Record contract in tatters?
Nine months ago, Vedran Janjetovic signed a club-record four-year contract extension with the Western Sydney Wanderers. On Friday, fans were wishing they could tear it up.
With the Wanderers leading Brisbane Roar 2-1 deep into injury time, an errant attempt to control a stray ball saw Janjetovic gift the home side a corner; and Adam Taggart took full advantage.
The 31-year-old’s bizarre brain snap saw the Roar snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw at Suncorp Stadium and perhaps reminded coach Markus Babbel exactly why he’d dropped him in the first place.
Friday’s debacle marked Janjetovic’s first start since a 3-2 defeat to Wellington in round 12, a match in which the gloveman gifted the Nix the lead after needlessly racing 30 yards off his line.
That inexplicable decision came just three games on from a red card for a similar situation in the Sydney Derby, a match the Sky Blues went on to win with ease.
With the aforementioned in mind, it’s safe to say the ex-Sydney FC goalkeeper has well and truly lost touch with his craft this season.
And as Babbel continues to trust 18-year-old Nicholas Suman between the sticks, it’s only a matter of time until Janjetovic has lost his place in the team for good.
Tactical masterclass
Perth Glory produced arguably their best performance of the season on Sunday night, defeating the Newcastle Jets 2-0 at HBF Park.
With Diego Castro and Neil Kilkenny pulling the strings, the Glory were simply unplayable; unlucky not to have five goals to show for their dominance.
Not to be outdone, coach Tony Popovic also earned his keep in the win, demonstrating a tactical fortitude his managerial counterpart failed to counter.
As the Jets restricted space in the middle of the field in the first half, the Glory found joy in behind with long balls out to Fabio Ferreira and Castro.
And as the defence dropped deeper to contain Glory’s pace after the restart, Castro again took control, this time with the ball at his feet and all the time in the world to pick the Jets’ poison.
To say the Jets, and Merrick, struggled is an understatement, and though they still maintain the belief they’ll make the finals, they might be the only ones.
Ola-la!
Keisuke Honda’s absence may have hindered Melbourne Victory this season but they would be far worse off without Ola Toivonen.
The Sweden international scored a stunning free-kick and set up his side’s second on Saturday in a crucial 2-1 Big Blue win over Sydney FC.
Toivonen’s toil extended beyond the final third at AAMI Park, with his physical presence and leadership proving a real thorn in the Sky Blues’ side.
With 10 goals and three assists through 13 games this season, the star striker is quickly staking his claim as the best player in the league, inside the cap.
His two-year deal will certainly excite the Victory faithful, as will the news of Honda’s long-awaited February return.
Kevin Muscat’s men were made to work for the win in the end, an unprecedented third straight over their rivals, and now sit second, four points behind league leaders Perth Glory.
King Kurto
Mark Rudan has worked wonders at Wellington Phoenix this season but the signing of Filip Kurto might just be his best decision to date.
The Pole was in fine form on Saturday, reeling off six second-half saves en route to a narrow 1-0 win over Melbourne City at Westpac Stadium.
Kurto’s “Herculean” heroics took his tally to a league-best 58 saves this season and Rudan was full of praise following the full-time whistle.
“Filip Kurto was outstanding, we recruited extremely well, I believe,” Rudan said.
“He’s definitely earned his money today and he’ll earn it again afterwards when he shouts the players.
“He’s paid to stop shots; it’s as simple as that… he doesn’t make too many mistakes, does he?”
The 27-year-old will need to be at his flawless best next week if the Nix are to have any hopes of defeating first-placed Perth Glory.
Rudan’s men will be out for revenge after a questionable red card allowed Glory to snatch a 1-1 draw back in round six.
Red redemption
Well they huffed and they puffed but, eventually, Adelaide United managed to blow the Central Coast Mariners’ house down on Sunday.
Goals to Isaias and George Blackwood secured the comeback win at Coopers Stadium, the latter with his first goal of the season, coming in the 92nd minute, no less.
Though the Mariners fought valiantly, the result was just rewards for the Reds, who hustled and harried right until the final whistle.
While the performance was far from their best, Marco Kurz’s men have now lost just one of their past eight matches and completely redeemed themselves of a difficult December.
“I’m very proud of our boys, about the attitude,” Kurz said.
“At the end, it was very important to jump over the hurdle…not every situation we played perfect but we… believed.”
With United now 11 points clear of seventh-placed Newcastle, and finals football all but assured, their attention can now turn towards a top-four finish.
