Michael Lynch, The Age's expert on soccer, has had extensive experience of high level journalism in the UK and Australia. Michael has covered the Socceroos through Asia, Europe and South America in their past three World Cup campaigns. He has also reported on Grands Prix and top class motor sport from Asia and Europe. He has won several national media awards for both sports and industry journalism.
Melbourne derbies are feisty affairs at the best of times, but Saturday night's second meeting of the season between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City promises to be an even more keenly contested than ever.
The knives were being sharpened, if not applied, for Besart Berisha after a sluggish start to the season that had yielded five goals in Melbourne Victory's first eight games, two of them from the penalty spot.
In one pint sized package Melbourne City's flying Argentine winger Fernando Brandan contains the best _ and in most Australians eyes _ the worst of the world game.
Melbourne City coach John Van't Schip again demands referees protect his players amid a fresh furore over simulation.
Sydney FC preserved their unbeaten A-League record and remain six points clear at the top of the table after rescuing a point against Melbourne City with a late penalty that earned them a 1-1 draw in a feisty clash in front of a disappointing crowd of 14,668 fans at ANZ Stadium.
Harry Kewell opens up on the dark days of his career.Â
Its the first genuine six pointer of the season as Sydney look to gain revenge for their FFA Cup Final defeat at the hands of Melbourne City _ and stretch their lead at the top of the A_League table still further.
Officials at NPL club South Melbourne are hopeful that the FFA's plan to fast track league expansion in the next two seasons will boost their bid to be elevated to the A-League.
As David Gallop and the FFA's executive team try to sell the benefits of the game to potential broadcasters, soccer's chiefs got a PR boost.
Players in any sport always say that the awards handed out to them by their peers are the ones they value most.
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