FOOTBALL
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Last Sunday's game against Cruz Azul should never have been played.
Conditions weren't just difficult to play in, they were dangerous for the players.
The state of the pitch was nothing short of a joke.
When the ball stops dead in a pool of water, surely there has to be a level of common sense used.
For whatever reason the game went on and what followed was a forgettable refereeing display.
Both factors played a huge role in what became a disappointing evening of football.
With that said, it can't be forgotten that we were leading 1-0 with two minutes to go.
In that position you have to believe the match is yours to lose.
We were 120 seconds away from a date with the world's best club.
It's a loss that isn't likely to disappear from the boys' minds anytime soon.
To be so close to facing off against Real Madrid is a moment most of the players will never get the chance to do again.
It will make the Asian Champions League triumph feel so long ago.
We followed up the display with another hot-and-cold performance against ES Setif.
It was awesome to see Romeo Castelan and Vitor Saba get on the scoresheet again with a couple of cracking strikes, but the eventual penalty shoot-out loss left us winless in the Club World Cup in sixth spot.
The pair of defeats takes it to 11 matches in all competitions since we have last tasted a win.
When the boys return early next week we will need to turn that around ASAP.
All A-League clubs are heading into a unique schedule over the next six weeks with the Asian Cup taking centre stage.
It makes securing three points more important than ever over the festive season.
With the club currently on the bottom of the ladder, without a win, being a contender in the title race is virtually out of the question.
A spot in the finals, however, is still well within our reach.
If we can get there, it will undoubtedly put a scare through whoever has to face us.
On a personal note, everything is going to plan post-shoulder surgery.
There appears to be no problems from the operation and a late season return remains on the cards.
FFA Cup a success
WELL done Adelaide United!
The first FFA Cup decider lived up to expectations and the Reds were deserved victors.
They dominated for most of the 90 minutes against Perth Glory and the 1-0 margin could very well have been a few more.
Playing at home definitely favoured them.
For future tournament finals, a neutral venue would have to be the fairest outcome.
It was stellar to see a capacity crowd, but the Glory had every right to feel a bit jaded by the full house at Coopers Stadium.
As a whole, it was a fitting final to an inaugural competition that has to be considered a success.
The competition had all the crucial elements of a successful Cup competition.
Fairytale runs, spectacular goals and ability to capture the entire football community.
With growth of the competition expected in the second year, there is plenty of encouragement for the FFA Cup to return bigger and better in 2015.
