Adelaide survived a late scare from Perth to keep 2 points behind the Central Coast Mariners at the top of the table. Bruce Djite was taken off suffering a groin injury and replaced with Jeronimo Neumann. The Argentine play maker nearly capitalised when Adelaide pressured the Perth defence into giving up possession deep inside their own half. Danny Vukovic saved well down to his left to keep the scores at 0-0. The 20th minute had an incredible pinball sequence inside the box with a half-dozen shots on goal in as many seconds somehow avoiding the back of the net. They finally broke the deadlock when yet more defensive fragility lead to Scott Jamieson attempting an over the shoulder clearance, only to slice it over the stranded Vukovic gifting a tap-in to Neumann. They weren't finished in the first half, Dario Vidosic slicing a through-ball behind the Glory defence for Neumann to run onto, his neat finish evaded Vukovic and slowly rolled home.

Minutes after the break Adelaide were three in front. A clearance at a corner fell into the path of Iain Ramsay on the far corner of the penalty area and with brilliant technique he volleyed with the outside of his left foot beating the man on the far post. A contender for goal of the week if not goal of the season on technique and accuracy. Perth put up a very late show, Shane Smeltz pulling the Glory back to 3-1 with a quality penalty that even a touch from Eugene Galekovic couldn't keep out. Perth threatened a miracle point when Steven McGarry who brought down a long ball with his chest and fired past Galekovic on the near post. Perth hadn't given themselves enough time and Adelaide were relieved to hear the final whistle.

A penalty miss by Marco Rojas and the dismissal of Mariners coach Graham Arnold were the two major talking points to come out of this top 4 match held at Aurora Stadium in Tasmania. Mark Milligan opened fire on the Mariners with a long range attempt that went just wide. The Mariners should have scored first when superb lead-up work by Daniel McBreen put the ball on a platter for Adam Kwasnik who shot straight at the keeper from point-blank range. Marcos Flores was tripped by Nick Montgomery in the penalty box, the Mariner somehow stayed on the pitch despite making an obvious second yellow card offence. Rojas stepped up to the spot, didn't look confident, slowly approached the ball and had his tame effort saved by Mat Ryan diving to his left. Victory took the lead when a cut-back found Flores, the left footed first time shot giving the Victory a 1-0 lead. Arnold was sent from the technical area by the referee for comments directed at the match officials that saw him fined and given a one match touchline ban.

Michael McGlinchey nearly equalised with a close range side footed volley that had Nathan Coe making another save of the week contender to deny him. Mat Ryan made his own quality save to deny the Victory from extending their lead with a chip from a narrow angle that he tipped over the bar. Adrian Leijer gave away a stupid penalty climbing all over McGlinchey, McBreen didn't make the mistake that Rojas had done in the first half by calmly sending the keeper the wrong way. Mark Milligan concocted a set piece special that resulted in a chip over the wall he volleyed over the bar. Neither side would be completely satisfied with the point but it does help Western Sydney keep in touch with both sides in the top 4 battle.

Brisbane Roar fell back toward the back end of the ladder while the Jets flew into 5th position with this result. Newcastle gave them an early taste of pain when Taylor Reagan scythed down Broich with a diving tackle that gave the Jet a yellow card. Newcastle were well on top in the first half, Brisbane keeper Michael Theo had his heart in his mouth when a poor pass surprised Ryan Griffiths but couldn't be controlled with a near open goal beckoning. Griffiths then lined up a 20 yard strike and put it wide as a result of good wing play from James Brown. The Jets went into the break protesting at a non-call on Griffiths in the penalty box, earning the striker a yellow card for dissent.

With just 3 minutes played in the second half Griffiths finally had his just reward, breaking through the central defence after getting on the end of a back heel from Brown. He waited for Theo to go down to the turf then chipped it over for the goal. Brisbane butchered a golden chance to equalise in the 80th minute, Berisha missing from 6 yards out as Nichols fed the Albanian striker from the right wing. Newcastle holding on for a valuable three points.

A full report is listed here.

Western Sydney completely dominated this match from start to finish, Wellington making few chances and were shut-out of shots on target in the second half. Western Sydney allowed Wellington to pass the ball around their back four before putting pressure by driving them backward toward goal. The high pressing nearly paid dividends when Labinot Haliti charged down a Mark Paston clearance. It could have fallen anywhere but unfortunately for the Wanderers it went far away from goal. Huysegems was close to scoring the opening goal completely against the run of play. Louis Fenton ran at the defence before laying off a pass toward Huysegems. With a measured stroke he launched a pile driver that had Ante Covic beaten but cracked the crossbar and ballooned into the air. Vince Lia had his very long ranged effort saved by a full length dive from Covic and the two teams went into the break at 0-0.

Haliti opened the 2nd half with a snapshot that stung the palms of Paston. A 50th minute corner by Wellington was headed back across goal by Andrew Durante, Louis Fenton attempted an audacious volley but blazed it high over the bar. As the hour mark came the Wanderers were in complete control, only lacking the goal their dominance deserved. Jerome Polenz, Iacopo La Rocca, Mark Bridge and Haliti all had a crack at getting the scoreboard ticking but Polenz toe poke was tipped over the bar, La Rocca lofted his effort high, Bridge fired his volley straight at Paston and Haliti hit the side netting. With 70 minutes on the clock the Wellington defence failed to clear their lines, it fell to Mooy who spun his marker and delivered a pinpoint cross to the centre of the penalty box. Topor-Stanley stayed forward and made a great run, getting in front Ben Sigmund before stooped low to connect with a diving header that Paston got a hand to but couldn't keep out. Confusion reigned in the Wellington defence and allowed Haliti to celebrate his 100th A-League game with a goal. Mark Bridge chased down a wayward pass, hooking it back over his shoulder to keep the ball in. Sigmund let the ball bounce game as he wanted Paston to collect. Paston expected Sigmund to clear, and all the pair managed to do was tap the ball toward goal and cause Sigmund to fall over. Haliti didn't need to make the tap-in but like any striker would he emphatically struck the ball home from a meter out. The final whistle fell and all but the four travelling Wanderers supporters in the crowd of 6,608 would go home disappointed.

A hilarious match between two incompetent teams where in the dying minutes of the match Melbourne Heart gifted all three points to Sydney. Melbourne Heart had never lost to Sydney FC from 7 attempts in the 3 year history of Heart. Fred's strike from the D was the first major chance. 25 minutes were on the clock when a poor tackle by Trent McClenahan on Behich allowed them to work a short free kick down the vacant left flank. Kalmar whipped in a high quality cross that Richard Garcia emphatically headed home for a 1-0 away lead. Sebastian Ryall inexplicably stood in an offside position as Sydney took a free kick, he headed it past Andrew Redmayne and was correctly ruled offside.

Emerton put himself in the front seat for the miss of the season after 70 minutes. As Yairo Yau got past three Heart defenders and skidded the ball across the face of goal. Emerton managed to sky the resulting shot to the amazement of Tim Cahill, David Gallop and Holger Osiek who were watching in the stands. Emerton finally put the ball in the back of the net with the help of some shoddy keeping from Redmayne with 6 minutes in regulation time. After going around several defenders he poked it toward goal, Redmayne fumbling the save behind him for the equaliser. Once they pulled level there was only going to be one winner, and Rhyan Grant headed home to take a 2-1 victory.

This leaves the ladder after round 16 at:

1. Central Coast – 34 Points.
   
2. Adelaide United - 32 Points.
   
3. Melbourne Victory – 27 Points.
   
4. Western Sydney Wanderers - 26 Points.
   
5. Newcastle Jets – 20 Points.
   
6. Perth Glory - 19 Points.
   
7. Melbourne Heart – 18 Points.
   
8. Brisbane Roar - 17 Points.
   
9. Sydney FC - 17 Points.
   
10. Wellington Phoenix - 16 Points.