Marcus Wilson, Sportal

Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory have played out a nil-all draw in the first leg of their semifinal series at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday.

The Reds were the better side throughout the contest but were unable to find the winner despite numerous attempts over the 90 minutes.

The Victory went into defensive mode early in the second half but had their own chances to score against the tide of play thanks to some quick breaks from the back during the dying moments.

United dominated the first half and were unlucky to find a winner - the Reds earned five corners and hit the woodwork twice.

At 38 minutes Richie Alagich crossed the ball to Nathan Burns whose header grazed the left hand post of the goal. Just five minutes later a Matthew Kemp cross from the other side of the pitch was headed by Fernando but the deflection lobbed onto the crossbar.

Earlier, it had been Bobby Petta's precision touch and movement in attack that got the home side off to a good start.

But he sustained a foot injury and went to the bench before he'd really had a chance to do any damage.

His replacement Jason Spagnuolo added some zip and was brimming with enthusiasm but got carried away and received a yellow card for a late tackle on Grant Brebner.

Adelaide's change in personnel gave the Victory a chance to work their way into the contest and they made a couple of promising pushes forward.

Fred and Archie Thompson joined forces and gave Adelaide a scare but the Reds managed to clear the ball before they could get a shot on goal.

Daniel Allsopp also looked to score but was stopped by Ang Costanzo before he had a chance to get a kick away.

Costanzo was a key player in the Reds first half - he along with Alagich and Michael Valkanis calmly cleared the ball from danger on a number of occasions.

But the visitors good play was overshadowed by Adelaide's hunger and attacking play.

United controlled possession and could've easily had a half time lead if its execution near goals was better.

Travis Dodd ensured the momentum stayed with the Reds after the break - he put in two dangerous crosses in as many minutes and had a solid shot on goal.

With the Reds continuing to press forward Melbourne's approach to the game changed - the Victory's focus was on keeping their opposition out rather than creating their own scoring opportunities.

It made for life difficult for the home side and coach John Kosmina looked for a spark off the bench - at the 66th minute he substituted Nathan Burns for Bruce Djite.

Djite was a real competitor but the Victory's defence remained firm.
As the minutes ticked away, the pressure started to mount on an Adelaide line-up desperate to score and equally desperate not to concede to a less convincing Melbourne.

When the Victory did turn the ball over and charged towards goal they threatened to convert opportunities.

Allsopp and Kevin Muscat picked up some dangerous touches and there were some nervous times for the Reds' defence.

Allsopp blazed away during injury time, hoping to score an unlikely winner, but the ball flew to the right of his target.

Ross Aloisi also tried to break the deadlock in the dying moments but his crossing kick curled over the goal.

The sides will go head to head in Melbourne next weekend.

Adelaide United 0
Melbourne Victory 0

Ben Collins, Sportal

Sydney FC has taken the initiative in the Hyundai A-League minor semifinal after recording a 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets in the first leg at Aussie Stadium.

Sydney was superb in the first half and took the lead through a 14th-minute header from Alex Brosque before Mark Milligan headed a second on the half-hour mark to put the reigning champion in control.

Newcastle came out more determined in the second half and deservedly pulled one back through substitute Milton Rodruguez in the 70th minute to set up what promises to be an intriguing second leg in Newcastle next Friday.

Sydney started strongly and its first chance came in the fifth minute after Stuart Musialik was dispossessed just outside his own box by returning midfielder Terry McFlynn. The Northern Irishman nudged the ball wide to Steve Corica, whose right-wing cross was headed straight at Jets goalkeeper Ante Covic by Brosque.

However, Brosque made no mistake nine minutes later as he gave Sydney the lead with a well-judged header.

Corica drifted in from the right and lofted the ball towards Nikolai Topor-Stanley, playing in place of injured left-back Alvin Ceccoli. Steve Eagleton left Topor-Stanley unchallenged as he headed the ball into the centre of the box, where Brosque crept in between Jade North and Paul Okon to head over Covic.

Brosque threatened again in the 22nd minute, sending a left-footed strike fizzing narrowly wide after Dave Carney played the ball in from the left.

Newcastle was passing the ball well and in the 26th minute Eagleton played in Joel Griffiths on the right side of the box, but the Jets forward miscontrolled as he bore down on goal.

Then Newcastle was again undone by a superb ball from Corica. Sydney enjoyed some possession outside the Newcastle box before Corica chipped the ball into the danger zone and midfielder Milligan timed his run to perfection, charging into the box to head home his first A-League goal.

Newcastle tested Clint Bolton for the first time at the start of the second half, Griffiths forcing the Sydney keeper to save at his near post after playing a short corner with Nick Carle, before Mark Bridge curled an effort inches wide from the edge of the box.

Sydney then had a great chance to stretch its lead with Milligan picking out Sasho Petrovski but the Sydney striker, who joined Brosque up front after replacing McFlynn at half-time, blazed over from the left side of the box.

Eagleton fired narrowly wide on the hour mark after tackling Sydney wide-man Robbie Middleby, but Rodriguez soon got the Jets back into it.

The Colombian striker replaced Vaughan Coveny in the 57th minute and had already glanced a header wide before turning central defender Iain Fyfe inside the Sydney box and smashing a left-footed drive past Bolton.

Newcastle then looked the likeliest scorer in the closing stages but Sydney held on to ensure it has something to defend when it heads up the F3 next week