ESPNsoccernet: Australia

TOP TEAM

Melbourne Victory put a dent in Wellington's hopes of hosting a home final with a thumping 3-0 victory on Friday evening. A team that promised so much - particularly in attack - the Victory finally delivered on their potential. Goals from Carlos Hernandez, Isaka Cernak and James Jeggo sealed the three points for Melbourne, and it could have been more had Harry Kewell and Archie Thompson found the back of the net with their chances. For Victory fans, this was a sign of the type of football they can enjoy next season, but for now, they are left to wonder what might have been if this star-studded side had produced such performances more regularly this term.

FLOP TEAM

After playing some intelligent football of late, Wellington Phoenix let themselves down badly against the Victory. Though Perth lost by the same margin on the Gold Coast, they played for a large portion of the match with 10 men. Ricki Herbert's men did not have that excuse. The Phoenix looked less than cohesive and will need to tighten up in midfield and at the back if they are to go anywhere come finals time. As the post-season looms, most worrying for Herbert about this defeat will be the sheer number of chances afforded to the Victory attack. A-League followers who have watched the Phoenix play so well this season now eagerly await the response from the New Zealanders.

TOP PLAYER

Though Archie Thompson set up all three goals for Melbourne Victory, Gold Coast young-gun James Brown must get the nod for his display against Perth. Brown has scored some stunning goals this campaign and added another two to his tally on Sunday. His ability to sniff out a goalscoring opportunity and push forward from the middle of the park will see him become a key figure at club and international level for some time. The progress of Brown will no doubt have pleased the Newcastle Jets no end, as they have snared his prize signature from next season.

FLOP PLAYER

A fortnight ago Dean Heffernan was on the end of a Fabian Barbiero brain explosion which saw the Adelaide forward sent off. This week, the Glory defender suffered a similar fate on 35 minutes for leading with his elbow against Gold Coast's Daniel Bowles. Some reports have labelled the red card as controversial, and certainly replays suggest contact with Bowles was minimal. This, surely, is to miss the point. Heffernan put himself in a position to be sent from the field in a crucial match for his club. A player of Heffernan's experience should know better.

TOP COACH

Ange Postecoglou and his Brisbane Roar side have at least made the race for the Premiers Plate interesting in the back half of the season. At one stage the Central Coast Mariners appeared to be easing toward the title, but Brisbane's latest win over the in-form Newcastle Jets takes the Roar to within two points of top spot. After a sluggish start at Hunter Stadium, Brisbane took the lead through the A-League's top marksman, Besart Berisha. From there, the Roar controlled the tempo of the game, utilising the vision of Thomas Broich and Mitch Nichols to dominate the middle of the pitch. Nichols' 81st minute penalty sealed the win and leaves next week's final round of the season with all to play for.

FLOP COACH

Reports out of Adelaide suggest John Kosmina is set to be offered the coaching position on a full-time basis. Perhaps most A-League followers would be questioning why. Since taking over from the sacked Rini Coolen, Kosmina has helped the Reds earn five points in their past nine matches, with the club winning just one game in their last 12. Adelaide, like the Victory, are another club whose playing roster promised so much early on, and with such resources at their disposal one would think a top-quality international coach would have been the target.

GOAL OF THE WEEK

For importance of the strike more than the quality, Bernie Ibini's headed winner for the Mariners over Adelaide could prove decisive as the Mariners and Roar battle it out for silverware.

SAVE OF THE WEEK

Ben Kennedy's diving effort to thwart Henrique from the penalty spot may not have earned the Jets any points this weekend, but his save did give Newcastle a boost as they look to make the last finals spot theirs.