KEY POINTS:
After posing the greatest challenge to a rampant Melbourne Victory, Queensland Roar have joined the mere mortals with successive losses to the New Zealand Knights and Adelaide United.
On Friday the Brisbane-based players, who for many weeks ran second in the Hyundai A-League, will have home advantage when they attempt to halt the Victorians who are already, with nine rounds still to play, within sight of claiming their spot in the end-of-season play-offs.
Melbourne have, from all angles, been the team of the season.
They have scored the most goals (27), conceded the least (9) and have the top three goalscorers in the golden boot race with Danny Allsopp (8) chased by Archie Thompson and Kevin Muscat with six each.
It has not always been clear-cut but, when the pressure is on, coach Ernie Merrick can count on something special. In their latest outing, in front of 22,890 at the Telstra Dome, they beat Perth Glory 1-0 but needed a last-minute Grant Brebner goal to do it.
Led by Archie Thompson in Muscats absence (again suspended), Melbourne had only 39 per cent of the possession but dominated. Brebner broke the impasse with a 30m effort - his first goal for the club.
There was also only a goal in it at Suncorp Stadium, where Adelaide United got home over the Roar with Travis Dodds' 62nd-minute strike.
Queensland had more scoring attempts than the visitors but could not crack the Adelaide defence, who laid the foundation for their seventh win of the season. They consolidated their second place on the table, albeit nine points adrift of Melbourne but five clear of Sydney FC.
In front of a record crowd of 14,026 at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle Jets scored a solid 3-1 win over neighbours Central Coast Mariners to move into the top five, trailing Queensland on goal difference.
The home side were always in control from the time Mark Bridge volleyed home after six minutes. Nick Carle added a second 11 minutes later before Damien Mori snatched one back just before halftime. Milton Rodriguez completed the scoring 11 minutes from time in a match in which five players were booked.
In the four round 12 matches, 19 players were shown yellow cards including Knights Sime Kovacevic, Greg Duruz and Malik Buari.
It was another game to forget for the New Zealand franchise. They held Sydney FC to just one goal in the first half - a simple effort from Sasho Petrovski in the 37th minute when the Knights defence backed off.
Making the most of their 17-5 count in attempts on goal, their 5-0 corner count and 60 per cent of the possession, the home side treated the woefully small crowd of 9871 to a goal blitz in the second spell. Petrovski grabbed his second eight minutes after the break.
Then David Zdrilic made it 3-0 and David Carney added the fourth.
The Knights are at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday to play Central Coast.
