Drama as Mariners stop Heart

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Golden Boot hopeful ... Daniel McBreen got the Mariners on their way against the Heart. Source: Paul Miller / AAP

Central Coast have beaten a 10-man Melbourne Heart 2-1 at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday in an A-League game that had not much more than pride on the line.

With Western Sydney securing the Premiers' Plate on Friday the second-placed Mariners were simply wanting a win to carry momentum into the finals series.

The Heart meanwhile, already out of the finals hunt, were only hoping the for three points to help avoid the dreaded wooden spoon.

Daniel McBreen opened the scoring in the first half after Heart defender Patrick Gerhardt was sent-off for a hand ball in the box gifting the Mariners a penalty.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Western Sydney	27	18	3	6	20	57
2	Central Coast	27	16	6	5	26	54
3	Victory	26	12	5	9	2	41
4	Adelaide	27	12	5	10	1	41
5	Brisbane	27	10	5	12	4	35
6	Perth	27	9	5	13	-2	32
7	Sydney	27	9	5	13	-10	32
8	Newcastle	27	8	7	12	-15	31
9	Heart	27	8	3	16	-9	27
10	Wellington	26	7	6	13	-17	27

Mitchell Duke doubled the host's advantage in the second half with Richard Garcia getting a late consolation for the Heart, scoring the side's first goal outside Melbourne in 499 minutes.

Veteran striker McBreen now looks on track for the A-League golden boot award scoring his 17th goal of the season to extend his lead at the top of the scorers' list ahead of Wellington's Jeremy Brockie, who needs to bag at least a double against Melbourne Victory on Sunday to claim the title.

The Heart meanwhile ended their season on the worst of notes, being reduced to 10-men after 30 minutes. Coach John Aloisi was also sent-off for dissent after disputing the referee's call, meaning he'll be suspended from the Heart's first game of next season.

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After a shaky start, the Heart picked up the intensity with Garcia and Josip Tadic forcing saves from Mariners gloveman Justin Pasfield, who was between the sticks in place of first-choice keeper Mattew Ryan who was being rested ahead of the finals.

But just when the Heart looked to have the momentum, disaster struck with Gerhardt sent-off for a handball after a flurry of shots from the Mariners.

McBreen looked like breaking the deadlock just after the half hour mark with Simon Colosimo clearing it off the line.

Mile Sterjovski scooped up the rebound to attempt a shot himself drawing a handball from Gerhardt and earning a penalty for the Mariners.

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Re-live all the action from the clash, including video of all the goals, at our A-League Match Centre.

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McBreen, who had missed two penalties this season, stepped up to the spot in the 35th minute and made no mistake this time.

Duke put the hosts 2-0 up in the 65th minute after getting on the end of a Anthony Caceres ball.

Garcia then got one back for the visitors courtesy of good lead-up work from Dylan Macallister.

Mariners coach Graham Arnold was not only left pleased with his charges' effort on Saturday, but with what he feels has been their strongest season.

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"If you look at the stats, we're a better side than what we were last year," he said.

"We finished with 54 points and last year we had 51 and we won it (the minor premiership).

"We scored more goals than last year and conceded less goals, and we lost the least amount of games in the league.

"It took a side who got 34 points out of 36 to beat us over the line, but that's life," he said of the Wanderers, who won a remarkable 11 games out of the last 12.

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"It was very disappointing because we ended up losing the last five games. With a couple of wins we may have been playing next week,'' dejected Heart coach John Aloisi said.

"Before the red card ... we were well and truly in the game.

"I think everyone in the stadium saw he didn't hand-ball it, except the referee.

"It's very hard not to get upset in situations like that. If I don't, it means I don't care and I care.

"I don't want to lose. I don't want to finish at the bottom of the table and now Melbourne Heart may finish bottom."

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Chiefs in command against Blues

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Winners ... Aaron Cruden helps the Chiefs beat the Blues. Source: Marty Melville / AFP

An impenetrable defence coupled with some electrifying back play gave the Chiefs their fifth Super Rugby win of the season with a 23-16 victory over the Blues in Hamilton on Saturday.

Ahead 9-6 at halftime, the Chiefs turned around a tryless first 40 minutes to run in two hard-earned second-half tries to Ben Tameifuna and Richard Kahui in a bruising encounter at Waikato Stadium.

2 Tries 1
Ben Tameifuna 47'	George Moala 78'
Richard Kahui 63'
2 Conversions 1
Gareth Anscombe 48'	Baden Kerr 78'
Gareth Anscombe 64'
3 Penalties 3
Gareth Anscombe 20'	Chris Noakes 15'
Gareth Anscombe 27'	Chris Noakes 39'
Gareth Anscombe 37'	Chris Noakes 53'

Despite the lack of tries, there was no lack of intensity or action in the opening 40 minutes.

The Chiefs were reduced to 14 men 10 minutes after kick-off after centre Bundee Aki was yellow-carded for a careless tackle on Blues opposite Rene Ranger.

The Aucklanders couldn't capitalise, but the Chiefs came close when fullback Gareth Anscombe's touch down was disallowed after Chiefs lock Michael Fitzgerald was ruled offside in forcing the turnover at an earlier breakdown.

Winger Lelia Masaga's electrifying acceleration and pace also created plenty of opportunities, with a golden chance going begging when he sliced through the scrambling Blues defence only to spill the ball in the final tackle.

Replacement prop Tameifuna, on for an injured Ben Afeaki late in the first half, finally broke the tryless deadlock six minutes into the second spell, crashing over from close range to give the Chiefs a 16-6 lead.

Kahui continued his return from injury, earning his first start of the season, and efficiently organising the Chiefs' potent backline. He was rewarded with a try in the 63rd minute after charging down Francis Saili's clearing kick inside his own 22.

Starved of possession for much of the second half, the Blues finally breached the unrelenting Chiefs defence for their first try of the match when winger George Moala dotted down after 78 minutes.

Baden Kerr's successful conversion gave them a hard-earned bonus point.

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Dragons upset Sharks in first win

St George Illawarra shocked little brother Cronulla 25-12 to open their 2013 NRL account, the Sharks night made worse with star playmaker Todd Carney helped from the field with a foot injury.

Without a win from the opening three games, the Dragons were given little chance before a bumper 20,130 fans at Sharks Stadium, but they bucked the trend with their most enterprising effort of the campaign.

The Sharks will be keeping their fingers crossed the loss isn't compounded by a serious injury to Carney, who had to be carried from the field late in the first half with what was diagnosed as a sprained foot.

Sydney Sharks coach Shane Flanagan refused to blame the strain the club has been under thanks to the drugs cloud surrounding the club for the letdown.

"I could toss that one up and that might be the case but I'm not going to throw it out there as an excuse," Flanagan said.

"The Dragons were good and they played with some attitude and we didn't have that."

On Carney, Flanagan was hoping for the best.

"He thought he heard something snap but it was his orthotic, that's how much power went through his foot," he said.

"They think it's a mid-foot sprain so it's nothing to do with his achilles or anything like that."

Asked about the relief in the Dragons dressing room, coach Steve Price said:

"I think there is (a feeling of relief) in the dressing room.

"It's not as if the boys haven't been trying, they've worked their backsides off over those losses and we fine-tuned a couple of things and we went out there and replicated that tonight."

Much-maligned five-eighth Jamie Soward was brilliant for the Dragons, scoring one try, nailing a couple of pressure-cooker sideline conversions and a late field goal, but it was the acrobatic genius of Jason Nightingale that had everybody talking.

The Kiwi winger contorted his body sensationally to nab two second half tries, the first with his entire body over the sideline and the second only millimetres inside the dead ball line as he chased a Nathan Fien kick to secure the win.

Having scored 11 first half points in total in their opening three games, the Dragons had 12 on the board inside the first 16 minutes to stun the Sharks Stadium full house.

Aside from coach Steve Price, no-one had copped more of the brunt than the much-maligned Soward, who put together his best performance in a long time to help secure the win.

"One win doesn't make your season but it definitely helps," Soward said.

"We've been under the pump for a month, everyone's been saying what they want to say, we don't really care about it honestly.

"You're never going to keep everyone quiet, you (the media) have to do your jobs and sell papers and we have to do our jobs and play footy."

Asked if he thought some of the criticism, which had mainly been levelled at a struggling Dragons attack, had been fair, Soward said:

"When you're not winning you're going to get more criticism then when you're winning.

"We've put in some good efforts, we've just been unlucky I think.

"It's easy when we're losing for people to come out and write bad stuff about the team and the coach.

"But morale's good in the team, we're not really worried about everyone else.

"We know the job we've got ahead of us, we've put ourselves in a tough position, tonight hopefully is the start of something good."

As for the rubber ball which was thrown from the crowd as he lined up for a crucial sideline conversion, Soward said:

"It didn't hit me, but when stuff like that happens, it's unwarranted.

"What are they going to gain out of it?

"It didn't put me off, I still kicked it. I love kicking them from the sidelines."

Proving far more adventurous with the ball, a Trent Merrin offload sent Fien under the posts and five minutes later Luke Lewis was made to pay for a dropped ball when Soward picked up the dregs and ran 85 metres to double the lead.

The sight of Carney being carried off could have knocked the stuffing out of the Sharks, but Ben Pomeroy came up with his own magic trick, tapping back a ball heading over the dead ball line for Jeff Robson to halve the deficit.

There was no let-up from the Dragons after the break as Nightingale took the visitors back out by two converted tries - Sharks fans revealing their ugly side as some threw what appeared to be tennis balls onto the field as Soward lined up the sideline conversion.

He nailed it to rub further salt into the wounds - as he did again when Nightingale scored his second out wide on 64 minutes after Andrew Fifita had dragged the Sharks back into the contest with a short-range four-pointer.

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Brumbies sink Bulls after the siren

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Nerves of steel ... Christian Lealiifano nails a penalty goal after the siren to defeat the Bulls. Source: Kym Smith / News Limited

An after-the-siren 45-metre penalty goal to inside centre Christian Lealiifano snatched the Brumbies a dramatic 23-20 Super Rugby win over the Bulls in Canberra on Saturday night.

The Bulls locked the scores up with one minute to go when outside centre Johannes Engelbrecht scored in the corner from a turnover and Morne Steyn converted.

1 Tries 2
Robbie Coleman 40'	Jurgen Visser 49'
	JJ Engelbrecht 79'
0 Conversions 2
	Morne Steyn 50'
	Morne Steyn 80'
6 Penalties 2
Christian Lealiifano 19'	Morne Steyn 21'
Christian Lealiifano 33'	Morne Steyn 54'
Christian Lealiifano 37'
Christian Lealiifano 70'
Christian Lealiifano 74'
Christian Lealiifano 80'

But the South Africans pushed for the win after the hooter and were penalised directly in front of their own posts.

Lealiifano, who had only missed one shot at goal in six attempts all night, stepped up and nailed it in front of 13,735 fans.

Lealiifano said some teammates tried not to look him in the eye before the match-winning kick.

"It was a bit patchy where it was, and I tried to move it forward and do all those kinds of things to sneak it in," he said.

"But it was one of those things where I've kicked it during the week and just hoped I'd hit it right on the night and luckily enough it went over."

Australia Conference		W	L	D	PD	BP	Pts
1	Brumbies	5	1	0	73	3	27
2	Reds	5	2	0	5	2	22
3	Waratahs	2	3	0	-30	1	13
4	Western Force	1	4	0	-31	1	9
5	Melbourne Rebels	1	5	0	-100	1	9
New Zealand Conference		W	L	D	PD	BP	Pts
1	Chiefs	5	1	0	84	5	25
2	Hurricanes	3	2	0	1	2	18
3	Blues	2	3	0	16	5	17
4	Crusaders	2	2	0	37	4	16
5	Highlanders	0	5	0	-48	2	6
South Africa Conference		W	L	D	PD	BP	Pts
1	Sharks	4	1	0	60	1	21
2	Cheetahs	4	2	0	-4	2	18
3	Bulls	3	3	0	-5	3	15
4	Stormers	2	2	0	1	2	14
5	Southern Kings	1	4	0	-59	0	8

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke questioned the last play turnover from Brumbies replacement Colby Faingaa, saying he believed the Brumbies defensive line were offside at the time.

"Clearly offside, definitely, we just looked at it," he said.

"I've just seen those guys going before the ball is out, to charge Morne (Steyn) down, they knew Morne was going to kick.

"But you know that's the game, it would have given us another point, but that's life.

"We don't want to give it energy, the whole season is ahead of us, it was a great effort and we're going to go with that."

White said it was just one call that could have gone either way in a tough encounter.

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Re-live all the action from the Brumbies' last-gasp win over the Bulls, with video of the dying stages, at our Super Rugby Match Centre.

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"The margins are so small in this competition that those sort of calls, if they go for you that's fantastic," White said.

The Bulls finished strong for the second week running, working back an 11-point halftime deficit, but once again fell just short of snatching a last-minute Super Rugby result.

The Brumbies scrum dominated the Bulls throughout the match, culminating in a yellow card to loosehead prop Morne Mellet in the 65th minute for repeated scrum infringements.

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With the Bulls scrum one man down, the Brumbies pressed home their advantage and nine minutes later Lealiifano kicked his fifth penalty goal of the night after another scrum infringement.

Both sides began the match playing a very conservative style of rugby, choosing to minimise the risk of being penalised in their own half by kicking it immediately rather than running.

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A 9-3 lead to the Brumbies late in the first half gave them the confidence to run the ball more, retaining possession for over a dozen phases before fullback Robbie Coleman scrambled over the tryline after the halftime siren.

A rejuvenated Bulls declined a penalty shot directly after halftime and after several phases winger Lionel Mapoe crashed over the line only to lose the ball in a last ditch tackle by Brumbies winger Henry Speight.

However fellow winger Petrus Visser made amends in the 49th minute when he finished off a well worked passage of play from the Bulls.

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Video: livid Aloisi slams referees

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Fuming ... John Aloisi was livid with what he deemed another poor refereeing performance. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

John Aloisi has let fly at A-League officials after what he deemed another sub-par performance from the men in the middle in Melbourne Heart's loss to Central Coast Mariners.

Goals to golden boot contender Daniel McBreen and youngster Mitchell Duke helped the Mariners on their way at Bluetongue Stadium, but the home side were helped by a dubious decision in the first half that saw them open the scoring from the penalty spot.

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Heart defender Patrick Gerhardt was harshly sent off for a deliberate handball in the box, and Aloisi soon found himself sitting next to his player in the stands after voicing his disapproval to referee Jarred Gillett during the half-time interval.

Rookie coach Aloisi wasn't pulling the punches when he spoke with Fox Sports' Matchday Saturday team after the Mariners game.

"Most of the people in the stadium saw it wasn't a handball. How did he get it completely wrong," a livid Aloisi asked.

"Clearly he didn't handball it and it changed the game."

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Aloisi - whose side now face the prospect of the dreaded A-League wooden spoon - says it wasn't an isolated incident in a disappointing season for the Heart.

"Every week we're getting decisions against us," he said.

"I feel that referees are not up to standard.

"When you get opposition players thinking the referee made a bad decision, then you know something's wrong."

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Watch John Aloisi's blow-up at the performance of A-League referees in our video at the top of this page.

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Gillett also took charge last week and awarded Brisbane Roar a contentious penalty in their win over the Heart, a result that ended Aloisi's hopes of making the A-League finals.

A passionate Aloisi said he held no regrets over the confrontation with Gillett about Gerhardt's send-off that saw him sent to the stands.

"If my players see me accept a decision like that they would be upset. It probably fired them up a bit," Aloisi said.

"He (Gillett) didn't give me an explanation.

"It changes the game. How can I be happy? I'm not going to be happy about it."

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Video: Ablett leads Suns past Saints

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Stunner ... four goals from Gary Ablett inspired the Suns to a round one upset over the Saints. Source: DAVE HUNT / AAP

A Gary Ablett masterclass on Saturday night secured Gold Coast a 13-point win over St Kilda in their AFL season opener at Metricon Stadium.

The Suns' captain kicked four goals, including three in the final term, to guide the home team to a shock 13.12 (90) to 10.17 (77) win.

3.6 (24)	Q1	1.7 (13)
3.8 (26)	Q2	6.9 (45)
6.11 (47)	Q3	7.14 (56)
13.12 (90)	Q4	10.17 (77)

Gary Ablett 4	Terry Milera 3
Charlie Dixon 2	Nick Riewoldt 2
Luke Russell 2	David Armitage 1
Harley Bennell 1	Beau Maister 1
Sam Day 1	Stephen Milne 1
Aaron Hall 1	Arryn Siposs 1
Jaeger O'Meara 1	Jack Steven 1
Matt Shaw 1

Ablett sent the home fans into raptures when his second goal of the quarter put the Suns ahead but his best was yet to come.

The dual-premiership player stepped and fended his way through the Saints' defence, before sending a right-foot snap curling through the goal for his fourth major and a game-defining moment.

It was part of a remarkable best-on-ground display by the midfielder, who picked up a game-high 34 disposals; the 77th time he has eclipsed 30 disposals in his illustrious career.

Suns coach Guy McKenna said Ablett's confidence in his younger teammates allowed him to have a greater impact on the scoreboard.

"Gary's humble enough to say his old man is better than he is, I would beg to differ,'' McKenna said.

"What we're seeing in Gary too is his leadership of understanding that he doesn't need to be in the middle now.

"That he has got the confidence and trust (of his teammates) ... his four goals clearly were telling.''

Charlie Dixon and Luke Russell were the other multiple goal-kickers for the Suns, with Russell's second late in the fourth quarter a crucial settler after Steven Milne had closed the margin for St Kilda.

The Suns' victory, their third in as many matches at their home ground after defeating Greater Western Sydney and Carlton at the end of last season, was secured through a gutsy second-half display as they made the most of a scrappy performance by an undermanned St Kilda line-up.

The Saints, led by captain Nick Riewoldt's two goals, had looked to have settled when they booted five-goals to none in the second-quarter to turn an 11-point first-quarter deficit into a  19-point halftime lead.

But the Suns bounced back with Ablett, Matt Shaw and teenage debutant Jaeger O'Meara kicking three third-term goals to move within two kicks of the lead at the last change.

From there the home team took control of the match through Ablett's inspiration and some St Kilda ill-discipline, the visitors conceding three 50m penalties and handing the Suns' their first two goals of the final term through free-kicks.

Late goals by Milne and Terry Milera gave the Saints hope of snatching a win but Aaron Hall's late breakaway major sealed the win and sparked celebrations.

A disappointed St Kilda coach Scott Watters said his player's execution at key moments had proved the difference.

"From our point of view the effort was strong from the players, the efficiency was poor,'' Watters said.

"You need both. You have to work extremely hard when you're not efficient.

"The players will be stung by that and they'll work hard to rectify it but obviously you lose a game on the back of it and that hurts.''

Click here to re-live the action in the FOX FOOTY Match Centre.

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Glory denied but finals bound

All square ... Jacob Burns tries to run down Fabio Ferreira. Source: Justin Benson-Cooper / News Limited

Perth Glory beat out Sydney FC for the last place in the A-League finals with a 1-1 draw against Adelaide United at nib Stadium on Saturday night.

The Glory entered the match needing only a draw to leapfrog Sydney into sixth spot on goal difference.

Adrian Zahra's 58th-minute goal eased the tension, but the Glory were given a fright when Adelaide midfielder Jake Barker-Daish pegged one back in the 91st minute.

And the Reds almost snatched victory with the final play of the match, only for Perth goalkeeper Danny Vukovic to pull off a sharp diving save to deny Dario Vidosic's long-range free kick.

The result capped a remarkable turnaround for Perth, who were dead last on the ladder when Alistair Edwards took over as coach last month.

Under Edwards, Perth won four and drew one of their seven games to secure a fairytale finals berth.

But the work of previous coach Ian Ferguson shouldn't be forgotten.

A string of heartbreaking one-goal losses brought about Ferguson's undoing.

But the close nature of those results meant Perth's goal difference never suffered terribly.

And in the end, it was their superior goal difference compared to Sydney that decided the race for sixth spot.

Sydney's finals chances were hanging by a thread following a 3-1 loss to Brisbane on Thursday night.

The Sky Blues needed both Newcastle and Perth to lose their matches.

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Re-live the thrilling final minutes between Perth Glory and Adelaide United in our A-League Match Centre, featuring video highlights.

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Western Sydney's 3-0 win over the Jets completed the first part of the equation, but Perth became the ultimate party poopers in front of their biggest ever home crowd of 16,707 in the A-League.

Perth dominated play against Adelaide in the opening half but couldn't find the back of the net despite creating a series of good chances.

Ryo Nagai should have put the home side ahead when he was taken down by Cameron Watson in the box.

But his scuffed penalty was deflected onto the post by a diving Eugene Galekovic, with Glory players unable to capitalise on the rebound.

Adelaide's defence finally cracked in the 58th minute when Steve McGarry's dangerous cross was met by Zahra.

Although Adelaide goalkeeper Galekovic got a palm to Zahra's strike, the ball bounced in off the crossbar, with Zahra celebrating his third career goal with an acrobatic backflip routine.

Glory midfielder Steve McGarry should have made the result safe in the 84th minute, but sprayed his close-range shot wide of the target.

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