United celebrate Jeronimo's second goal. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser
PERTH did Adelaide a massive favour by beating the Jets on Friday night and gave themselves a chance of making the finals in the process.
Newcastle should have won and may just have blown their finals chances completely.
No matter what the results this weekend, the Reds will be at least five points clear in fourth place with three rounds remaining and the hope of a home final.
The Jets play at Hindmarsh next week and with an extra game over the other teams, nothing but a win will give them any chance of getting better than fifth.
So Adelaide can now safely say they're in the six but they have their work cut out staying in fourth spot based on current form.
They must play Perth away and the Mariners at home in the last two games and neither will be a safe bet for even a point.
The Mariners and the Wanderers will battle it out for the premiership.
Central Coast should never have lost last week to the league's newest team but they threw away three points and maybe the Premier's Plate with it.
They will have to rely on other sides to do them a favour and at the same time hold their own nerve and that might be easier said than done.
Despite all the good football, they haven't been able to kill opponents off when they've had the chance, a problem that has plagued the club since inception.
Victory is through as well but just where they finish could come down to the last game - Wellington away and a potential banana skin. They've got Brisbane this weekend and three points will see them finishing in the top three.
So that leaves Brisbane, Perth, Newcastle and the Heart fighting for the last two places. On form you would have to say the Roar will make it - just.
Newcastle is going to struggle and might just get pipped at the post on goal difference by Perth.
Hearts' poor season away from home will come back to haunt them. They have Adelaide tomorrow and West Sydney at home next week and unless they get at least four points they will struggle, with Brisbane and the Mariners away in their last two.
And let's not forget Sydney FC. Frank Farina is a good mate. We go back a long way and I would love to see him succeed but two consecutive losses have killed their revival.
They play the Mariners, Victory and Western Sydney, with Brisbane away in the last round, and unless there's some kind of divine intervention (Del Piero aside) he can start planning for next season.
Invariably, the table doesn't lie. It tells a few fibs from time to time and the odd team will undeservedly slip through but when you have a six team finals competition in a ten team league that's inevitable. Overall though consistency reflects position no matter which way you look at it.
Besart Berisha of Brisbane is surrounded by Adelaide players
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