One more spot to the FIFA 2010 World Cup Finals was decided between the AFC/OFC regions. Bahrain and New Zealand played in a two legged tie with the second match taking place on Saturday, November 14, 2009. Who won the match and who advanced? Here's a full recap of the match along with video highlights.

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Has there been a better team goal in this season's A-League than Wellington's second against Newcastle last night (about two and a half minutes into this)? If Paul Ifill's surging run down the left was typically impressive, Costa Barbarouses' nonchalant flick was sublime. And Chris Greenacre's finish was no less classy. Click to continue reading...

MORNING all. With Perth going down to Gold Coast United 2-1 yesterday, the Glory slip to fourth on the A-League ladder on 17 points.
The boys in purple put on a better performance in the game, especially in the second-half but, one defensive error, or communication blunder, cost Glory some points. Click to continue reading...

IT's a pretty quiet Thursday in terms of Perth Glory news.
The club decided, wisely, not to challenge Andy Todd's suspension, but since then it's been a bit of a lull.
However, there's a bit going on here and there, so let's get into it:
- SO most people who follow football regularly will already know this - Gold Coast United Miron Bleiberg is a media man. Click to continue reading...

For the second successive week, the Newcastle Jets have been beaten by the odd goal in a game which they ostensibly dominated. For this viewer, there were echoes of an Olympic v. Parramatta game I watched in late 2000, with Branko Culina in charge of the former club: Olympic played all the attractive football, with Nick Carle and Greg Owens to the fore, but were undone by two typical striker's goals from the Power's experienced Scotsman Joe Miller. Click to continue reading...

The Gold Coast Blue Rinse Set were hardly in this match. They appear to be suffering from taking victories for granted. Although the real message is about their lack of tactical wisdom. CCM were not great, the Blue Rinses were poor.
At last Shane Smeltz's on-field behaviour was called and he received a deserved 2 yellow red. Click to continue reading...

SO it's Wednesday, and hopefully by now that bitter taste in your mouth has dissipated somewhat.
The sun is out, and it's starting to look and feel like spring again. Could it last? Apparently not.
According to the boffins over at the Bureau of Meteorology, this is the wettest September since 1915, and more bad weather is on the way. Click to continue reading...

Perth Glory 2 (Jelic 14, Sikora 16)
Gold Coast 2 (Van der Brink 53, Smeltz 90)
Crowd: 9408
GOLD Coast United have snatched a draw against Perth Glory, with New Zealand international Shane Smeltz scoring in the dying minutes of the game.
With the clock ticking away, Brazilian midfielder Amaral gave away a free-kick which was quickly taken and crossed into Smeltz who scored the equaliser and his 9th goal of the season. Click to continue reading...

GOLD Coast United owner Clive Palmer once referred to his team as the 'Harlem Globetrotters' of the A-League.
Apparently, in his humble opinion, the Gold Coast would go around to all the other clubs and boost their attendances and make them money.
With that in mind, it seems a bit weird that the arrival of 'the New Bling' has been met with almost no hype at all here in Perth. Click to continue reading...

Adam Griffiths is hardly the biggest name in Australian football.
He wasn't the most high-profile star at his A-League club. He's not even the most recognisable player in his family.
But the twin brother to Joel and older brother of Ryan made headlines this month when he swapped A-League club Gold Coast United for Saudi side Al-Shabab after just one game. Click to continue reading...

Adelaide v Gold Coast United, Friday night.
Should be a cracker and a great test for both teams.
I'm expecting a fast-paced game with the Gold Coast forced onto the back foot in front of the Hindmarsh faithful.
But will Jason Culina, Shane Smeltz and Joel Porter pounce again. Click to continue reading...

Well what does Shane Smeltz have to do to be man-of-the-match?
Scores 4 and Porter gets the award!!
And was it a goal for every thousand fans!
The Fury got 8,900 on debut, Gold Coast with Jason Culina and all the hype for 7,000 on home debut.
Oh dear oh dear. Click to continue reading...

Gold Coast United has lifted the bar for domestic football in Australia.
Jason Culina, Joel Porter, Shane Smeltz, Robson, Bas Van Den Brink all lit up the Brisbane night with intelligent, skilful football. 3-1 to United. Great for the A-League, great for football fans everywhere.
Joel Porter particularly caught my eye. Click to continue reading...

Every A-League player agent must be working overtime to secure their players a more lucrative contract in Asia, Europe, America, Antartica or wherever before the August deadline.
God bless the Agents as they work hard for Australian football.... mainly to send overseas.
Brendan Santalab another who returned from Europe with high hopes of taking it to the A-League, he didn't did he, has fled the Fury before a ball was kicked. Click to continue reading...

Too young, too quick, too slow, too fragile, whatever the reason, whatever your code I'm sure you've heard the criticism of the A-League.
But with the Socceroos heading to the FIFA 2010 World Cup few fans would expect to see the squad without a pack of A-League players.
Yes that's right the A-League will be sending a host of players to the World Cup,to one if not the greatest stage in World Sport. Click to continue reading...

Younis Mahmoud in anguish after a save by Glen Moss: Image from AFP
Iraq and New Zealand played out a lively 0-0 draw as both teams said farewell to the Confederations Cup on Saturday having failed to score a goal between them in any of their three Group A games.
Iraq, needing a win to have any chance of overhauling South Africa for the runners-up spot to reach the semi-finals behind group winners Spain, were more adventurous than in their opening games but rarely looked like scoring until a late flourish. Click to continue reading...

image from Associated Press
In the space of 3 hours the Fifa Confederations Cup was transformed from a bore fest into a goal fest thanks to a ruthless display of attacking football from Spain at the Rustenberg Stadium on Sunday evening. The game was practically over after only 17 minutes on the clock as Liverpool striker Fernando Torres completed his hat-trick with a powerful header. Click to continue reading...

Por Lola Dirceu

Increíble la rima (y la grima) que producen los parecidos de este incatalogable magnate del fútbol de ultraultraultramar: es idéntico a Benny Hill, tiene trazas de Toni Genil y recuerda por su perímetro de cetáceo a Jesús Gil. Ahí le tienen, el Florentino de Oceanía, Tío Gilito con el marsupio a reventar de pasta.

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