Melbourne Heart recorded their first away win in competitive football this afternoon, defeating 10th placed Newcastle Jets 2-0.
The much talked about game venue, Port Macquarie’s Regional Stadium, provided at least a green surface. Closer inspection revealed a sandy pitch, soft underfoot for the A-league players, who are used to slightly better conditions – though not by much.
The obvious talking point is the stunning goal by Nick Kalmar (53′), a half bicycle kick into the far top corner of the goal. If he played for Manchester United, the replay would be shown across the world. Kalmar continues his fine season form and his rise into the football spotlight.
Gerald Sibon, returning from suspension, scored the other goal of the night, from the spot (94′).
Whilst the Australian cricketers struggle in a well-sold WACA stadium in Perth (as I write Sri Lanka are taking the field for a bat), the Jets are heading home after hosting Heart in a small coastal town with a view of port-a-loos and the carpark.
The Football Sack team swear they saw a granny knitting in the home end, tumbleweed on the pitch, and four motocross bikes in the carpark revving their engines.
A crowd of 3000 attended the fixture, which is decent for a game that was thrown together in less than a week. At the end of the day, though, it reminded me far too much of the NSL in it’s dying stages.
With any luck, there will be some learning taken from the Knights’ mistakes. Perhaps we’ll see the end of Bon Jovi and U2 concerts forcing venue changes for A-league fixtures. But perhaps we won’t.
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