Champions' biggest challenge comes after decider

Michael Lynch THE conventional wisdom about grand final winners finding it difficult to back up is that once successful, they become the hunted not the hunter.

Wellington faithful ready to ambush Neumann

ADELAIDE UNITED striker Jeronimo Neumann has been told to expect a torrid time from home fans on Sunday when he fronts up against A-League strugglers the Wellington Phoenix.

Phoenix keep focus on play-offs

Cathy Walshe WELLINGTON: Bottom-of-the-table Wellington Phoenix can still make the A-League play-offs, captain Andrew Durante believes, but they have to start on Sunday with a win over Newcastle at Westpac...

Popovic slams ref for costly misses

Cathy Walshe WELLINGTON: Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic could not understand how the Wanderers were denied two penalty shouts as they slumped to their fifth loss of the season, against Wellington Phoenix at...

Fatigued Wellington work hard to share points with Brisbane

Cathy Walshe Wellington Phoenix battled to its second A-League 1-1 draw in a week, bringing a rampant Brisbane Roar back to earth at Westpac Stadium yesterday.

Fuming Phoenix skipper blasts rival for diving as Adelaide United powers to victory

ADELAIDE United's double scorer Jeronimo Neumann has been branded a cheat by Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante for diving in a bitter A-League match at Hindmarsh Stadium yesterday.

If it was a dive, Jeronimo may face suspension

Liam Fitzgibbon ADELAIDE import Jeronimo Neumann may become only the third A-League player banned for diving and Wellington captain Andrew Durante could be sanctioned for calling him a cheat.

Stars grab goals but it's Grant who bags praise from coach

Dominic Bossi SYDNEY FC's two marquee players, Alessandro Del Piero and Brett Emerton, both scored as the Sky Blues clinched a comeback win against Perth Glory on Sunday, but it was the performance of Rhyan Grant...

I'm not a cheat: Adelaide striker maintains he didn't take a dive

Adelaide United striker Jeronimo Neumann says he's not a cheat and didn't dive in an incident which has caused an A-League furore.

Soccer

Adelaide striker accused of diving insists he's no cheat

Steve Larkin Adelaide United striker Jeronimo Neumann says he's not a cheat and didn't dive in an incident against the Phoenix.

Reds back Jeronimo to bounce back from uproar

Steve Larkin ADELAIDE UNITED players have rallied around Argentine attacker Jeronimo Neumann to shield him from the fallout of the A-League's diving controversy.

Red-letter day, but it's grey for Sky Blues

Sebastian Hassett Here's the good news. Alessandro Del Piero hasn't lost his class. The trick is his teammates must now learn to find him.

Football

Red-letter day, but it's grey for Sky Blues

Sebastian Hassett Here's the good news. Alessandro Del Piero hasn't lost his class. The trick is his teammates must now learn to find him.

Players receive brawl bans

The four players involved in a brawl during a pre-season A-League match between Newcastle and Wellington have received bans ranging from two to four weeks.

A-League needs to take it easy: Postecoglou

David Beniuk Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou has told A-League clubs to take a chill-pill after a spate of violent pre-season flare-ups.

A-League stars missing from PFA's top team

They were the star recruits of the A-League this season but Socceroos duo Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton were absent from the starting side of Professional Footballers Australia's team of the season...