1997/1998 Season Round 14 Results written by Thomas Esamie
Played (05/01/1998) Seiffert Oval Referee : M Breeze, Crowd : 3062
Canberra Cosmos Tony Giannasca, Andrew Roberts, Andrew Ravanello, Ante Moric (Ilija Prenzoski 68), Gordon Hunter, Norman Kelly, Peter Buljan, Lindsay Wilson, Dale Wingell (Tom Haythornthwaite 62), Toplica Popovic, Tristrim Morgan (Michael Musitano 46) Goals : Moric 5, 68, L Wilson 36, P Buljan 41, 58, 63, Prenzoski 72, 90+	8	-	1	UTS Olympic Bob Catlin, Eric Hristodoulou (Nick Carle 64), Norman Tome, Brett Emerton, Jean Paul de Marigny, Walter Ardone, Danny Barbalace, Hussein Jomaa (sent off 34), Steve Eagleton, Angelo Petratos (Ante Juric 46), Carlos Gonzales (Sam Larolla 46) Goal : Tome 82
I don't know why but this game was played on Monday night and I suspect Canberra will want to play Monday nights for evermore. Jomaa's send off on 34 minutes wouldn't have helped matters but that is not to take away from an overall performance by Canberra which makes a few nice entries in the record books and one imagines it will also soothe the pain of the 8-0 gubbing handed to the Cosmos by Wollongong. The 68th minute Moric goal came from a second effort after a nonchalant penalty was parried.
Played (04/01/1998) Parramatta Stadium Referee : E Lennie, Crowd : 5532
Sydney United Zeljko Kalac, David Barrett, Velimir Kupresak, Joe Vrkic, Peter Bennett, Marcus Philips, Paul Bilokapic, Robert Hooker, Azur Mujanovic (Jason Culina 46), Mario Jerman (Jacob Burns 63), Nick Bosevski (Mile Sterjovski 67)	0	-	0	Perth Glory Tony Franken, Gavin Wilkinson, Vinko Buljubasic, Gareth Naven, Scott Miller, Slobodan Despotovski, Michael Garcia, Samson Siasia, Scott Halpin, Danny Hay, Anthony Carbone (James Afkos 74)
Perth disappointingly lost the previous rounds game 2-0 to United at home and now were on the road to try to make amends. Despotovski scores but is disallowed the revenge by an offside decision and the rain in the second half isn't much help to making the game entertaining. Late in the game Sydney strike the crossbar for their best chance
Match report by Greg Stock Match report by David Borella
Played (04/01/1998) Hindmarsh Stadium Referee : W Dade, Crowd : 6115
Adelaide City Jason Petkovic, Bradley Armour, Milan Ivanovic, Alex Tobin, Angelo Costanzo, Damian Mori, Dino Mennillo (Bradley Hassell 90), John Gibson, Kris Trajanovski, Michael Brooks (Travis Dodd 84), Scott Thomas Goals : Brooks 28, Baser 71og, Mori 84	3	-	1	South Melbourne Michael Petkovic, Steve Iosifidis, Fausto de Amicis, David Clarkson, Paul Trimboli, Bill Damianos, Con Boutsianis (Vaughan Coveny 21), Goran Lozanovski, Tansel Baser, John Anastasiadis (Michael Curcija 77), George Goutzioulis (Robert Liparoti 77) Goal : Clarkson 19
Having lost to Souths in the previous round Adelaide reversed the outcome despite an earlyish goal to David Clarkson when a very skilful Damianos sent Clarkson through the defence with a great pass into space and Clarkson had no trouble scoring. Adelaide hit back through Brooks who put the ball into the far side of goal from a Mori pass and a series of very good chances for both sides ensued. In the end a Mennillo free kick found an unmarked Mori in front of goal. However true to form at least in this game Mori stuffed up the chance managing only to glance the ball onto the head of Tansel Baser who had the misfortune to score. Mori had the cheek to claim his 100th league goal in this fashion. Mori did infact get his 100th in this game with a solo effort from his own half. Previously he found the keeper after eluding 5 defenders on an earlier solo effort so when confronted by only 3 Souths players he did get past Petkovic in the Souths goal and finishes the scoring for the night.
Match report by Markian Jaworsky
Played (04/01/1998) Knights Stadium Referee : M Shields, Crowd : 3814
Melbourne Knights Joe Didulica, Ante Kovacevic, Ivan Jolic, Ransford Banini, Andrew Marth, Tom Pondeljak, Ivan Kelic, Zeljko Susa, Dragi Nastevski, John Didulica, Ante Deak Goal : Susa 9	1	-	0	Adelaide Sharks Frank Mikuletic, Alex Castro (George Kollias 87), Con Kokkinoplitis, Corey Artone, Jose Iriarte, Andrew Borghetto, Paul Pezos, Jamie Perin, Reginaldo Bigu da Silva (Jim Tsekinis 82), John Cutillo, Bill Misailidis
Early in the game a cross came into the Sharks penalty area. Tom Pondeljak's control was a bit off but the ball rolled to Zeljko Susa who swept the ball into the net for the only goal of the game. The Knights generally had the better of the game but there was enough from the Sharks to threaten the equaliser. In the end both teams bluffed their way to fulltime.
Played (03/01/1998) Suncorp Stadium Referee : B McKay, Crowd : 4050
Brisbane Strikers Clint Bolton, Glenn Gwynne, Chris Zoricich, Nick Meredith, Sean Cranney, Rod Brown, Kasey Wehrman (Mark Battistin 79), Wayne Knipe (Andrew Harper 58), Chay Hews (Troy Cranney 71), Stephen Laybutt, Andrew Packer Goal : Brown 46	1	-	2	Gippsland Falcons Jim Kourtis, Clayton Bell, Claudio Canosa, Manny Gotis, Tony Sekulic, Mark Foy (Doug Marcina 67), Levent Osman, Willie Hastie, Zlatko Mihajlovic (Paul Byrne 87), Nick Tsaltas, Nick Palamaras (Archie Thompson 65) Goals : Thompson 73, 90
Brisbane are having an atrocious followup season to their championship. Rod Brown looked to have given Brisbane at least some points from this game when he headed in a Wehrman cross despite being marked. This was no less than Brisbane deserved after creating a good number of chances. So then up pops Archie Thompson to score a goal off the post thus going one better than the shot he took to win the corner from which the Falcons reply was scored. Sheesh talk about convoluted sentences. Anyway true to Hollywood fashion Thompson takes 3 points when he receives an Osman pass, defeats the offside arguments and slots the ball past Bolton. Brisbane's misery continues. For the stats freaks the official media report lists Canosa and the scorer of the Falcons' equalising goal, which is not what happened.
Match report by John Croft Match report by David Marshall
Played (02/01/1998) Topper Stadium Referee : G Leverton, Crowd : 3892
Newcastle Breakers Liam Baker, Glen Sprod (Doug West 87), Matthew Austin, Shane Pryce, Todd McManus, Robert Ironside, Mark Wilson, Clayton Zane, Troy Halpin (Ben Lane 77), Jason Bennett (Liam McGuire 60), Matthew Lowe	0	-	0	Marconi-Fairfield Ante Covic, Mark Babic, Domenic Longo, Luke Casserly, Brad Maloney, Zeljko Babic, Francis Awaritefe, Brendan Renaud, Pan Keun Kim, Vlado Zoric, Gabriel Mendez (Christian Care 76)
Marconi were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty for a McManus tackle on Babic early in the game and wasted what other opportunites they created. Newcastle too could have won the game given Zane's barnstorming run through the middle only to be denied at the last by a poor shot which the keeper saved. Nice to see Chi-Chi Mendez play well too.
Match report by Chris Dunkerley
Played (03/01/1998) Optus Oval Referee : G Connolly, Crowd : 2371
Carlton Dean Anastasiadis, Robert Trajkovski, Sean Douglas, Kresimir Marusic (Daniel Allsopp 80), Lubomir Lapsansky (Andy Vargas 59), Andy Vlahos, Simon Colosimo, Vince Grella, John Markovski (Marcus Stergiopoulos 85), David Cervinski, Mark Atkinson Goal : Markovski 21	1	-	0	Wollongong City Adam Brodbeck, Alvin Ceccoli (Sonny Sevin 46), Robert Stanton, Matthew Horsley, Anthony Surjan, Michael Reda, Scott Chipperfield, George Souris (Jason Connolly 67), Tony Perinich, David Huxley, Esala Masi (Sasho Dimoski 80)
In a game which had it's share of chances only a long clearance from the Carlton keeper was of any consequence as John Markovski beat his man and found the goal from a tough angle, though he was aided by some poor positioning from Brodbeck who was probably looking to intercept the cross. A word too on Carlton coach Krncevic's jacket which was festooned with numbers. I liked it.