There's nothing like the launch of the new season's fixture to whet fans' appetite, even if A-League supporters are frustrated that they still have to wait another two months before the 2019-20 campaign kicks off.
Victory's Anthony Lesiotis rides a tackle from the Jets' Angus Thurgate at AAMI Park on Wednesday.Credit:AAP
There is little chance of the world's longest off-season being shortened any time soon, given the current 11-team composition of the league, the availability of grounds and the desire of broadcasters to fit soccer into a product mix which also includes dominant codes like Australian rules and rugby league.
It is that lengthy hiatus that makes the FFA Cup so important, and we got another example during the week of just how exciting and unpredictable the competition can be.
The round of 32, the stage at which the A-League clubs enter, always has the possibility of drama, upset and controversy. We got that at several places in the past few days, nowhere more so than in Queensland where Brisbane Strikers knocked out A-League club Wellington Phoenix on penalties in a thriller that saw the Member Federation side take a two-goal lead only to be clawed back by the Kiwis, who levelled at 2-2 and forced extra time.
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All the momentum seemed to be going the New Zealander's way before they missed an extra-time penalty, setting up the chance for the second tier outfit to win in a shoot out.
In Victoria there were goals aplenty too. Melbourne Victory crashed 3-2 at home to Newcastle in extra time having frittered away a 2-0 lead with less than 20 minutes to go, while Melbourne Knights and Adelaide shared seven, with the visitors winning 5-2 in a game which attracted a big crowd and created a memorable atmosphere in Sunshine.
For the Member Federation Clubs like Brisbane and the Knights, such games are vital.
With the National Second Division now firmly on the horizon clubs are jockeying for position to show why they should be contenders for a licence to a league which ultimately should, when promotion and relegation is introduced, lead to a spot in the A-League for those good enough to win their way to the top tier.
Strong performances — of the kind produced by Brisbane on Wednesday and other clubs including Hume City, Bentleigh Greens and South Melbourne in past Cup competitions — can enhance those claims, although other criteria, such as financial stability and size of supporter base, will also be important considerations when it comes to granting spots in the second tier.
While there remains such a long lay-off the Cup represents the best chance for A-League teams to gain much-needed preparation in meaningful matches before the season kicks off in October.
It's a sobering thought, but Liverpool won the Champions League final against Tottenham on June 1, 12 days after Sydney's Grand Final triumph in Perth on May 20. Since then they have played a series of international friendlies, lost on penalties to Manchester City in the Community Shield and opened their Premier League campaign against Norwich City in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Melbourne City, who beat Campbelltown City in late July in their round of 32 match, know that they will face a proper hit-out when they take on Marconi Stallions in Sydney in the round of 16 later this month. At the same time cross town rivals Victory will be scrambling to arrange friendlies against NPL teams and other A-League sides who are out of Cup contention.
There's nothing like the launch of the new season's fixture to whet fans' appetite, even if A-League supporters are frustrated that they still have to wait another two months before the 2019-20 campaign kicks off.
Victory's Anthony Lesiotis rides a tackle from the Jets' Angus Thurgate at AAMI Park on Wednesday.Credit:AAP
There is little chance of the world's longest off-season being shortened any time soon, given the current 11-team composition of the league, the availability of grounds and the desire of broadcasters to fit soccer into a product mix which also includes dominant codes like Australian rules and rugby league.
It is that lengthy hiatus that makes the FFA Cup so important, and we got another example during the week of just how exciting and unpredictable the competition can be.
The round of 32, the stage at which the A-League clubs enter, always has the possibility of drama, upset and controversy. We got that at several places in the past few days, nowhere more so than in Queensland where Brisbane Strikers knocked out A-League club Wellington Phoenix on penalties in a thriller that saw the Member Federation side take a two-goal lead only to be clawed back by the Kiwis, who levelled at 2-2 and forced extra time.
Advertisement
All the momentum seemed to be going the New Zealander's way before they missed an extra-time penalty, setting up the chance for the second tier outfit to win in a shoot out.
In Victoria there were goals aplenty too. Melbourne Victory crashed 3-2 at home to Newcastle in extra time having frittered away a 2-0 lead with less than 20 minutes to go, while Melbourne Knights and Adelaide shared seven, with the visitors winning 5-2 in a game which attracted a big crowd and created a memorable atmosphere in Sunshine.
For the Member Federation Clubs like Brisbane and the Knights, such games are vital.
With the National Second Division now firmly on the horizon clubs are jockeying for position to show why they should be contenders for a licence to a league which ultimately should, when promotion and relegation is introduced, lead to a spot in the A-League for those good enough to win their way to the top tier.
Strong performances — of the kind produced by Brisbane on Wednesday and other clubs including Hume City, Bentleigh Greens and South Melbourne in past Cup competitions — can enhance those claims, although other criteria, such as financial stability and size of supporter base, will also be important considerations when it comes to granting spots in the second tier.
While there remains such a long lay-off the Cup represents the best chance for A-League teams to gain much-needed preparation in meaningful matches before the season kicks off in October.
It's a sobering thought, but Liverpool won the Champions League final against Tottenham on June 1, 12 days after Sydney's Grand Final triumph in Perth on May 20. Since then they have played a series of international friendlies, lost on penalties to Manchester City in the Community Shield and opened their Premier League campaign against Norwich City in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Melbourne City, who beat Campbelltown City in late July in their round of 32 match, know that they will face a proper hit-out when they take on Marconi Stallions in Sydney in the round of 16 later this month. At the same time cross town rivals Victory will be scrambling to arrange friendlies against NPL teams and other A-League sides who are out of Cup contention.
