Breakers Go Down

Newcastle Herald

Thursday January 27, 2000

THE Newcastle Breakers' winning run came to an end last night when the Adelaide Force struck back in Adelaide.

The Breakers rode a nine-match unbeaten streak into their return bout with the Force and lost 2-0, but were solid enough to suggest that the wheels have not fallen off just yet.

Adelaide took that lead into the break and try as the might, the Breakers could not reply.

Elsewhere, Wollongong went to the top of the NSL table for the first time since 1988 after beating Sydney United 5-2 at the Sydney United Sports Centre last night.

Aided by Sydney Olympic's 2-0 loss to South Melbourne, the Wolves moved two points clear and can consider themselves a real championship threat.

United were no match for a Wollongong side blessed with an array of strikers who had their opponents under the gun early.

The Wolves took the lead in the third minute when Scott Chipperfield steamed through from halfway before crossing perfectly to Stuart Young, who volleyed home from 10 metres.

Seven minutes later United levelled the scores when Eddie Bosnar pounced from six metres.

Within a minute Young put the Wolves back in front, scoring from close range after good work by Chipperfield and Esala Masi in the penalty box.

Masi made it 3-1 with a glancing header in the 55th minute and when Matthew Horsley added a fourth in the 71st minute the game was as good as over.

Tom Maric pulled one back for United with a neat back-heel volley in the 79th minute but Chipperfield rounded things off for the Wolves with a clinical finish.

South Melbourne answered their critics with a stirring win over Sydney Olympic.

South showed great fighting spirit just three days after being thrashed 6-0 by the same team.

In other results Parramatta beat Morwell 2-0, Canberra and Melbourne drew 1-1, Auckland crushed Perth 4-1 and Northern Spirit downed Carlton 3-2.