Adrian Luna celebrates his opening goal with teammates during the round 10 A-League match between the Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City at McDonald Jones Stadium. Photograph: Ashley Feder/Getty Images
Adrian Luna celebrates his opening goal with teammates during the round 10 A-League match between the Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City at McDonald Jones Stadium. Photograph: Ashley Feder/Getty Images
So, that’s where we’ll leave proceedings. A terrific finish to round out round 10 of the A-League with Melbourne City putting on a masterclass. A bitter pill to swallow for home side Newcastle Jets who pulled out all stops in putting on a terrific home-game initiative with their teddy bear toss pre-game, but any pre-Christmas good cheer quickly dissipated for home fans.
A good win the W-League too for Sydney FC, who put their own disappointing loss to City last week behind them, to keep the gap to just one-point at the top of the table. Remy Siemsen with a brace there to secure the points.
A huge result in the Presidents Cup with a Tiger-led turnaround to win it or Team USA. Big news too from the UFC where Australia has its newest champion in Alex Volkanovski. And plenty more from plentywhere else (that sounds cromulent).
Thanks for your company - we’ll see you again next week on Sportwatch!
Some interesting news out of the WBBL as well, where after the successful end to the fifth season there’s now some talk of a potential expanded finals tournament for next year.
Given some of the quality in the league (to think - no Ellyse Perry-led Sixers even making the top four) it’s surely a decent shout - although the purists might suggest it devalues the top four?
A quick update from Perth, where there’s a review to see whether or not the visitors New Zealand are five-for. And this time it’s Nathan Lyon doing the damage.
Adam Collins has picked up the reins from Geoff Lemon, in the West:
So - to flick round some sporting news from elsewhere:
A big win in the WNBL, where it was the top-of-the-table showdown between the Southside Flyers (née Dandenong Rangers) and the Canberra Capitals.
AAP’s Daniel Gilhooly picks up the action from that one:
The Southside Flyers have blasted through the Canberra Capitals’ home fortress to win their table-topping WNBL clash 70-65 and extend their competition lead.
Unbeaten at home for 16-straight games, the Capitals couldn’t halt a late charge from the Victorian visitors, who won the final quarter 23-15.
In a first visit to Canberra in their short history, the Flyers proved they will be hard to catch in the regular season after improving to 12-1 while Canberra slipped to 8-3 but clung on to second place.
Guard Rebecca Cole scored a game-high 21 points for the winners, supported by Mercedes Russell’s 17 points and 10 rebounds. Russell edged a titanic struggle with opposition centre Marianna Tolo, who was influential for Canberra, top-scoring with 16 points before fouling out.
Hard to pick the top performers out there for Melbourne - the two Uruguayans, Luna and Cabrera both having hands down their best games in a City shirt. Replacement ‘keeper Tom Glover had a near-faultless performance between the sticks, and not a bad performer in sky blue.
They pin Sydney FC’s lead back to five atop the table. Hard to see too many teams reeling them in this season, but on this showing - if anyone can, it’s City.
Circle December 29 in your diary therefore, as those two table toppers go head to head.
A grim post-match interview for the 300-game warrior, Nikolai Topor Stanley, wearing the Newcastle Jets armband.
“Were you guys totally off, or were they totally on?”
“Oh probably a bit of both. They were in complete cruise control - we couldn’t get near them - we didn’t stick to our defensive plan, and you get punished against good teams.”
90 + 1 min: Just the three minutes added on, perhaps to the relief of home fans. A disappointing day out for the fine folk of the Hunter. The area is beset with horrific bushfires, and this game won’t have done much to lift their collective spirits, alas.
And there is the final whistle. It was a red-hot City side, catching a luke-warm Jets outfit stone cold, and the result from there looked inevitable.
Tom Glover provides a safe pair of hands on his City debut. Photograph: Ashley Feder/Getty Images
88 min: Ooph! What a strike from fellow replacement Atkinson. They backed off the young right back, so he sized it up and curled an intelligent effort - but it cannons back off the post!
A let off for the Jets - and he’s denied a first-ever A-League goal, the long-time understudy to Ritchie de Laet.
84 min: It’s Maclaren through on goal - that’s the last thing home fans want to see - but the defensive line scrambles and manage to effect a block. That was a rare bit of uncertainty from the single-minded striker.
Meanwhile, Wales completely fluffs his lines after a superb looping throughball from Brillante. It’s an airswing from the Olyroo who just refuses to score (on the field) in 2019/20. He’s had nine appearance and almost 500 minutes. De nada.
Two thrillers from the NBL played out today - where Adelaide 36ers have shaded the Breakers at home in Auckland 96-99, and South East Melbourne Phoenix have overcome the Cairns Taipan in overtime 112-105.
Here’s the write up from the AAP:
A freakish shooting display from John Roberson has inspired South East Melbourne Phoenix to a thrilling 112-105 overtime victory over Cairns Taipans.
The Taipans fought back from 10 points down to lead by six in the closing stages of regulation at Melbourne Arena on Sunday before Roberson caught fire to earn the Phoenix a much-needed win.
The import guard drilled two long-range bombs in the final 11 seconds to send the game into overtime then scored 15 points in the extra period to finish with 32, including 8-of-14 from three-point range.
Mitch Creek tallied 25 points and nine rebounds while veteran guard Adam Gibson drilled five three-pointers in his 25-point haul as South East Melbourne improved their win-loss record to 7-7.
A great result for the new club - the type that really build character. Can they build from this?
76 min: Good initiative from the youngster Langlois, who twists and turns and fashions a good shot inside the box, that’s forced behind for a corner. Not bad for a replacement centre half.
City defend their lines though, and Mombaerts makes his third and final change as Noone trots off and Atkinson join Wales and Berenguer as the fresh faces for Melbourne.
A first showing of Berenguer for the season, it should be noted. The French import enduring an injury-ravaged start to his campaign - the minutes could do him the world of good here.
71 min: Josh Brillante tries a belter from distance, but it swerves away and doesn’t force a save from Moss. Some lovely build up from City ahead of that. Has this been the best performance we’ve seen from them this season?
He’s really got them humming, Erik Mombaerts. Especially after the drudgery of the Joyce years for this talent-laden squad.
66 min: Merrick empties his bench - it’s Langlois on for Thurgate, Burns for Koutroumbis, and Ridenton also trots on for his 100th A-League appearance.
It’s a horrid day for landmarks for the Jets players: Topor’s 300th, Ugarkovic also with his 100th for the club. A day to forget.
Goal! Newcastle Jets 0-4 Melbourne City (Maclaren)
58 min: And guess who! It just had to be. 10 goals in six games - the fastest ever to double figures in A-League history - and that’s 20 goals in 14 games for club and country in recent months. Jamie Maclaren. He is RED. HOT. And this is turning into a Rocky Horror Show for a club that has tried so hard to engender some Christmas cheer with its superb charity initiative.
55 min: Hello. It’s an indirect free-kick, just inside the City box for the Jets - what was that for? Possibly a six-second violation from the ‘keeper, Glover? When’s the last time you’ve seen one of those given!
Petratos eyes it, and if anyone can score from here, it’s him. He thumps it - but straight into a wall of bodies! Danger averted.
53 min: Glen Moss rushes off his line, as the Jets are denied a clear shooting chance, which enables City to hit in transition. It was a dangerous long ball over the top for Maclaren, but only the awareness of the NZ-born shot-stopper denied the visitors a fourth there!
47 min: Ay, ay, ay! If one doesn’t get you, the other does. It’s a horrorshow made in Uruguay for the home fans - he’s rarely started both Luna and Cabrera, Erik Mombaerts. He has today - and they’ve rewarded him with three goals.
It’s a strike of the highest quality - Jets again are caught after a break in play, and with nobody closing down the Uruguayan he decides to take on the strike, and he absolutely fizzes that past Glen Moss. Woof! What a hit that was.
45 min: We’re back! The Fox commentary team had a half-time chat with Ernie Merrick and no mistaking his thoughts - he gave his side a rocket. Let’s see how they respond.
What a story this is - one of Australia’s top cyclists cruelled ahead of Tokyo 2020 with a cancer diagnosis. If you missed the context to this, here’s a terrific profile from my colleague Kieran Pender. What a gutsy effort and best of luck to Matthew in his treatment.
A-League: Newcastle Jets 0-2 Melbourne City - half-time:
45 min: Some forlorn faces from the home side as the whistle blows - they haven’t necessarily been poor, the home side, but they were hit but a furious opening from a team looking to bounce back from a bad loss and maintain their chase of table-toppers Sydney FC.
Ernie Merrick no doubt with some choice words over the individual defending for those two goals conceded - can the Jets fight back from the canvas?
And some news just in from the UFC. He sounds like an extra from the hit series Gladiator, but Australia’s Alex Volkanovski is now officially a division champion:
41 min: Petratos with a sharp shot on the spin, but Glover once again gets his whole body behind it. No surprises that it’s Newcastle’s No10 at the heart of their best chances. With the ongoing injury to Wes Hoolahan and the absence of Arroyo today, so much sits on his shoulders.
38 min: A lovely interchange between Cabrera and Maclaren sees the Socceroo fire off a shot, but it’s well-blocked by a Jets defender, at the expense of a corner.
35 min: A close up on the normally reserved Ernie Merrick, but he is chewing wasps on the Jets bench. Just as his side looked to be gaining the slightest of footholds in this game they were sucker-punched.
A win here and they could scoot into the top six. But on the showing of this opening thirty minutes that could be a bridge too far.
28 min: It’s brilliant work from the centre half, Curtis Good, who recovers an overhit corner ball, plays back to Brillante who picks out a man in the middle - and would you believe it - fast after his second-ever A-League goal, a third!
It’s a lovely header home from the Uruguayan, and Moss in goals, was caught in no-man’s land.
22 min: Genreau becomes the first man booked - the hugely experienced Alireza Faghani takes exception to his challenge, and replays suggest rightly so.
Dimi Petratos tries the acrobatic effort - it’s a sweet sweeping volley, but it’s straight at Glover. Are there signs of life for the Jets after weathering a pulsating first 15 from the visitors?
11 min: Maclaren fashions a chance from a very acute angle. There was little on but he did brilliantly, the Socceroo, to muscle his opponent, cut back in and fire a shot just over.
Dimi Petratos at the other end has Glover stretching for a well-jinked cross - there’s a nice cut and thrust developing to this one; you don’t imagine that’s the last goal we’ll see today.
6 min: So. In the (approximate) words of Hatchet Harry - let’s see the Jets’ $%^&ing cards. Have they got the mettle to hit straight back? Or could this turn into “one of those days”?
2 min: Oh my. Like a hot knife through butter - it’s a late run from midfield from Cabrera’s diminutive compatriot, Adrian Luna, and he tucks home a clever throughball ahead of an outrushing Glen Moss.
Poor old Jets fans - they’ve hardly found their seats and BANG.
He seems more an encourager than a ranter, Mombaerts, but that’s the start that speaks of a team with a bee in their bonnet. Wow.
1 min: And we’re away! Jets get us going, and it’s the visitors with the early touches at the back. Javier Cabrera with a very handy early cross, but Maclaren, for once, wasn’t haring through on it. That was a beautiful ball from the Uruguayan - that could have been some start.
But - back to A-League action, where our players are just out on the pitch and kick off can’t be too far along.
One huge call I missed mentioning earlier made by City’s French coach Erik Mombaerts - goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis has been dropped with one-time Tottenham junior and Mariner Tom Glover coming in between the sticks. Big call, big day for him.
It’s one of many changes, Griffiths and Metcalfe also drop out after City were shocked 3-0 last weekend by then bottom-club, Perth Glory.
And talking of another animal that many thought was stuffed - how about Tiger Woods. Honestly, has any sports star been written off more times than this bloke?
If you’re just catching up on the Presidents Cup golf - it’s been an incredible final day turnaround from Team USA: the first team in 25 years to mount a final-day, back-nine comeback.
A big day for the Jets, who as we speak have CEO Lawrie McKinna arriving in the Westpac chopper dressed as Santa. You absolutely can’t fault this club for their community engagement.
If you saw the former mayor of Gosford’s Twitter feed during the week, there is of course a “teddy bear toss” happening today. I can hand on heart say I’m not au fait with that tradition.
The wire from the Jets is that it’s to encourage folk to donate bears for local charities for kids without anything for Christmas. Hats off to McKinna and the local Jets active support crew - that’s wonderful stuff.
@NewcastleJetsFC the Jets will be selling Teddy Bears at the stadium tomorrow for $5 each before the game at the marquee out side and at the merchandise outlet inside. All kids under 16 will get a free ticket for entry if the bring a teddy bear. #jetsteddybearthrowpic.twitter.com/4qTTbA53fS
So, without further ado, here’s the starting XIs for tonight’s final match from round 10 of the A-League:
Newcastle
The armband once again for Topor in game #300! Stevey starts for his 100th appearance in Jets colours, while Matt Ridenton is in line for Hyundai A-League game 100 from the bench! #NEWvMCY#ALeague#MadeOfNewcastlepic.twitter.com/hjagbHOjpC
He’s been a terrific servant to the league, NTS - just the third player behind Andrew Durante and Leigh Broxham to bring up 300 A-League appearances.
They’ll need him at his best tonight the Jets, to marshall the sharpest shooter in the game right now: Jamie “nine goals in five games” Maclaren.
Interesting to see both Uruguayans - Luna and Cabrera - getting the nod and a welcome return for Denis Genreau; what a talent he is, the young City midfielder.
Thanks Scott. Given those options, its a real toss up. I hope the rest of your day goes better than namesake Adam. How bout them Team USA, huh?
We’ve got A-League action ahead (funny how I always find myself in an Alliance-friendly bar come U Day..), some cycling action from Brisbane and whatever else the sporting gods deign to throw at us. But shake yourself because there’s no time for torpor - it’s time for Topor-Stanley: it’s his 300th A-League appearance today don’t you know, as Newcastle host Melbourne City.
A thoroughly convincing win for Sydney FC, who did their title claims no harm at all and were value for much more than the scoreline indicates. The second half was end-to-end stuff, quite entertaining, and there were plenty of chances that could have gone in but didn’t. Sofia Huerta, Amy Sayer and Veronica Latsko could each have had a goal or two, but in the end it was Remy Siemsen’s brace that secured the three points and sent her to the top of the goal-scoring pops. That’s me done for the day. I now leave you in the unquestionably safe - or should that be safely questionable? - hands of Sir Richard Parkin. He really is a sir. I saw it on his credit card.
Australia’s Alex Volkanovski has scored an upset to win the UFC featherweight title with a unanimous points victory over American Max Holloway in Las Vegas.
One judge gave every round to Volkanovski, scoring it 50-45 and the other two had the Australian winning 48-47.
The 31-year-old from Windang on the NSW South coast, who is the first Australian-born fighter to win a UFC title, landed more strikes in each round and was particularly successful with kicks to Holloway’s legs.
- with thanks to AAP
Alexander Volkanovski hits Max Holloway in their featherweight championship bout at UFC 245 in Las Vegas. Photograph: John Locher/AP
How on earth did the Internationals lose the Presidents Cup? It’s the Tiger Touch, that’s what it is. Woods has had a ripper of a year when, really, it looked like he was done and dusted as a force in golf. He’s a flawed genius, but don’t we just love flaws in our geniuses.
W-League: Goal! Newcastle 0-2 Sydney FC (Remy Siemsen, 50’)
Oops. It was always a case of when, not if, the second goal would come, but it was difficult to envisage it happening this. Jets keeper Claire Coelho, so busy and so good in the first half, receives a back pass and, though the intention was to pass the ball on to a teammate, basically plants it at the feet of Remy Siemsen, who after licking her chops, pinching herself and buying a lotto ticket, cooly slots it home for her third brace of the season. Who’d be a goalkeeper?
Sydney FC remain one goal to the good at half-time but it could have been far worse for the Jets. Sydney have dominated this encounter and had three gilt-edged chances go begging after Siemsen’s strike on the half-hour. The clearest of them, the last play of the half, saw Foord miss (under some pressure) from directly in front. She’s probably drill it home nine time out of ten, this occasion, obviously, being the odd one out. Still, if the match continues in this manner, Sydney FC will be in front by more than one goal come the final whistle.
Jenna Kingsley of the Newcastle Jets contests the ball with Angelique Hristodoulou of Sydney FC during the W-League match in Newcastle. Photograph: Tony Feder/Getty Images
W-League: Goal! Newcastle 0-1 Sydney FC (Remy Siemsen, 31’)
The Jets keeper has had plenty to do and finally the dam wall breaks. Angelique Hristodoulou whips in a dangerous cross from the right and Remy Siemsen weaves her way through a flat-footed Newcastle defence to head home for the game’s first goal. And it was coming.
Brilliant save! Teresa Polias wins a hard ball for Sydney FC, about 30 metres out from the Newcastle goal, and her full-blooded shot draws an acrobatic save from Jets keeper Claire Coelho, who tips the ball over the bar. Quality football all round.
Three-time snowboarding world champion Scotty James has started off the northern hemisphere season in much the same way as he completed the last - with a resounding win.
The Melbourne halfpipe rider, who won every major event in 2018/19, took out the US Open Grand Prix in Copper Mountain, Colorado this morning. It marked consecutive wins at the event for the 25 year-old.
The three-time Winter Olympian led the field with a 96 point first run in challenging snow and flat light and held that advantage for the rest of the event with a simple victory lap on his third and final run.
“I definitely put some added pressure on myself after last year with some big expectations” said James, who recently took out the Australian Institute of Sport male athlete of the year award. “I had to iron those emotions over and just come out with a clear head and approach it as a new season. The elements weren’t in our favour today but everyone rode really well and I knew they were going to, so I had to bring it today.”
Yuto Totsuka (JPN) took silver with 94.5 and Ruka Hirano (JPN) took bronze with 89.25.
James, the bronze medallist in the halfpipe at last year’s Winter Olympics, will now travel to Secret Garden in China for the next FIS World Cup.
- with thanks to AAP
Scotty James of Australia competes in the men’s Snowboard Halfpipe final in Copper Mountain, Colorado. Photograph: Sean M Haffey/Getty Images
Players are still finding their feet at McDonald Jones Stadium. There was a bit of spice early, not to mention some nerves for Newcastle, with Claire Coelho forced into a save from Alanna Kennedy’s header. Not a serious threat but a notice of intent all the same.
The USA have completed a historic Presidents Cup triumph over the Internationals at Royal Melbourne. Led by inspirational playing captain Tiger Woods, the US turned a 10-8 overnight deficit into cup glory after dominating Sunday’s singles session.
Wins for Woods, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele and the maligned Patrick Reed, two halved matches plus a guaranteed half point for Matt Kuchar were enough to secure the star-studded Americans a 16-14 victory.
Kuchar, who had lost all four of his previous Presidents Cup singles encounters, clinched victory with a birdie on the 17th hole to go one up against Louis Oosthuizen.
Oosthuizen had been three up at the turn before Kuchar produced a tenacious back-nine comeback as the US became the first team in the event’s 25-year history to win the Cup after trailing into the final day.
Woods sparked the US fightback when he downed the Internationals’ previously unbeaten spearhead Abraham Ancer three-and-two in the opening singles match. In doing so, the 15-times major champion became the most prolific winner in Presidents Cup history, surpassing countryman and career-long rival Phil Mickelson’s 26 victories in the matchplay competition.
What’s this talk about New Zealand batting for nigh on two days to save, or even win, the first Test against Australia? Puuuuurrrrrlease! That would be something else. That said, this is sport and stranger things have happened. Day four is about to get under way in Perth. Geoff Lemon is the man in the central commentary position. Enjoy!
Presidents Cup update - Tiger’s on fire, here come the USA
The USA are closing in on a historic Presidents Cup comeback win over the Internationals at Royal Melbourne.
Victories in Sunday’s deciding singles matches for inspirational playing captain Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson and the maligned Patrick Reed turned the Americans’ 10-8 overnight deficit into a one-point lead.
But the 11-10 advantage was significantly more as the star-studded US team controlled several other matches.
Woods became the most prolific winner in Presidents Cup history in downing the Internationals’ previously unbeaten spearhead Abraham Ancer three and two in the opening singles match.
Woods’ seven birdies saw him complete the week with a perfect three-from-three record. The 15-time major champion’s 27th President Cup match win also eclipsed fellow American Phil Mickelson’s 26.
Johnson was never threatened in a four-and-three victory over Cup rookie Haotong Li that locked the scores up at 10-all.
Defeat for Li earned the Chinese youngster a dubious place in the history books as the only International player not to contribute even half a point at the 2019 edition.
Speaking of the cricket, how about this: Peter Siddle a bolter to play for Australia in the Boxing Day Test? Hmmm. That is a surprise. I know he’s only 35 but it seems like he’s been playing professional cricket that long. I’ll eat my baggy green if he nudges in front of James Pattinson but I’ve been wrong before. Regardless, I’m sure Pete is finding room for an extra banana or two a day just in case he gets the call.
Did I say I had more for you or did I not say I had more for you? Terence Crawford and Egidijus Kavaliauskas are right now punching each other’s lights out at Madison Square Garden. Well, what are you doing here? Off you go (but please come back).
Happy Sunday, sports fans. If you’re looking for an excuse to delay the Christmas shopping for yet another day, I’m your man. Try this Santa suit on for size: day four of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand, the Presidents Cup reaches its denouement at Royal Melbourne (though, somewhat sadly, without the involvement of Patrick Reed’s caddie), Newcastle take on Sydney FC in the W-League, Newcastle (same club, different players) are then in action again against Melbourne City in the A-League, and the Track Cycling World Cup round in Brisbane winds up today. And like any dodgy Father Christmas impersonator worth his salt, I might even have more in my stocking for you. So send the in-laws home, fill the fridge full of Kombucha and settle in for an afternoon and evening of sport, glorious sport. The shopping can wait. If you’d like to get in touch, send me an email or a tweet.
Comments (…)
Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion