Central Coast Mariners, 1 v Newcastle Jets, 2
It was a case of 'close' but not close enough for Central Coast Mariners, with their F3 Derby rivals Newcastle Jets coming from behind to win 1-2 for their fourth successive derby victory. Central Coast looked as if they might win their first game of the season after a Matt Simon goal in the first half, until Jason Hoffman and Ronny Vargas scored within 16 minutes of one another in the second half to extend Central Coast's winless run to 15 matches before 8,923 fans. This is how the experts saw it.
Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers, Boxing Day
Markus Babbel says his side must maintain focus for 90 minutes, and not drift off in the middle of games, or make silly blunders (eg. Vedran Janjetovic), because playing well for 25 minutes is not enough, especially against a disciplined side such as Adelaide United.
It will be the first time the two German coaches have come up against one another, and Babbel says his players need to “smarten up”. He says that he thinks Western Sydney players are “more skilful” than Adelaide players but repeats a German saying that “Mentality beats quality”.
Journalist Val Migliaccio gets to write about football and spruik his home town in this piece! Ben Halloran looks like “a stereotypical Queensland surfie” (hmmmm), but was taken aback at the “natural splendour” of the long stretch of beaches located south of Adelaide's CBD. He makes the point that, in Brisbane, you either have to drive 90 minutes north or south to get to a decent beach at the Sunshine or Gold Coasts respectively, yet Adelaide's southern beaches are less than 30 minutes away.
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory were minutes away from a win and leading the A-League table in the Melbourne Derby on Saturday night, but Kevin Muscat is unworried by the 1-1 draw. He says he's more interested in “everything that happened before”; the effort the players put in, the enjoyment and the “tremendous effort”. Muscat says Keisuke Honda didn't play becasue he looked “a bit fatigued” and, with seven games in January, Muscat didn't want to risk him.
Ola Toivonen hardly got a touch in the first half of the Melbourne Derby but in the second half popped-up to “score a tremendous goal that has his coach drooling in the other.” Toivonen doesn't have much to say about it, but Muscat says he doubts very few teams could have stopped the goal, saying it was an “unbelievable goal”.
Melbourne City
Captain Scott Jamieson is hopeful of a Christmas detente between coach Warren Joyce and star striker Bruno Fornaroli.
Brisbane Roar
John Aloisi has been urged to turn to youth players, rather than stick with out-of-form veterans, to help “save his job” after the “humiliating” thrashing received at the hands of Wellington Phoenix.
Socceroos
The latest player to be hit with an injury concern is Mathew Leckie after suffering a hamstring injury in the 54th minute playing for Hertha Berlin. Scans later today will determine his fate but there are concerns he could be ruled out for between a month and six weeks. The injury concern comes on top of Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic.
Canberra A-League bid
Head of A-League Greg O'Rourke has put the dampener on some of the PR fluff from the Canberra A-League bid team last week which said they are the only ones talking with FFA and they're on track to join the A-League in 2020-21. He said that Canberra's inclusion is not a fait accompli. Perhaps Canberra needs to read this.
Remaining matches for 2018
Wednesday 26 December: Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers, Coopers Stadium, 7.20pm local, 7.50pm AEDT
Thursday 27 December: Canberra United v Brisbane Roar, McKellar Park, 7.30pm local & AEDT (W-League)
Friday 28 December: Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory, AAMI Park, 5.20pm local & AEDT (W-League)
Friday 28 December: Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix, AAMI Park, 7.50pm local & AEDT
Saturday 29 December: Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar, Jubilee Stadium, 7.50pm local & AEDT
Sunday 30 December: Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4.30pm local & AEDT (W-League)
Sunday 30 December: Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7pm local & AEDT
Sunday 31 December: Central Coast v Perth Glory, Central Coast Stadium, 7pm local & AEDT
This will be the last of our daily look at the local football news for 2018. We'll be back bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on Tuesday 1 January 2019 – and ready for the Asian Cup. In the meantime, check back for our holiday feature reads. All the best to all Football Today readers and contributors. Thanks for your support in 2018. See you next year!