WOW
Lots of people tweeted about it – the comparison between last night's semi-final between Perth Glory and Adelaide United and the two UEFA Champions League semi-finals earlier in the week (you will note we have purposely declined the temptation of adjectives to describe those semi-finals as sometimes adjectives are not necessary) – and our own A-League sides certainly turned it on.
It looked like business as usual for Perth Glory when they scored in the 29th minute through Diego Castro, and did it again in the 74th minute and they were cruising to yet another win for season 2018-19.
Then Adelaide United substitute Baba Diawara suddenly brought life to the outcome when, seven minutes later, he scored for the away team followed by Ryan Kitto deep into stoppage time at the 94th minute to take the game to extra time.
All of that was exciting enough for a Friday night; when, once again, Perth gained the upper hand via Scott Neville who scored with a crashing header in the 104th minute, and then the #neversaydie Adelaide coming back – again – through another header via Michael Marrone with five minutes to go.
Next was the penalty shootout. Can anyone actually watch those things and not tear themselves to shreds?
So, truly, we can't tell you much about it except that – spoiler alert – Perth Glory won 5-4, thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Liam Reddy (pictured) who not only made four saves (we did listen, even if we didn't watch) but SCORED AS WELL. After all, who better to know how to score a penalty than a shot-stopper? Goalkeepers. Crazy good.
The bottom-line is Perth Glory is through to the A-League grand final – deservedly so after the season they've had – and Adelaide United Chairman Piet van der Pol must be hoping like hell that his hand-picked new coach can deliver the same level of discipline, fitness, creativity and passion to Adelaide United players next season as current coach Marco Kurz. Or else he's going to look very silly indeed for giving Kurz the boot. We note that Archie Thompson made a similar observation here – although perhaps not in such direct terms.
The grand final will be held on either Saturday or Sunday evening next week.
So … that's just from us. Here's what the experts had to say.
The Australian (Ray Gatt): Perth Glory earn grand final hosting rights after beating Adelaide United in a ripper (Read here)
AAP: Perth Glory beat Adelaide United on penalties to win through to A-League grand final (Read here)
AAP (Justin Chadwick): Perth Glory beat Adelaide United in semi-final thriller for the ages (Read here)
News Corp (Rob Greenwood, Adelaide): Perth advances to A-League grand final after defeating Adelaide United in tense penalty shootout (Read here $)
And now, we turn to The West Australian. What can we say?
Exhibit A is the 'front page' of the paper online, snapped at 7.17am AEST today.
Exhibit B is the 'front page' of the 'Soccer' (sic) section, snapped at 7.18am AEST today.
Two stories from four about Perth Glory. The first one about Neil Kilkenny was published 27 hours ago. The second one about why Perth Glory can win it all (at least they got that right) was published almost 45 hours ago.
This is not a case of the journalist being lazy. This is a case of the owners and management of The West Australian, Seven West Media, not giving a s*#^ about football and not giving Perth Glory the attention they deserve. It encapsulates the reason why FFA and the new A-League entity MUST NEVER sell their souls, and our game, to that organisation. Ever. Again.
We did it once (hello David Hill); and if there are insufficient people around in football power to know what the hell we're talking about, please ask some of us who do know and we'll happily brief you.
To close our semi-final coverage, Richard Hinds had a thoughtful read in ABC Online earlier in the day yesterday in which he made the point that one of the biggest challenges for the A-League is, in fact, what is also seen as one of football's greatest strengths – it's global nature.
“Any such comparisons are, of course, hugely unfair. Asking the A-League to live up to the Champions League is like expecting the lead role in the school play to display the stagecraft of Meryl Streep. But this week, of all weeks, a couple of cracking A-League semi-finals would be welcome — or the same local pundits who suddenly embraced the Champions League will find it impossible to resist making those unflattering comparisons,” Hinds wrote.
More of the latest football news today
'Big Blue'
Of course, over 'east' most of the football space is taken up with the second semi-final – yet another face-off between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. As Ray Gatt writes here “nothing is bigger than the 'Big Blue'”.
Tom Smithies helpfully charts their season to this point and the “inexorable path to a semi-final showdown” (Daily Tele readers love adjectives).
There's a little video here with the imaginative (but accurate) headline of 'Sydney to host Victory in semi'.
Michael Lynch notes that one person not bothered if the 'Big Blue' does a #PERvADL – that is, goes to a penalty shootout – is Melbourne Victory goalkeeper, Lawrence Thomas who says technique and instinct both play an important part.
Lynch has an opinion piece stating that while Keisuke Honda got the headlines as a marquee, Ola Toivonen has delivered just as much value.
The combined price tag of the two forward lines of Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory is more than $10 million. Those counted in this sum are Toivonen, Kosta Barbarouses, James Troisi and Honda for Melbourne Victory, and Alex Brosque, Milos Ninkovic, Siem de Jong and Adam Le Fondre for Sydney FC. Quite incredible how they all fit within the salary cap.
Marquees
We have a few stories rolled-out about the 'marquee strategy' for next season, ($) with clubs “testing the waters” in respect of players such as Arjen Robben, Santi Cazorla and Franck Ribery. Smithies writes that Sydney FC has had discussions with Arjen Robben. (It has certainly been widely reported in German-speaking media that Ribery has had discussions with Western Sydney Wanderers coach Markus Babbel).
Other names thrown around ($) include 33-year-old Lukas Podolski and Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, 29, with Brisbane Roar likely to have the edge with Sturridge because of Robbie Fowler.
FFA says the strategy of bringing Keisuke Honda here has paid “dividends” for the A-League with no “blowback” from any of the clubs. Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend is quoted as saying that Sydney FC's view was to “get him in the league somewhere”.
Ante Milicic
Peculiar timing to announce the extension of the contract for Ante Milicic just as the semi-finals start, but also reported is the news of his contact extension as coach of the Matildas.
Dominic Bossi had the story more than a week ago, and describes it today as a “long-term deal” with Milicic to guide the Matildas to the 2020 Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo in from 24 July to 9 August.
Gatt writes that “the likelihood he will now be tied to his current job until August next year ($) means he would have no time to plan for an A-League season”.
While there is “speculation” about Milicic taking up the role as head coach of the Macarthur South-West Sydney expansion team, he has told Emma Kemp that's a matter “for another time” but the announcement of the Matildas squad for the World Cup is his main focus.