm. And now Aldred goes in the referee’s book for blocking Maclaren’s run. That yellow card, Aldred’s fifth, means he will sit out next week.
ATP Cup: Did I mention our liveblog of the Australia-Spain semi-final is happening, like, now? Well it is. Join Jonathan Howcroft, a man who’s never foot faulted in his life, apart from every time he hits the dance floor.
66 mins: Brisbane Roar 2-2 Melbourne City Have I said how much I love drinks breaks in a game of football? Oh, I have? Well, I do, I just love them. It’s time for drinks.
62 mins: Brisbane Roar 2-2 Melbourne City Mauk is off and gone down the right and that’s enough for Jamieson to to wrap him in a bear hug and attract the game’s first yellow card, the brandishing of which draws a smile, not an argument, from the City man.
57 mins: Brisbane Roar 2-2 Melbourne City The Roar make their second substitution of the match, Muratovic coming off for ex-City man, Mauk.
Here’s Atkinson’s goal. What a belter.
Atkinson registers his first senior goal in style! 🚀🚀🚀
— Melbourne City FC 🏙️ (@MelbourneCity) January 11, 2020
📹 @FOXFOOTBALL #BRIvMCY pic.twitter.com/JqbboTS4W6
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GOAL! Brisbane Roar 2-2 Melbourne City (Atkinson, 48’) Don’t go anywhere, folks, this is nailed on to be another goal-laden thriller. Guaranteed. Atkinson is gifted time and space on the left, so Brisbane invited the strike, but that shouldn’t detract from its quality: hard, low, menacing, swerving, it beats the keeper from well outside the box. Nice way to register your first A-League goal. Game, well and truly, on.
Good game this #BRIvMCY pic.twitter.com/l9daTWhJWp
— Sky Blue Views (@_SkyBlueViews) January 11, 2020
ATP Cup: our liveblog of the Australia-Spain semi-final is up and running. Our man with his eye on the line, grip on the racquet and mid-shot grunt ready to be bellowed is Jonathan Howcroft.
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HT: Brisbane Roar 2-1 Melbourne City A busy first half and by all metrics City should be in front, but the Roar took their chances while the visitors squandered most of theirs. The stage looks set for a second half that might rival the one in Redcliffe earlier this season.
Noone scores on one end and Inman on the other. So many puns #BRIvMCY pic.twitter.com/wNc7xwTZdF
— The Ladies League (@LadiesALeague) January 11, 2020
GOAL! Brisbane Roar 2-1 Melbourne City (Inman, 45’ +3) City give the Roar a sniff, again, and again it’s Inman who makes them pay. Amadi-Holloway holds the ball up long enough to pique the attention of defenders before releasing Inman, who shows great balance and composure to beat the keeper.
43 mins: Brisbane Roar 1-1 Melbourne City Great keeping from Young to deny City the lead. Maclaren slips out the back but is denied before Wales is kept out in a one-on-one that you would be sure would be won by the striker.
GOAL! Brisbane Roar 1-1 Melbourne City (Noone, 39’) A nice passage of play and dare I say it, but the Roar looked to be snoozing and perhaps still celebrating that goal from Inman. Jamieson is afforded too much time and space on the left and his cross finds Maclaren, who could’ve had a pop at goal but instead headed down to Noone. And the rest is history. Slack from the hosts but a goal that was coming, and deserved, after City’s graft and purpose in the first 30 minutes.
GOAL! Brisbane Roar 1-0 Melbourne City (Inman, 34’) It’s a bit messy in the area but the ball falls to Inman, who takes a touch around a defender and strikes truly to make it 1-0 to the Roar. For the first half-hour it was all City, for no goals; Brisbane pick up the pace and gain almost instant reward. That, my friends, is football.
⚽️ GOAL, @brisbaneroar 1-0 @MelbourneCity (34 mins)@brad_inman8 scores his 3⃣rd in as many games to give Brisbane the lead!#BRIvMCY #ALeague pic.twitter.com/gFRN4iOpQP
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) January 11, 2020
30 mins: Brisbane Roar 0-0 Melbourne City That’s a fair crack from Inman, from distance, but as full blooded as it is it’s also straight to the keeper. The Roar then win a corner as they finally find their attacking prowess. Soon after, Amadi-Holloway goes down in the box. No penalty is awarded but replays show his shirt was tugged by Atkinson. Isn’t that enough for VAR to get involved? Isn’t it?
23 mins: Brisbane Roar 0-0 Melbourne City I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, life moves pretty fast I’ll never tire of saying/writing it’s time for drinks in a game of football. But it is. It’s time for drinks. Save Ferris.
16 mins: Brisbane Roar 0-0 Melbourne City The Roar are defending deep and have plenty of numbers protecting their goal. Given City’s firepower, they might need it. Possession to this point is over two-thirds to the visiting team.
ATP Cup: it’s easy to say, after witnessing a game of extreme quality, to say it’s one of the best you’ve seen. But that semi-final between Djokovic and Medvedev must rate up there. Certainly, Djokovic looked relieved, and enraptured, and spent, after seeing off the Russian in three sets. Here’s what he had to say:
It was very exhausting. It was a big battle all the way to the last shot. Daniil Medvedev is one of the best players in the world and today he showed why.
He’s tough to break from the baseline and this was the toughest challenge I’ve had (this tournament).
First to the final, 🇷🇸 #TeamSerbia!
— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 11, 2020
Djokovic pulls out a hard-fought victory behind sterling tennis 6-1 5-7 6-4 over Medvedev to take the tie 2-0.#ATPCup | #SRBRUS pic.twitter.com/wvaukq6rQl
8 mins: Brisbane Roar 0-0 Melbourne City Lovely through ball from Brillante almost releases Maclaren but Gillesphey intervenes with a sliding challenge that could easily have gone wrong, but went right.
4 mins: Brisbane Roar 0-0 Melbourne City Let me start by saying the deck at Suncorp looks sensational, like a billiard table. It’s been a sprightly start from both teams, with the best chance going to Wales, whose shot from close range forced a good save from the Roar keeper.
A-League stat attack I: Jamie Maclaren has scored 20 goals in 27 A-League games at Suncorp Stadium, twice as many as he’s scored at any other venue and the third most of any player there (Besart Berisha 35, Henrique 24).
A-League stat attack II: Brisbane Roar have scored at least one goal in every one of their previous 15 A-League games against Melbourne City in Queensland, scoring an average of 2.1 goals per game in that period.
Ok then, @brisbaneroar, let’s do this. For the love of the gods let’s do this... #BRIvMCY pic.twitter.com/OmvUUELYXw
— Axel Bruns (@snurb_dot_info) January 11, 2020
A-League: we’re barely minutes away from the Brisbane-Melbourne City clash. Remember the last time City played in Queensland? If we get close to that 4-3 thriller again here, I think we’ll all be happy. Here’s the teams.
We name an unchanged starting XI for today's clash with @MelbourneCity! 🦁#BRIvMCY #RoarAsOne pic.twitter.com/W7e9iMpfTG
— Brisbane Roar (@brisbaneroar) January 11, 2020
Our team is in for today's clash with Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium. 🦁 #BRIvMCY #ForeverCity pic.twitter.com/HZcz43jQfL
— Melbourne City FC 🏙️ (@MelbourneCity) January 11, 2020
It’s been great to see so many sportspeople get behind the bushfire relief effort. This tragedy, this disaster, really puts sport into perspective, doesn’t it? Mat Ryan’s one such professional to reach into his pockets.
A-League: FT: Wellington 2-0 Western Sydney
The Wanderers showed much in the second half but leave Sky Stadium empty handed. Western Sydney have now dropped seven of their past nine in the A-League and are in a world of pain. The Phoenix, conversely, haven’t lost in their past nine outings and now sit third on the ladder. Well played, Wellington.
A-League: GOAL! Wellington 2-0 Western Sydney (Cacace, 88’) The Wanderers, to their credit, have been all out in search of an equaliser, dominating territory and possession in the second half, but Wellington catch them with a sucker punch as Cacace finds space and shoots truly to double their lead and drive a dagger into the heart of Western Sydney.
I mentioned a rousing rally in the final game of the ATP Cup semi-final. After the match, Djokovic said he doesn’t know how he managed to win the point. I’m with him on that one, though this just proves that superstars are capable of the seemingly impossible. Here it is. Enjoy.
Punto del año en enero? Seguramente fue uno de los mejores! 🔥👏🏻 @DjokerNole#Djokovic #ATPCuppic.twitter.com/QqaBDb0khp
— Manu Puppo (@EmanuelPuppo) January 11, 2020
ATP Cup: Serbia advance to final!
Djokovic is taken to deuce (four times) and needs two match points but holds his serve all the same, meaning he beats Medvedev in three sets and Serbia hold an unassailable 2-0 lead to take the tie and qualify for the final. That last game had some incredible points: Medvedev hitting a deep-court winner at 30-0 down, Djokovic winning a lengthy rally contested largely at the net, Medvedev’s down-the-line backhand winner on the first match point. And, ultimately, Djokovic wearing Medvedev down with searching ground strokes. And he wins. And that is why he is an all-time great. Two hours and forty-seven minutes after they started, these two gladiators are finished. And not a bead of sweat is left on the court.
ATP Cup semi-final (2nd rubber): Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 Daniil Medvedev (RUS) (Serbia lead 2-0. Doubles dead rubber to follow)
There are no words to describe the brilliance, will to win & the heart of Novak Djokovic💪❤️#idemo #TeamSerbia #ATPCup pic.twitter.com/bTccSCJvl9
— Reggie🐺🐊 (@Reggie61823972) January 11, 2020
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ATP Cup semi-final (2nd rubber): Third set: Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-1, 5-7, 5-4 Daniil Medvedev (RUS) (Serbia lead 1-0)
Medvedev holds. To love. Djokovic had as much interest as my savings account in that game. His eyes are on his own service game. Coming (very) soon to a liveblog near you. Serbia are four points away from the ATP Cup final.
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ATP Cup semi-final (2nd rubber): Third set: Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-1, 5-7, 5-3 Daniil Medvedev (RUS) (Serbia lead 1-0)
Ridiculous. Arrogant. Classy. Ruthless. Apart from one dropped point, thanks to errors entirely of his own doing, Djokovic holds to take a 5-3 lead. One more game and this rubber is toast.
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ATP Cup semi-final (2nd rubber): Third set: Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-1, 5-7, 4-3 Daniil Medvedev (RUS) (Serbia lead 1-0)
Medvedev holds serve. Here’s his chance to break Djokovic. If he doesn’t, the next time the Serbian serves will be for the match. And the tie.
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ATP Cup semi-final (2nd rubber): Third set: Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-1, 5-7, 4-2 Daniil Medvedev (RUS) (Serbia lead 1-0)
Djokovic holds, and fairly easily at that, so the Serbian - and Serbia! - are in the box seat here with that service break in the previous game. Medvedev needs to dig deep here and break his opponent. Easy, right?!
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A-League: 50 mins: Wellington 1-0 Western Sydney They’ve been hard nuts to crack this season, the Phoenix, and that is proving the case again this afternoon. A goal after 15 minutes to Ulises Davila separate the sides.
ATP Cup semi-final (2nd rubber): Third set: Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-1, 5-7, 3-2 Daniil Medvedev (RUS) (Serbia lead 1-0)
So, here’s where we’re at. Djokovic fairly well steamrollered Medvedev in the first set but the Russian lifted his game to level affairs in the second set. The third set is happening right now and is engrossing. Djokovic has just broken Medvedev in an epic game, volleying into clear court to end a long rally and take a 3-2 lead. Earlier, Lajovic beat Khachanov in straight sets to hand Serbia the first rubber.
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Preamble
Top of the afternoon, sports fans. Are you just loving the ATP Cup? If your answer is no, take the blue pill. If your answer is yes, take the red pill, stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep this tennis tournament goes. One semi-final is ongoing: Serbia are one rubber to the good against Russia but Daniil Medvedev is doing his level best against Novak Djokovic. More on that shortly. Tonight at Ken Rosewall Arena, Australia and Spain will face off for the right to meet the winner of Serbia-Russia in the final. And we will have all the action of that tasty little stoush covered in a separate liveblog. For now, though, let’s sink our incisors into some A-League action. Across the ditch, the Phoenix are about halfway through their encounter with the Wanderers. Later this arvo, we’ll find out if Brisbane’s win over Western Sydney was a fluke or not when they host high-flying Melbourne City. As ever, plenty on. Please get in touch by email or Twitter. But remember, all I’m offering is the truth, nothing more.
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