A-League: Perth Glory 1-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
AAP: New Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic was denied a first-up win as his former side Western Sydney came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw at nib Stadium.
Striker Andy Keogh put Glory ahead in the 26th minute but Roly Bonevacia’s 65th-minute strike ensured the spoils were shared in front of 10,206 fans. Star Western Sydney striker Oriol Riera could have scored the winner in the 74th minute but his close-range sitter sailed over the bar.
Popovic won the 2014 Asian Champions League title with the Wanderers and took them to three A-League grand finals during his five years in charge. The coach has set high goals for Glory but they failed to deliver all three points first-up.
New captain Diego Castro (hamstring), Brendon Santalab (hamstring), Jacob Italiano (knee), Matthew Spiranovic (hip) and Chris Harold (illness) were all absent but the Glory were still able to dominate the first half.
The Wanderers only had themselves to blame for Keogh’s opener. Goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic should have unleashed a long clearance instead of going short to defender Ruon Tongyik. Glory midfielder Neil Kilkenny pounced to strip Tongyik of the ball before delivering a nice pass to Keogh. Janjetovic did well to keep out Keogh’s first strike but he was helpless to stop the second.
The Wanderers became a far more attacking outfit in the second half and produced a number of golden chances. And the scores were level in the 65th minute when Bonevacia beat the offside trap and held Tomislav Mrcela at arm’s length to slot home the equaliser.
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Summary
Stick a fork in me because I’m done. And if someone could stick a fork in the VAR technology, that might help too. You’d be doing us all a service. The weekend should have been all about how the teams are shaping up after pre-season, not whether Adam Taggart’s bootlace was marginally across an imaginary line.
Still, two pretty good games today that suggests there’s plenty for fans to both moan and be optimistic about. No one’s season looks doomed, no one looks dead certainties to win the league. As it should be.
Anyway, thanks for joining me. Time for me to put the laptop down and give my full attention to the Perth v Wanderers game. Poppa taking on Western Sydney - intrigue she wrote. Catch you next time.
NRC: Queensland Country 45-24 Western Force
AAP: Queensland Country overcome a lightning stoppage to secure a berth in the National Rugby Championship final against Fijian Drua in Lautoka, Fiji on Saturday.
The home side triumphed 45-24 over the Western Force in their semi-final contested in torrential conditions on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
With the lightning policy being introduced, play was delayed for several minutes in the second half.
Queensland Country will face a confident Fijian Drau team who remain unbeaten at home all season after downing the Canberra Vikings 35-28 in the other semi-final on Saturday, also in wet conditions.
Both sides scored five tries and it was the more accurate boot of Enele Malele that gave the hosts victory.
Full-time: Roar 1-1 Mariners
After a VAR-riddled game with chances galore and a see-saw finish, the ref brings the curtain down. Honours even. The Mariners will be the happier of the two, they had to ride their luck at times, but they arguably deserved something if only for the way they kept battling. I’m glad Taggart scored in the end - it could’ve broken him if he’d not hit the target after that many chances.
90+4mins: Taggart just inches away from connecting in the six-yard box - the cross just a stretch too far for him. The Mariners try to break but a poor (re: tired) pass from Murray wastes the opportunity.
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90+2 mins: It’ll be an odd feeling for both teams when this one finishes - it could quite easily have been win, lose or draw for both clubs. Still time for a winner of course, although the intensity has dropped off. Tired legs showing..
89 mins: Bautheac takes two lovely touches to open up space for a shot in the box - but his final effort is right at the keeper.
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88 mins: Superb tackle by Clisby to thwart Henrique! I love a beautifully timed tackle in the box - and that was a peach.
87 mins: Melling comes on for the final few minutes. Oar is the player coming off. For you Tommy, the Oar is over. Sorry. Always wanted to say that.
85 mins: Time ticking down. Is it me, or have the Roar taken their foot off the gas a little? Tommy Oar with a surge down the left, he strikes the ball sweet enough but it’s blocked well.
83 mins: Anyone brave enough to call this one? Not me mate. Mariners still hunting. They get a free-kick in dangerous territory. It’s a poor ball in though and the Roar clear it.
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80 mins: Has all this VAR nonsense taken something away from what’s been a pretty entertaining game? I’d say yes. Anyway, back to the action. Both sides are sniffing for three points. The Mariners probing at the minute, they’ve actually looked better in the last 10 minutes than any time since the opening goal.
78 mins: Murray on for Pain. Debut for the youngster.
75 mins: Very, very harsh penalty (i.e. wrong) decision for a foul on Taggart. The Mariners are furious and it goes to VAR - where it’s ruled out for offside anyway. And that’s the end of that chapter. Right call in the end. I’m sure that’s last time we’ll mention VAR this weekend. Cough.
72 mins: Seriously, what is it with VAR and the A-League? I thought it worked pretty well at the World Cup - but domestically it seems to dominate the talk after every game. Answers on a digital postcard.
70 mins: Now it’s the Mariners’ turn to yell at the officials. Cisse with a powerful header that rips into net - off he wheels to celebrate, only for a late flag to chalk it down to offside.
GOAL! Roar 1-1 Mariners (Taggart 67 mins)
67 mins: Ha! Well, he probably deserves that. Turning and firing home in the box, no time to think, pure instinct. Probably for the best.
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VAR! Roar o-1 Mariners (Taggart 'goal' ruled offside)
62 mins: Was Taggart offside? Very, very tight. Controversy either way. The officials wait on the VAR ruling... and it’s no goal. This is turning into a nightmare for Taggart - and the officials. A fine finish after being put through but he (arguably) was fractionally offside as he ran through the offside trap.
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60 mins: Surely, SURELY, the Roar have to score at some stage. They’ve been creating chance after chance with just wastefulness to blame for the fact they’re behind.
58 mins: Pain gets upended to earn a free-kick (and more importantly a rest) for the Mariners. McCormack strikes it from about 30 metres but it never looks like troubling the keeper.
56 mins: One-way traffic. Taggart in the box again. As the ball comes to him, he tries to hit it on the turn but it flies high in the air - the opposite of where his confidence must be at the minute.
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55 mins: Another gilt-edged chance, this time for Bautheac - but a woeful first touch means it goes begging.
53 mins: Well the respite didn’t last long. Roar piling on the pressure again. Lopez takes a pot shot from about 30 metres. It’s not that far away but Kennedy looks unruffled as it sails wide.
50 mins: Some respite for the Mariners after that early blitz from the Roar, earning a corner after a quick counter-attack. Young deals with it easily though, plucking it from the air and trying to release Bautheac with a throw.
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47 mins: Another chance for Taggart! Header from close range. At least he makes the keeper work this time, but he probably should’ve done better. Kennedy makes another cracking save from a Hingert belter that takes a deflection.
Second-half: Brisbane Roar 0-1 Central Coast Mariners
Peeeep! We’re off again in Brisbane. Is it a case of ‘same again’ from the Roar or do they keep the faith in Taggart finally finding the net.
HALF TIME | 0-1 | @CCMariners have the lead over @brisbaneroar at the half#BRIvCCM #ALeague pic.twitter.com/dB3uxN9wFK
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 21, 2018
Half-time: Roar 0-1 Mariners
Much like the city they’re playing in, the Mariners ride out the storm to hold on to their lead at the break. Brisbane, and Taggart in particular, must be wondering how they’re losing.
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45+2mins: Taggart again! Mikkelsen cushions a ball over the top of the defence right into Taggart’s path. He’s completely free in the box, has time to pick his spot, but still skews it high and wide. A shot of him holding his head in his hands says it all. Dear oh dear.
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45 mins: Time for one last Roar attack? They’re pushing and probing, the ball falls for Taggart but he can’t turn away from his markers who get the ball from under him.
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43 mins: The Mariners certainly won’t mind the delay too much. They’ve not played badly this half, it’s just that Roar have played better. The sooner half-time comes, the better as far as they’re concerned. Matt Simon probably feels the same way, he trots back onto the pitch a little gingerly.
41 mins: Simon gets a knee in the back from Pepper. Bit of treatment delays proceedings.
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38 mins: I’m always wary of praising a defender so early in the game but Cisse has been excellent for the Mariners so far. Solid, composed and sensible decision making. Own goal coming up now I’ve hexed him. Lopez with a low cross across the face of goal that evades everyone in the Mariners box.
35 mins: Ah, no A-League season has truly started until Matt Simon gets a talking down from the referee, this time for a less-than subtle challenge on a prone Papadopoulos. There’s history there.
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33 mins: This must be frustrating for John Aloisi - the Roar have created plenty of chances and, since the first five minutes, have been the better team, but they just can’t find that clinical finish. Taggart is the prime suspect - he’s finding the positions brilliantly, but he’s not made the most of them.
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30 mins: Pain hits the woodwork! A warning for the Roar. That’s what can happen when you keep missing chances. It took a deflection but Young was beaten all ends up.
29 mins: Taggart with ANOTHER miss. Perfect run, perfect pass, he’s in the six-yard box - but he still stabs it wide. Cisse maybe did enough just to put him off.
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27 mins: Blimey the Mariners are clinging on here... or are they just defending brilliantly? Another ball into the box opens them up but a great sliding tackle clears the danger. The Roar getting plenty of the ball in dangerous areas but they haven’t bothered the scoresheet yet. In fact Kennedy hasn’t done a huge deal - unless you count scrambling around the six-yard box.
26 mins: Booking for Hiariej now, for stopping a free-kick being taken quickly.
24 mins: Taggart again with a chance. O’Toole with a great dink forward, Taggart leaps to head it as he runs into the box but steers the effort wide. Roar certainly finding gaps but not doing enough with them. The Mariners can’t afford to keep giving up these chances though. McGlinchey in the book for a clumsy tackle.
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21 mins: Taggart smashes the ball over from a Mauk pass. Lovely move to start it but Mauk arguably should have had the shot. They’ve been wasteful so far, the Roar.
18 mins: The final ball is letting both teams down at the minute, although they’re certainly getting into good areas. Kristensen this time, shanking his cross as Roar players streaked into the box.
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16 mins: Corner for the Roar, they’re down but they’re certainly not out. In fact they’ve been the better of the two sides in the opening exchanges. Taggart tries to get a header in but Clisby just manages to block him. Another corner but it comes to nothing.
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13 mins: The Roar have responded well to that early setback, finding plenty of space in the Mariners’ final third. They almost score from a scramble but desperate defending keeps the ball from pinballing into the back of the net.
11 mins: It’s been an open, erm, opening few minutes, both teams keen to attack and put on off-the-ball pressure. The Mariners definitely look up for a high pressing game, which will suit Matty Simon. Get stuck in son.
9 mins: Ooo, just when it looks like the Roar are clean through, the linesman raises his flag. Very close offside decision. The home fans not happy. No surprises there.
7 mins: Depressing start to the day for Roar fans - soaked through and an early goal conceded to boot. It’ll take a lot of pressure off the Mariners though who go into this season with something they haven’t had for a long time - expectation.
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GOAL! Roar 0-1 Mariners (Pain 4mins)
4 mins: Perfect start for the Mariners. Pain charges down the field after a swift counter-attack, under little pressure, and curls the ball into the bottom corner just as he reached the box. Didn’t look like the cleanest of strikes but it was still too good for the keeper.
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Kick-off: Brisbane Roar 0-0 Central Coast Mariners
We’re finally off at the inappropriately named Suncorp. Looks very wet. Expect a few slide tackles.
NBL: Melbourne United 75-72 Adelaide 36ers
AAP: Melbourne United have snatched a thrilling 75-72 win over the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL clash between last season’s grand finalists.
Veteran David Barlow was the hero for United with his late three-pointer proving the difference in a bruising encounter at Melbourne Arena.
With the scores tied at 72-72, Barlow nailed his shot with 70 seconds left and the defending champions held on to win after 36ers stars Nathan Sobey and Adris Deleon both missed game-tying shots in the final seconds.
With Chris Goulding and Casper Ware struggling on offence, Barlow finished with 15 points along with Josh Boone, who also added 16 rebounds and three blocks, while fellow import DJ Kennedy added 14 points on his home debut.
Sobey scored 17 of his team-high 19 points in the first half while import Jacob Wiley added 13 points for the 36ers.
A-League: He’s not playing, and quite possibly never will in the A-League, but with the Mariners kicking off their season today I’m contractually obliged to bring up the Usain Bolt question. Can he do it? Is this whole circus making a mockery of the competition or helping it? When I’ve been asked by non-football fans, I’ve always said it was incredibly unlikely that he’ll make the grade – just days later he scored twice and made headlines around the world, leading to general mockery of yours truly. I’m still in the Markus Babbel camp though. What do you guys think?
TEAM NEWS | We begin our @ALeague campaign at home to @CCMariners at @suncorpstadium #RoarAsOne pic.twitter.com/dE0oMvJKw7
— Brisbane Roar (@brisbaneroar) October 21, 2018
Here it is, Mike Mulvey’s first @ALeague team sheet as #CCMFC Head Coach! Kick-off at @suncorpstadium is 5pm (AEDT). #BRIvCCM #CCMFC #ALeague pic.twitter.com/2sH9di9Dkt
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) October 21, 2018
A-League: And breathe. The storms in Queensland mean the game in Brisbane has been delayed a little bit. Good, because the last 30 minutes of the Phoenix game has worn me out. Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking.*
*obscure film reference alert
Full-time: Phoenix 2-1 Jets
And that’s all she wrote. Time runs out on the Jets, Rudan pumps his fist in celebration - and that late Jets goal puts the VAR penalty decision in an even bigger spotlight.
GOAL! Phoenix 2-1 Jets (Petratos 90+5mins)
Superb counter attack from the Jets and - BOOM! - Petratos cracks home a beauty. Lovely move.
90+4mins: The Wellington crowd are in fine voice as the clock ticks down, the Nix happy just to keep the ball. A great start for the Rudan era.
90+2mins: Plenty of time added on but it’s not going to be enough for the Jets. They’re still chasing for every ball though, hats off to them. Would that VAR decision have made a difference if it had gone the other way? Possibly not, but we’ll never know. Williams off for Burns.
GOAL! VAR penalty: Phoenix 2-0 Jets - (Krishna 90mins)
90 mins: Good lord, he’s given it. Another big VAR decision. Krishna sees his penalty saved but he fires home the rebound and that’s game over.
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87 mins: Here we go again. It’s VAR time. Did Sheppard hold on to Nichols during that last attack? It’s a cliff hanger.
86 mins: Well they’ve huffed and puffed but the Jets haven’t created anything too clear cut this half. In fact it’s the Phoenix who are finishing the stronger. Another scramble in the box as the Jets hang on under pressure. Good work from Nichols to win the ball in the first place but someone needs to pull the trigger sooner. One touch too many too often.
85 mins: Poor this time from Petratos, who shoots too low. It bounces off a sea of legs in the box and away to safety.
84 mins: Can the Phoenix hold out? Another Jets free-kick, borderline shooting distance, but probably a curler into the box.
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82 mins: Double subs for the Phoenix: Burgess on for Singh, Nichols on for Mandi. We’ve entered end game.
80mins: Krishna with a tactical foul to stop Vargas charging through. He gets a booking for his trouble. Free-kick for the Jets. Petratos tries his luck from distance - it’s not a bad effort either hit with power and swerve but glancing the top of the netting as it goes over.
79 mins: Where was this excitement an hour ago? Chances aplenty at the minute, Moss spilling a Williams belter this time to concede a corner, which is headed away.
77 mins: Not sure what’s happened to the Phoenix’s stifling tactics but it’s end to end stuff now. About time. Topor-Stanley concedes a corner. Austin on for Hoffman. The Jets defend well from the corner. Again.
73 mins: It’s hit into the danger area but the Jets defend it well - and try to break on the counter. It comes to nothing... and before you know it, the Phoenix are racing down the other end. Space all over the place now.
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72 mins: Things are definitely getting a bit stretched out there, which will suit the Jets just fine. Chances starting to appear at both ends. Corner for Phoenix.
70 mins: It’s no classic but at least the game is opening up a bit. The Phoenix on the attack this time but a couple of poor balls at important moments undo all the good work beforehand.
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68 mins: Great save by Kurto, pushing Boogaard’s header against the bar and it bounces out to safety. The Phoenix need to go back to getting under Newcastle’s skin, breaking up the play.
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66 mins: The Phoenix need to keep their heads after that VAR business, they’ve done a very tactically effective job of stalling the Jets but it takes a lot of focus to keep it up. The Jets sense a chance after that let off.
62 mins: Singh gets booked for his troubles too. That’s harsh. I can see why the goal might have been ruled out but I don’t think he could’ve done much about the ball hitting his arm. Did he move his arm slightly as the ball struck it? Possibly. Not enough to warrant a booking though in my opinion. No A-League game would be complete without some VAR controversy.
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GOAL/VAR! Phoenix 1-0 Newcastle Jets (Singh 61 mins)
61 mins: This one might get chalked off... bit of a pinball session in the Jets’ box ends with Singh stabbing home - but did it come off his arm? The ref says yes. No goal. It stays at 1-0.
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57 mins: Great chance for the Phoenix, the ball flying across the box, Krishna tries to guide it home but doesn’t get enough on it and the ball continues on its merry way across the six-yard box - giving Moss palpitations.
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56 mins: The free-kick is curled in low and hard. It’s a difficult one to deal with but the Phoenix handle it well. Jair comes off for Sheppard. Bit of a ‘meh’ debut from the Brazilian.
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55 mins: The resulting free-kick from Petratos is curled into the box, but it’s well-defended and the danger passes. For now. The Jets are still trying to keep the tempo up. The Phoenix are still strying to slow things down. Another free-kick for the Jets, this time closer to the box. Another curler coming up.
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54 mins: Fenton goes in the book for a challenge on Georgievski. He can have no complaints - except perhaps that he wishes it’d have been on Hoffman.
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51 mins: As predicted, the ball is curled in from the set-piece. Not the cleanest defensive header from Topor-Stanley but it ends up in Moss’ hands so job done.
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50 mins: As soon as I say that they start knocking it around their back four as though they have all the time in the world. Not that there’s any need to throw the kitchen sink at the Phoenix. Yet. The hosts happy to keep breaking up the play and slowing things down. They’ve got a free-kick now about 40m out. I see a curler into the box coming up.
47 mins: Petratos is a little bit miffed* when he gets pulled over for a free-kick while putting pressure on Doyle. He probably has a point. Didn’t seem to do too much wrong. The Jets have started the half with a little more urgency. *euphemism alert
Second half: Wellington Phoenix 1-0 Newcastle Jets
Peeeeep! And away we go. I get the feeling that whichever side finds their rhythm first will win this one. It was pretty stop-start all the way through the first half.
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A-League: A pretty middling half from Newcastle - composed but not clinical. If they’d just been more ruthless with their two clear chances I’d probably be hitting the hyperbole button and backing them to lift the Premiers Plate. Phoenix haven’t given Moss much to do at all - except fall over at corners to win free-kicks - yet they’re still a goal to the good. Should Ernie shake things up in the second half or back his forwards to start finding the target? Who’d be a manager. The other talking point is those golden shorts. From a distance, they look a little “skin-coloured”. Cover your eyes kids.
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NBL: Quick update on the basketball - early in the 3rd quarter and there’s a point in it; Melbourne United lead Adelaide 52-51.
Half-time: Wellington Phoenix 1-0 Newcastle Jets
Half-hearted penalty appeals as Ridenton goes down under a strong but fair challenge in the box. They get a corner instead. And another. But neither come to anything and that’s all she wrote.
44 mins: Newcastle still struggling to get out of second gear as we approach the break. Perhaps they feel the chances will come if they keep playing like this, they’ve had a couple but just haven’t been clinical. Vargas with a belter from distance. It stays low enough but goes well wide - not sure Kurto would’ve got to it if it had been on target. Vargas has been the Jets’ best so far.
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42 mins: Both sides struggling to build momentum. Good block by Fenton to deny Hoffman. Every tackle getting a cheer from the Wellington crowd. They’re enjoying their day in the sun.
39 mins: Any hopes that the goal might have raised the tempo haven’t really come to fruition. Phoenix seem happy enough with how things are panning out though, is that an extra spring in their step I detect? Another Phoenix corner, Moss goes down and it’s another free-kick. The onus is on the Jets.
36 mins: With so few chances, I’m not surprised it’s a taken a bit of luck for the opening goal to come - especially with neither side really taking the game by the scruff of the neck. The Jets have had better possession but they’ve let themselves down with the occasional poor pass. Plus they’ve wasted the game’s only two real chances.
GOAL: Phoenix 1-0 Jets (Georgievski OG - 33 mins)
33 mins: We’re going to VAR but it looks like the Phoenix are ahead... yep, that’s a goal. Taylor leaps high to head goalwards, Georgievski tries to head it away but the ball skids off his head and wrongfoots the keeper just enough to go sailing into the back of the net. Taylor’s claiming it, definite OG though.
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31 mins: Half an hour gone and it’s still as tight as a Wentworth byelection. Ridenton gets a shot away inside the box, he even has time to take a touch, but it goes wide. Not as bad as Jair’s earlier miss but he should still have found the target. Nice pass from Vargas to start the move.
29 mins: Hoffman with a tough (but fair) tackle on Fenton that earns a few boos. I suspect that’s not the last time those two will tangle - still some lingering feeling from that earlier push and shove. Phoenix earn successive corners. The first one is short, and easily blocked. The second is too long, and leads to a FK anyway.
26 mins: Bit of handbags between Hoffman and Fenton but it’s broken up quickly enough. Hoffman gets caught offside seconds later from another long throughball.
24 mins: No sooner have I said the Jets are looking more composed than they give the ball away needlessly. Twice. Not that the Phoenix are any more incisive. Just a few too many loose balls from both sides. Ugarkovic goes in the book - presumably for a tackle on Rufer earlier.
21 mins: He’s back up - looks like he ran into the back of Taylor while looking for a high ball. No serious damage, nothing sinister. The Jets starting to look a bit more composed on the ball - although it’s a long ball over the top that almost opens up the defence. Vargas with a curler but it’s easy enough for Kurto.
19 mins: Another corner for the hosts, who seem to have weathered that little spell from the Jets. It’s taken short and, after a bit of a scramble, the ball falls to Singh - who scuffs his effort. Hmm, Moss is down. Doesn’t look good. Pause in play.
16 mins: Corner for the Jets after their best spell of pressure. The visitors are finally starting to string a few passes together. Petratos tries a pin-point chip/dip but Kurto is equal to it. Better from the Jets.
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14 mins: Still a bit cagey but Phoenix perhaps slightly on top - with the caveat that Jair really should have scored for the Jets earlier. Few too many wayward passes from the Jets. Another poor pass from Jair - not the best start to his season.
12 mins: Krishna hits the side-netting from a tight angle after bursting into the box. Jeez he’s fast. Not a bad effort but it would’ve been some strike to get it past Moss at his near post. Hit it with some power though.
10 mins: The corner comes to nothing. First 10 gone and no real chances so far. Another key question, will I manage to get the “oe” in Phoenix the right way round throughout this blog? Probably not. Already caught myself twice. Again, let’s blame early season rustiness - I feel your pain Jair.
8 mins: I wonder if that miss will play on Jair’s mind? He should at least have made the keeper work. Let’s be kind and say it may have been a bit of early season rustiness. Corner for Phoenix.
5 mins: Eep, Jair should have opened his account early for the Jets. Clean through on the left, runs into the box, pulls his foot back and wallops it wide of the goal. Not even on target.
3 mins: The Nix get a free-kick to the left of the box. It’s whipped in, a little too high if anything, and the Jets get it away. Phoenix doing most of the early attacking but nothing clear cut so far. It’ll be interesting to see how their defence stands up, Rudan has clearly tried to beef it up.
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Kick-off: Wellington Phoenix 0-0 Newcastle Jets
1 min: Aaaaaaand we’re under way. Jets with the kick-off on a lovely looking day in Wellington. Krishna gives away an early free-kick, nowhere dangerous though.
A-League: Talking of the Jets, can they back it up or will they get second-season syndrome? If there’s one thing that watching the A-League has taught me over the years it’s that you should never try to predict where an Ernie Merrick side will finish. He’s burnt me too many times. Wooden spoon or champions – neither would surprise this old jaded journo.
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A-League: Mark Rudan is insisting the Nix have the talent and depth to be competitive this season. Do we believe him? Probably better to answer that in a couple of hours. Personally, I can’t see it happening, although if they want some inspiration they only have to look across the pitch. The Jets weren’t exactly Winx-esque favourites heading into last season and looked what happened there.
NBL: While we’re on the NBL, things are under way in Melbourne where Adelaide have made a sharp start to lead 8-4. Very early doors though.
NBL - New Zealand Breakers 78-101 Sydney Kings
AAP: A relieved Sydney Kings have claimed their first win of the NBL season as Andrew Bogut inspired a 101-78 thrashing of the New Zealand Breakers in Auckland.
Former NBA centre Bogut ruled the paint and his teammates were also in synch as they dominated their opponents who were stagnant at both ends of the court.
Coming off twin losses to the Adelaide 36ers, the vaunted Kings roster were staring at the possibility of a 0-3 start to the season, which would have been the club’s worst for 27 years.
Instead, the Breakers were left to digest an unwarranted record, having recorded four straight losses at Spark Arena for the first time.
Glamour off-season recruit Bogut’s 13 points blended with eight rebounds, four blocks and four assists, showcasing the sort of all-round quality which swung most pre-season hype in the direction of the Sydney club.
The 33-year-old led the league through the first two rounds in rebounds and blocks but Sunday’s performance gelled better with his teammates, who provided multiple headaches for the hosts.
And the Phoenix...
LINE UP | The Starting XI details for today's opening @ALeague match are in!
— Wellington Phoenix (@WgtnPhoenixFC) October 21, 2018
Here's how we take the field for Round 1at @WestpacStadium #StandUpWithYourNix #CreateHistory #WELvNEW pic.twitter.com/d6sLQcy0xa
Here’s how the Jets are lining up.
The lineups are in! Here's how we take the field this afternoon #WELvNEW #MadeOfNewcastle pic.twitter.com/sUCt6BN7XN
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC ✈️ (@NewcastleJetsFC) October 21, 2018
Preamble
Afternoon everyone, and welcome to Sunday Sportwatch. We’ve already had a couple of A-League nibbles to whet the appetite this weekend but, like weak-willed dieters, the football binge starts today with a trio of back-to-back games to gorge on, starting in Wellington and ending up in Perth. Up first we’ve got the Phoenix taking on the Jets, then we’re Brisbane bound for the Roar against the Mariners, and to wrap things up there’s the Glory v Wanderers game, although I suspect I’ll be all blogged out by that stage.
There’s a smattering of other sport on the horizon, largely basketball. The Breakers v Kings game is already over so I’ll put up the match report once that comes through. Have Bogut and the Kings finally clicked? Short answer: yes.
Melbourne United are just about to battle it out with the Adelaide 36ers, then it’s the Cairns Taipans versus the Illawarra Hawks. I’ll try and dip into them between A-League intervals. There’s also the other NRC semi-final between Queensland Country and the Western Force (you just can’t keep a good franchise down). If there’s anything else happening, I’ll keep you posted. Anyway, let’s get cracking because it’s almost kick-off o’clock.
