Sydney, Roar get tongues wagging

(AAP) A healthy slice of luck saw reigning champions Sydney FC get their season off the ground as Brisbane Roar emerged as clear front runners in this year's A-League title race.

Sydney moved off the bottom of the competition ladder for the first time this year
after a clear-cut refereeing error helped them to a 1-0 win over Newcastle at the
Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday.
And while the bottom-of-the-table clash was an otherwise dour affair, it was the
Roar who got tongues wagging with their 4-0 thrashing of second-placed Adelaide on
Saturday night to move four points clear atop the competition.
Reds coach Rini Coolen was clearly taken with his opponents, declaring them "too
good" for the rest of the league and saying their style would not be out of place in
Europe.
"They are getting better and better," Coolen said.
"The way they play, and the movement, and the transition moments, it's a really high
level.
"It's the biggest level here in our league and it's definitely the kind of level
that belongs in Europe.
"We were not good enough today, and the most important thing was they were too good
for us, and, at the moment, too good for the entire league," the Dutchman said.
Sydney moved up to ninth with their controversial win, climbing above the Jets and
North Queensland, who were beaten 1-0 at home by Central Coast on Friday night.
Brazilian striker Bruno Cazarine's fifth goal of the season was allowed to stand
after assistant referee Ben Wilson failed to spot the ball crossing the goal line in
the build up.
Jets coach Branko Culina was frustrated yet restrained while Sydney coach Vitezslav
Lavicka conceded the goal was "controversial".
The Czech coach was more relieved that some luck was finally falling his side's way.
Last year's premiers have two wins and a draw from their past three matches after
going winless in their first ten games of the season.
"We are building small steps forward now," Lavicka said.
"But everyone knows that we have plenty of room to improve our style this season."
The Roar (29 points) sit clear on top ahead of Adelaide (25), with the Mariners on
21 points along with Gold Coast, who beat Melbourne Victory 1-0 on Saturday night to
take their unbeaten streak to nine matches.
Melbourne's Victory and Heart are fifth and sixth respectively on 17 points.
Struggling Perth Glory's woes continued as they were beaten 1-0 at home by
Wellington Phoenix on Sunday, with captain Jacob Burns shown a red card in the
process.
The Phoenix sit in seventh on 15 points ahead of the Glory (12), Sydney FC (11), the
Fury (10) and Jets (8).
Meanwhile, Football Federation Australia are on Monday expected to unveil new owners
for Adelaide United, having taken control of the club last season.