Phoenix show five players the door
Ernie Merrick has begun the process of rebuilding his side following their premature playoff exit, with a host of fringe players moved on
Wellington Phoenix have confirmed five players are leaving the club, including Michael Boxall and Kenny Cunningham.
Cunningham, a Costa Rica international, became a fan favourite during his two seasons with the club, and his two late goals against Central Coast Mariners, when the Phoenix came from two goals down to win 3-2, will be long remembered by supporters.
He was one of five players officially released by the Phoenix today with Michael Boxall, Josh Brindell-South, Tyler Boyd and Jason Hicks also departing.
Boyd has signed a four-year deal in Portugal and Boxall has been rumoured to be on his way to South Africa, while Brindell-South and Hicks will be looking for clubs.
Cunningham joked that he had never expected Wellington people to like him so much.
“Everyone at the club and the supporters has been fantastic,” he said.
“I think I’ve done well in the year and a half I’ve been here and feel I can go home with my conscience saying I did my best.
“I really love the club and the people in it, but it has been difficult for the last eight months with my family being in Costa Rica after (wife) Natalia went home to have our second child.”
Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick said Cunningham’s attitude had been fantastic during his time at the club.
“Even when he was on the bench or out injured Kenny remained amazingly positive,” Merrick said.
“He was an example of how a professional footballer should behave.
“I wish him well in the future and I am sure he will be even happier playing closer to home.”
Merrick also paid tribute to the other players being released.
“Michael Boxall filled in with enthusiasm in every position he was asked to play and even became a goal-scorer.
“Tyler (Boyd) has secured a good contract in Portugal and I wish him well in his new venture.
“Jason Hicks marked his time with the club by scoring a couple of vital and spectacular goals and I’m sure he will remain in football.
“Josh (Brindell-South) was unlucky in that when he got an opportunity he sustained a freak ankle injury but I’m sure he will find another club because he tries his best every training session and is a model professional.”
Adelaide play down Jeggo injury scare
The Reds insist the fact the energetic midfielder limped out of training early is nothing to worry about as they prepare to tackle the Sky Blues
Adelaide United have played down concerns over a potentially serious ankle injury to key midfielder James Jeggo just days out from their A-League semi-final with Sydney FC .
The 23-year-old limped out of training on Tuesday after copping a knock during a small-sided game.
It's the last thing Reds boss Josep Gombau will have wanted just days out from Saturday night’s big match with the Sky Blues at Allianz Stadium.
But a club official told www.a-league.com.au that Jeggo leaving the session after the knock was solely a precaution and he was in no doubt for arguably the club’s biggest match in six years.
Striker Bruce Djite, who missed the elimination final win over Brisbane last Friday, is the only Adelaide player under a cloud for the clash against the Sky Blues.
Djite is battling a groin injury and has been training on his own over the last couple of days but is expected to join the group later in the week.
“I’m pretty sure Bruce will be right to play in the game,” Reds winger Craig Goodwin told reporters on Tuesday.
“As to how many minutes it’s up to the coach and Bruce as to how much he can get through but I’d say he’s a good chance.”
“He’s [Djite] that player that can hold the ball up and bring other players into the game.
“A lot of people are critical and think he should score more but the amount of work he does off the ball and bringing other players into the game and allowing them to score is amazing.”
The Reds come to Sydney with an imposing record at Allianz, having won three times there this season, twice in the A-League and once in the FFA Cup.
Guangzhou Evergrande 0 Western Sydney Wanderers 2
The Australian holders had looked likely to bow out of the tournament in the group stage when they lost 2-1 at home to Kashima Antlers on matchday six last month.
Tony Popovic's men demonstrated their pedigree for upsets and improbable triumphs by defeating the Chinese Super League title-holders away from home on Tuesday night, courtesy of goals from Mark Bridge and Tomi Juric.
But an injury-time winner in the other Group H fixture saw FC Seoul defeat Kashima 3-2 away from home, the South Korean side securing second spot behind financial powerhouse Evergrande as the pair advanced to the knockout stages.
Coached by Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, Guangzhou had the better of a disjointed start to the game, as both sets of players struggled to cope with heavy rain and a pitch that was threatening to become waterlogged.
Five minutes in Li Xuepeng connected with a corner at the back post but sent his effort wide of goal. It took until the 18th minute for the Wanderers to register a meaningful attempt, Nikita Rukavytsya completing a smart turn and smacking a shot against the post from a tight angle.
Eight minute later Zhang Jiaqi did well to create space for himself at the top of the Wanderers' penalty area but ended up firing his shot well over. On the half-hour mark Yu Hanchao sent a half-chance harmlessly wide, but there's no denying it was the home team enjoying the majority of the opportunities.
That mattered little on 33 minutes though, when defender Kim Young-Gwon slipped as he attempted to clear the ball on the edge of the area. Bridge, who had previously appeared to be in an offside position, collected possession, beat Feng Xiaoting with a nutmeg and dispatched a shot past Li Shuai at the goalkeeper's near post.
The Wanderers twice went close to doubling their advantage early in the second half. Iacopo La Rocca, outstanding throughout the match, stung the palms of Li Shuai with a fierce long-range effort in the 49th minute.
On 63 minutes the Italian midfielder was involved again, slipping in Dutch winger Romeo Castelen, who also forced a save with his shot.
The closet Guangzhou came to equalising was through Dong Xuesheng, who raced onto a headed through-ball in the 57th minute but was denied by the quick thinking of Wanderers goalkeeper Ante Covic, who rushed out to clear the danger.
The Wanderers refused to sit back and protect their lead, going close again in the final 10 minutes through Yojiro Takahagi, who nearly scored straight from a corner, and Tomi Juric. The Socceroos striker sealed the result in Western Sydney's favour with a superb strike across the face of goal in the final moments.
But Mauricio Molina's 91st-minute winner for FC Seoul in Japan ultimately meant the Wanderers' heroics counted for nothing.
Guangzhou Evergrande 0-2 Western Sydney: Wanderers' exploits not enough
ony Popovic's men kept up their side of the bargain but were undone by results in the other Group H game to surrender their crown
Western Sydney Wanderers have fallen just short of a remarkable revival in the AFC Champions League, beating Guangzhou Evergrande 2-0 away from home but failing to progress to the round of 16.
The Australian holders had looked likely to bow out of the tournament in the group stage when they lost 2-1 at home to Kashima Antlers on matchday six last month.
Tony Popovic's men demonstrated their pedigree for upsets and improbable triumphs by defeating the Chinese Super League title-holders away from home on Tuesday night, courtesy of goals from Mark Bridge and Tomi Juric.
But an injury-time winner in the other Group H fixture saw FC Seoul defeat Kashima 3-2 away from home, the South Korean side securing second spot behind financial powerhouse Evergrande as the pair advanced to the knockout stages.
Coached by Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, Guangzhou had the better of a disjointed start to the game, as both sets of players struggled to cope with heavy rain and a pitch that was threatening to become waterlogged.
Five minutes in Li Xuepeng connected with a corner at the back post but sent his effort wide of goal. It took until the 18th minute for the Wanderers to register a meaningful attempt, Nikita Rukavytsya completing a smart turn and smacking a shot against the post from a tight angle.
Eight minute later Zhang Jiaqi did well to create space for himself at the top of the Wanderers' penalty area but ended up firing his shot well over. On the half-hour mark Yu Hanchao sent a half-chance harmlessly wide, but there's no denying it was the home team enjoying the majority of the opportunities.
That mattered little on 33 minutes though, when defender Kim Young-Gwon slipped as he attempted to clear the ball on the edge of the area. Bridge, who had previously appeared to be in an offside position, collected possession, beat Feng Xiaoting with a nutmeg and dispatched a shot past Li Shuai at the goalkeeper's near post.
The Wanderers twice went close to doubling their advantage early in the second half. Iacopo La Rocca, outstanding throughout the match, stung the palms of Li Shuai with a fierce long-range effort in the 49th minute.
On 63 minutes the Italian midfielder was involved again, slipping in Dutch winger Romeo Castelen, who also forced a save with his shot.
The closet Guangzhou came to equalising was through Dong Xuesheng, who raced onto a headed through-ball in the 57th minute but was denied by the quick thinking of Wanderers goalkeeper Ante Covic, who rushed out to clear the danger.
The Wanderers refused to sit back and protect their lead, going close again in the final 10 minutes through Yojiro Takahagi, who nearly scored straight from a corner, and Tomi Juric. The Socceroos striker sealed the result in Western Sydney's favour with a superb strike across the face of goal in the final moments.
But Mauricio Molina's 91st-minute winner for FC Seoul in Japan ultimately meant the Wanderers' heroics counted for nothing.
Brisbane Roar - Urawa Reds Preview: Hosts desperate for goals
Having surrendered their domestic crown in a finals defeat to Adelaide United on Friday, the Queensland side need a big goal difference swing in their favour to progress
Brisbane Roar have one chance to salvage something meaningful from a disappointing 2014-15 season when they host Urawa Reds in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Queensland side surrendered their A-League crown in a 2-1 elimination final loss away to Adelaide United on Friday night.
Now they need to beat Urawa at Cbus Super Stadium in Robina and hope Suwon Bluewings get the better of Beijing Guoan at home to have any hope of progressing to the round of 16.
A surprise 1-0 Roar win away to Group G leaders Beijing Guoan last time out, the Chinese Super League team's first home competitive defeat since August 2014, means that it's come down to the final matchday for Frans Thijssen's side.
But they need a five-goal swing across the two games to overhaul Beijing Guoan, with the Roar's goal difference -1 and the Chinese side's +3.
Mustering the energy to attack Urawa with sufficient gusto could be tough for a team that suffered a deflating defeat away from home on Friday.
The reigning domestic champions, who qualified for the A-League finals courtesy of Perth Glory's disqualification, held their own against the more-fancied Reds and, having equalised through Thomas Broich, should have taken the lead at the Adelaide Oval, missing a host of second-half chances before conceding the winner to Awer Mabil with mere minutes left on the clock.
There will be some heavy legs and tired bodies in the team named to face the J-League visitors on the Gold Coast. Thijssen hasn't been afraid to rotate late in the campaign, blooding a host of young debutants in both competitions. But he will need his heavy-hitters for this one, particular given Michael Theo, Jade North, Shane Stefanutto and Luke DeVere are all unlikely to be passed fit.
Steven Lustica, Jean Carlos Solorzano, Jack Hingert and Dimitri Petratos weren't in the starting XI in South Australia and only Solorzano came on, meaning all four could feature from the beginning against Urawa.
For their part the Reds have endured a hugely disappointing AFC Champions League campaign. They are winless from five matches, having drawn just one and lost four. The same can't be said of their domestic form – Urawa top the J-League's top flight J1 Division courtesy of seven wins and two draws from nine matches so far this term. Should they transfer any of that league form to the regional club competition and the Roar can say goodbye to their already slim hopes of progression.
2015-05-08
Semi-finals
TOP SCORERS
| Player | Goals | Apps |
 M. JANKOStrikerSydney | 16 | 22 |
 B. BERISHAStrikerMelbourne Victory | 13 | 26 |
 N. BURNSStrikerWellington Phoenix | 13 | 24 |
 A. KEOGHStrikerPerth Glory | 12 | 27 |
 A. THOMPSONStrikerMelbourne Victory | 10 | 24 |
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