A-League 2007/08

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2007/08 season was the third season of the A-League in football . Champions were the Newcastle United Jets for the first time , who beat the regular season champions, the Central Coast Mariners , 1-0 in the final . Last year's finalists Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United both missed the play-off round. With Wellington Phoenix , a new team took part in the game for the first time since the league was founded. Phoenix replaced the New Zealand Knights , whose license was revoked in the previous season.

Closing table

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points Comments
 1. Central Coast Mariners  21st  10  4th  7th 030:250  +5 34 Qualified for the major semi-final
 2. Newcastle United Jets  21st  9  7th  5 025:210  +4 34
 3. Sydney FC  21st  8th  8th  5 028:240  +4 32 Qualified for the minor semi-final
 4th Queensland Roar  21st  8th  7th  6th 025:210  +4 31
 5. Melbourne Victory (M)  21st  6th  9  6th 029:290  ± 0 27
 6th Adelaide United  21st  6th  8th  7th 031:290  +2 26th
 7th Perth Glory  22nd  5  8th  9 027:340  −7 23
 8th. Wellington Phoenix  21st  5  5  11 025:370 −12 20th

Final round

  Semifinals Preliminary final Grand final
    L1 L2    
                             
1  CC Mariners 0 3      
2  Newcastle Jets 2 0             1  CC Mariners 0
    2  Newcastle Jets 3 1   2  Newcastle Jets 1
      4th  Queensland Roar 21  
3  Sydney FC 0 0
4th  Queensland Roar 0 2  

1 after extension

Grand Final

Central Coast Mariners Newcastle United Jets Lineup
Central Coast Mariners
February 24, 2008 in Sydney ( Sydney Football Stadium )
Result: 0: 1 (0: 0)
Spectators: 36,354
Referee: Mark Shield (Townsville)
Newcastle United Jets
Lineup Central Coast Mariners versus Newcastle United Jets
Danny Vukovic - Nigel Boogaard , Tony Vidmar (75th Matt Simon ), Alex Wilkinson , Alvin Ceccoli - Greg Owens (69th Tom Pondeljak ), Mile Jedinak , John Hutchinson , Adam Kwasnik (69th André Gumprecht ) - John Aloisi , Sasho Petrovski Trainer: Lawrie McKinna(C)Captain of the crew
 Ante Covic - Tarek Elrich , Adam Griffiths , Jade North , Andrew Durante , Adam D'Apuzzo - Stuart Musialik - Song Jin-hyung (90th + 3 ' Denni ), Joel Griffiths , Matt Thompson (76th Jason Hoffman ) - Mark Bridge (73rd James Holland ) Trainer: Gary van Egmond(C)Captain of the crew
goal 0: 1 bridge (64th)
yellow cards Jedinak (12th), Boogaard (90th), Aloisi (90th + 5 ') yellow cards J. Griffiths (11th), A. Griffiths (37.)
Red cards Vukovic (90th + 4 ')

Awards

Award winner
Johnny Warren Medal (Player of the Year) Joel Griffiths (Newcastle United Jets)
Reebok Golden Boot Award (Top Goalscorer) Joel Griffiths (Newcastle United Jets)
Hyundai Rising Star Award (Young Player of the Year (U-20)) Bruce Djite (Adelaide United)
Hyundai A-League Coach of the Year Gary van Egmond (Newcastle United Jets)
Zurich Referee of the Year Mark Shield
Joe Marston Medal (Best Player in Grand Final) Andrew Durante (Newcastle United Jets)
Goalkeeper of the Year Michael Theoklitos (Melbourne Victory)

List of goalscorers

Pl. Nat. player society Gates
1 AustraliaAustralia Joel Griffiths Newcastle United Jets 12
2 New ZealandNew Zealand Shane Smeltz Wellington Phoenix 9
3 AustraliaAustralia Alex Brosque Sydney FC 8th
AustraliaAustralia Jamie Harnwell Perth Glory 8th
5 AustraliaAustralia Daniel Allsopp Melbourne Victory 7th
AustraliaAustralia John Aloisi Central Coast Mariners 7th

Venues

society Stadion capacity Average audience
Melbourne Victory Telstra Dome 56,347 26,064
Queensland Roar Suncorp Stadium 52,500 16,951
Sydney FC Sydney Football Stadium 45,500 16,373
Newcastle United Jets EnergyAustralia Stadium 26,164 13.209
Central Coast Mariners Central Coast Stadium 20,119 12,741
Adelaide United Hindmarsh Stadium 17,000 12,697
Wellington Phoenix Westpac Stadium 34,500 11,683
Perth Glory Members Equity Stadium 18,156 7,596

Preseason competitions

Before the start of the A-League season, the mandatory pre-season cup was held.

Pre-Season Challenge Cup

The Pre-Season Challenge Cup 2007 took place in July and August as a run-up to the main season. The eight A-League teams were initially divided into two preliminary round groups of four teams each and played in a simple league round. In the league round there were not only normal points but also bonus points for goals scored. Two goals scored one point, three goals earned two points and three bonus points were awarded for four or more goals.

The two group leaders in each group advanced to the semi-finals and played the winner in a knockout process. The table third and fourth played placement games.

Some of the games were played in Australian cities without an A-League team to promote the league there.

In the final, defending champions Adelaide United beat Perth Glory 2-1.

Group stage

Group A

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points
 1. Adelaide United  3  1  2  0 006: 300  +3 08th
 2. Perth Glory  3  2  1  0 004: 200  +2 08th
 3. Newcastle United Jets  3  1  0  2 002: 500  −3 03
 4th Melbourne Victory  3  0  1  2 002: 400  −2 01

Group B

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points
 1. Central Coast Mariners  3  2  1  0 006: 100  +5 10
 2. Queensland Roar  3  1  2  0 003: 200  +1 06th
 3. Wellington Phoenix  3  1  0  2 004: 200  +2 05
 4th Sydney FC  3  0  1  2 000: 600  −6 01

Final round

  Semifinals final
       
 Adelaide United 3
 Queensland Roar 2  
   
 
 Adelaide United 2
   Perth Glory 1
 
place 3
   
 Perth Glory 3  Queensland Roar 3
 Central Coast Mariners 2    Central Coast Mariners 1
  5th place 5th place
       
 Newcastle Jets 3
 Sydney FC 2  
   
 
 Newcastle Jets 0 (4) 1
   Wellington Phoenix 0 (2)1
 
7th place
   
 Melbourne Victory 1  Sydney FC 1
 Wellington Phoenix 2    Melbourne Victory 0

1 after penalty shoot-out

Web links