Round 5

Performance of the round: Adelaide Utd

Heat will be on: Sydney FC

Bye: Gold Coast Utd

Goals from all games: http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/video/0,,Netbusters_44528,00.html

Central Coast Mariners 2 - 0 Melbourne Victory

Daniel McBreen's less than conventional celebration

Central Coast are the Melbourne's bogey team and the hoodoo continued as the boys from Gosford controlled the game, scoring in both halves to run out comfortable winners. Rostyn Griffiths kicked off proceedings by heading in a awkward free kick from the centre of the park. Victory marking was poor and again, Michael Petkovic was beaten in the air as eye brows will start to raise. Central Coast settled in and took control of the game, and while chances were few and far between, Victory never really challenged the Mariners goal. Another header, on the other side of the break, effectively sealed the encounter. The busy Matt Simon, who interestingly commits the most fouls yet also gains the most free kicks in the A-League, broke free on the wing to deliver a perfect cross to new Mariners striker Daniel McBreen. McBreen celebrated by tucking the ball under his guernsey, a belated shout-out to his wife who was about to go into labor before kick off. The win will give Graham Arnold's side a big confidence boost after their conservative start to the season.

Scorers: CCM (Griffiths 21', McBreen 50')  Crowd: 6,829 at Bluetongue Stadium.

Melbourne Heart 1 - 0 North Queensland Fury

The Heart registered their first ever win  but were less than convincing. In driving rain, the impressive Nick Kalmar again got his name on the score sheet in the 11th minute, and this would prove enough for the three points. Between scoring and half time, Heart coach John van't Schip felt his team put in "one of our worst performances." Although improving in the second half, it was the Fury who will be left ruing their chances as they enjoyed much of the build up play. However, they were unable to convert. John Aloisi was a late substitute for the Heart and came close to scoring in his first performance for the new franchise. One-on-one with Justin Pasfield, Aloisi chose to shoot on the outside of his preferred left boot, forcing a top save from the Fury number one. On a dour note, crowd numbers were again the talking point as the Heart could only draw a poultry 4000 spectators.

Scorers: Mel (Kalmar 11')  Crowd: 4,000 at AAMI Park.

Sydney FC 1 - 3 Adelaide United

Sergio van Dijk scores a free kick, one of his two for the night

The defending champions languish at the bottom of the ladder after another poor performance in round five. On the other end of the spectrum, Adelaide United's confidence would be sky high as they sit atop the A-League ladder. After the season from hell last year, United have seemed to gel under Dutchman Rini Coolen has taken over the reigns. Adelaide went into the break with a comfortable two nil lead after goals to Sergio van Dijk and Matthew Leckie. Van dijk had put a slightly deflected free kick past Liam Reddy while Leckie had latched onto a Paul Reid through ball to finish at break-neck speed. The second half saw much of the same as van Dijk completed his brace eight minutes after the break. The sky blue's Stephen Keller then responded shortly after with a sublime header, although this would prove to be merely a consolation. Questions will start to be asked of Vitezslav Lavicka's team as his team appear to be struggling without the likes of Simon Colosimo, John Aloisi and Clint Bolton.

Scorers: Adl (van Dijk 9', 53', Leckie 37') Syd (Keller 58')  Crowd: 7,557 at Sydney Football Stadium.

Newcastle Jets 0 - 0 Brisbane Roar

Newcastle have put a horror week behind them to grind out a nil-all draw with the Brisbane Roar, who have been impressive this far into the season. To make matters worse for the Jets, who's financial problems were laid bare during the week, Ruben Zadkovic was sent off with 10 minutes remaining. Neither team was able to assert their ascendancy on the game which was played in blustery conditions on a suspect pitch. Jets coach Branko Culina was pleased with result while Roar coach Ange Postecoglou summed up the match perfectly by saying "no (team) got a real flow at all." Interestingly, the Roar are yet to concede a single goal thus far this season. In saying this, they have only scored two themselves.

Crowd: 7,066 at Energy Australia Stadium.

Perth Glory 2 - 1 Wellington Phoenix

Perth's Australian and international marquee players, Mile Sterjovski and Robbie Fowler respectively, both scored to put Perth equal top of the A-League ladder. Sterjovski opened the scoring only five minutes in when a clever cut back gave him an easy finish. Fowler doubled the lead on the hour mark when Sterjovski's delicate lob from the left wing ensured Fowler could ease his header past Mark Paston. However, the Glory weren't spared any late scares after Ben Sigmund pegged a goal back with 20 minutes to go. If not for a brilliant save by the Glory's Tando Velaphi in the 82nd minute the game could have finished two-all.

Scorers: Per (Sterjovski 5', Fowler 61') Well (Sigmund 72')  Crowd: 10,844 at NIB Stadium.

Round 4

Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Wellington Phoenix
In this highly entertaining game the Roar maintained their early season purple patch to run out victors over a resolute Wellington. Brisbane dominated most of the play in the first half but failed to turn possession into goals while the Phoenix, who were in the most part chasing shadows, did have some good chances as well. The second half was much of the same as Ange Postecoglou's side continued the pressure, but the Phoenix proved they were up to the challenge. That was, until the 73rd minute when former kiwi Costas Barbarouses finished what was the best team goal of the season so far. Wellington weren't done yet as man of the match Michael Theoklitos was called on to deny good chances to the Phoenix. Yet the Roar were able to hang on for a confidence boosting win.
Scorers: Bri (Barbarouses 73')  Crowd: 7,339 at Suncorp Stadium.

North Queensland Fury 2 - 3 Adelaide United
Adelaide came back from an early scare to win this tight fixture, although not without a late scare. After only seven minutes gone, Isaka Cernak rose above the reds defence to head home and take an early lead. However, a Marcos Flores stunner literally stunned the crowd at Dairy Farmer's after volleying with his back to goal. After the break it was all Adelaide as the Fury's Brett Studman slid in for an own goal just after the break. Six minutes later Daniel Mullen headed home another and Adelaide looked home and hosed. But an 86th minute strike by David Williams kept the home fans on the edge of their seat. It was not to be as United ran out deserved winners.
Scorers: NQF (Cernak 7', Williams 86')  Adl (Flores 22', Studman (og) 50', Mullen 56')  Crowd: 6, 130 at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Sydney FC 1 - 1 Central Coast Mariners
Sydney are still winless in season 2010/11 as a contenious penalty given by veteren referee Matthew Breeze gave Central Coast a late equaliser. The sky blues were the dominate team in the first half and, if not for the woodwork would have been two nil up at the break. Two minutes after the interval Sydney equalised as a low, driven cross was fumbled by detutant Mariner's goalkeeper Matt Ryan as Sydney youngster Rhyan Grant was there for the follow up. Graham Arnold responded with a master stroke substitution, bringing on Argentinian no.10 Patricio Perez who made immediate impact. Perez gained a penalty from a suspected foul by Sydney's Liam Reddy although replays confirm Perez was hardly touched. Perez converted the ensuing penalty. To make matters worse for the sky blues, Reddy was given a straight red as Vitezslav Lavicka had to reshuffle his line up. Sydney looked flustered and were given four yellows in a 10 minute period but managed to hold on for a point.
Scorers: Sydney (Grant 47') CCM (Perez 73' pen)  Crowd: 10,147 at Sydney Football Stadium.

Gold Coast United 0 - 1 Melbourne Victory
Last season's revelation Robbie Kruse opened this year's account that would prove the difference in a game that was exciting on the pitch but dull in the stands. Gold Coast's decision to open only one side of the ground to cut security costs has dissillusioned many fans. On the pitch Victory broke the dead-lock as Kruse skipped around to keeper to finish what had started from a sublime pass by Carlos Hernandez.  Gold Coast then had some quality chances but failed to finish. The second half was business like by the Victory as they gained their first three points for the season. Miron Bleiberg admitted afterwards his inexperienced front line could not match it with Muscat and co. 'We struggled up front, yes we did,' he said, adding that 'their experience at the back was too much for our youth up front.'
Scorers: Mel (Kruse 20')  Crowd: 3,624 at Skilled Park.

Melbourne Heart 2 - 2 Perth Glory
After round four Melbourne Heart languish at the bottom of the Hyundai A-League ladder, although they would count themselves unlucky not to have come away with the win. Impressive dutch import Gerald Sibon got the Heart off to a perfect start when he converted a penalty inside the first 10 minutes. Perth then equalised from an unlucky own goal to Michael Marrone who has arguably been their best player thus far into the season. A superb finish by former Oakleigh Cannons midfielder Nick Kalmar gave the heart a handy one goal buffer just before the break. Heart were content to sit back and absorb much of the pressure the Glory put on them in the second half and, with Simon Colosimo and Clint Bolton leading the spine, were set to get their first ever win. That was, until Michael Baird's contender for the gold logie fooled first time referee Kurt Ams into pointing to the spot. Robbie Fowler cooly finished the subsequent spot kick and the spoils were again shared for Melbourne.
Scorers: Mel (Sibon 5', Kalmar 36') Per (Marrone (og) 19', Fowler 90' pen)  Crowd: 5,878 at AAMI Park.