2007 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup

The 2007 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup competition was held in July and August in the lead up to the start of the A-League 2007-08 season. The opening round started on July 14 2007. The competition featured a group stage, with three regular rounds, followed by a two week finals playoff.

In previous years, the Pre-Season Cup was used to enhance the A-League's profiles by playing pre-season games in regional centres. In 2007 venues included Sunshine Coast, Launceston, Canberra, Port Macquarie, Darwin, Orange and Geelong. [cite news|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=7466&pageid=11|title=Regional Focus for Pre-Season Cup|date=2007-04-23|accessdate=2007-04-23]

The group stage had a bonus point system. One point was awarded for 2 goals in a match, two points for 3 and three points for 4 or more goals in a match.

If two or more teams were level on points accumulated, the following criteria would be applied, in order, until one of the teams was be determined as the higher ranked:
# highest goal difference;
# highest number of goals scored;
# result of the match played between the teams concerned;
# highest number of bonus points accumulated;
# lowest number of red cards accumulated;
# lowest number of yellow cards accumulated;
# toss of a coin.

The finals series was held over two weekends - August 3 to August 5, and August 10 to August 12.

Pre-Season Cup group stage fixtures and results

Round 1

----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 14, 2007
14:30 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague NUJ
score = 0 – 1
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18470 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague PG
goals1 =
goals2 = Harnwell goal|48
stadium = Port Macquarie Regional Stadium,
Port Macquarie, New South Wales
attendance = 2,700
referee = James Lewis----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 14, 2007
18:00 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague CCM
score = 2 – 0
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18472 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague WP
goals1 = Wilkinson goal|3
Kwasnik goal|30
goals2 =
stadium = Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium,
Gosford, New South Wales
attendance = 8,136
referee = Srebre Delovski----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 14, 2007
19:00 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague QR
score = 0 – 0
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18471 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague SFC
goals1 =
goals2 =
stadium = Maroochydore Soccer Club,
Maroochydore, Queensland
attendance = 4,892
referee = Peter Green----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 15, 2007
13:00 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague MV
score = 1 – 1
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18481 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague AU
goals1 = Allsopp goal|74
goals2 = Dodd goal|9
stadium = Aurora Stadium,
Launceston, Tasmania
attendance = 8,061
referee = Angelo Nardi

Round 2

----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 20, 2007
19:30
team1 = ALeague AU
score = 1 – 1
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18546 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague PG
goals1 = Cassio goal|59
goals2 = Rukavytsya goal|53
stadium = Hindmarsh Stadium,
Adelaide, South Australia
attendance = 3,513
referee = Steven Gregory----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 21, 2007
15:00 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague CCM
score = 1 – 1
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18551&pageid=2055 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague QR
goals1 = Boogaard goal|6
goals2 = Lynch goal|60
stadium = Wade Park,
Orange, New South Wales
attendance = 3,531
referee = James Lewis----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 22, 2007
14:00 UTC+12
team1 = ALeague WP
score = 3 – 0
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18547 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague SFC
goals1 = Smeltz goal|13, goal|89 Rudan goal|14|own
goals2 =
stadium = Westpac Stadium,
Wellington, New Zealand
attendance = 6,039
referee = Peter O’Leary----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 22, 2007
14:00 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague MV
score = 0 – 1
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18562 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague NUJ
goals1 =
goals2 = Wheelhouse goal|51
stadium = Skilled Stadium,
Geelong, Victoria
attendance = 8,500
referee = Ben Williams

Round 3

----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 27, 2007
19:00 UTC+12
team1 = ALeague WP
score = 1 – 2
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18629&pageid=2055 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague QR
goals1 = Old goal|47
goals2 = Lynch goal|41 Ognenovski goal|50
stadium = Queen Elizabeth II Park,
Christchurch, New Zealand
attendance = 4,081
referee = Michael Hester----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 27, 2007
19:30
team1 = ALeague AU
score = 4 – 1
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18630&pageid=2055 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague NUJ
goals1 = Burns goal|6 Djite goal|66 Sarkies goal|80|pen Alagich goal|86
goals2 = Bridge sent off|2|69 A. Griffiths sent off|2|79 J. Griffiths goal|90+2|pen
stadium = Hindmarsh Stadium,
Adelaide, South Australia
attendance = 3,800
referee = Craig Zetter----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 28, 2007
18:30
team1 = ALeague PG
score = 2 – 1
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18631&pageid=2055 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague MV
goals1 = Rukavytsya goal|52 Harnwell goal|70
goals2 = Hernandez goal|34
stadium = Darwin Football Stadium,
Darwin, Northern Territory
attendance = 2,700
referee = Peter Green----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = July 29, 2007
15:00 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague SFC
score = 0 – 3
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18639 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague CCM
goals1 =
goals2 = Osman goal|36 Kwasnik goal|44 Gumprecht goal|51
stadium = Canberra Stadium,
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
attendance = 5,735
referee = Ben Williams

Playoffs

----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = August 4, 2007
18:00 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague CCM
score = 2 – 3
report = [http://www.ccmariners.com.au/default.aspx?s=ccfc_news_item&id=18713 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague PG
goals1 = Mrdja goal|43 Petrovski goal|90
goals2 = Dragicevic goal|23 Bertos goal|55
Tarka goal|78
stadium = Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium,
Gosford, New South Wales
attendance = 5,967
referee = Ben Williams----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = August 4, 2007
19:30 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague NUJ
score = 3 – 2
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18726&pageid=2055 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague SFC
goals1 = J. Griffiths goal|5, goal|76
Tunbridge goal|56
goals2 = Zadkovich goal|79
Talay goal|83
stadium = Parramatta Stadium,
Parramatta, New South Wales
attendance = 2,611
referee = Peter Green----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = August 4, 2007
19:30 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague MV
score = 1 – 2
report = [http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=mvfc_newsdisplay&id=18721 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague WP
goals1 = Dodd goal|34|own
goals2 = Smeltz goal|53 Daniel goal|87
stadium = Olympic Park Stadium,
Melbourne, Victoria
attendance = 4,100
referee = Kevin Docherty----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = August 5, 2007
18:00
team1 = ALeague AU
score = 3 – 2
report = [http://www.adelaideunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=aufc_newsdisplay&id=18732&pageid=1558 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague QR
goals1 = Djite goal|1 Petta goal|45 Cássio goal|64
goals2 = Lynch goal|16 Milicic goal|73
stadium = Hindmarsh Stadium,
Adelaide, South Australia
attendance = 5,221
referee = Angelo Nardi

Finals

----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 10 August 2007
19:30 UTC+12
team1 = ALeague WP
score = 0 – 0
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18789 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague NUJ
goals1 =
goals2 =
stadium = Westpac Stadium
attendance = 5,174
referee = Mike Hesterpenshootoutbox
penalties1 = Smeltz penmiss|Keeper saved Aloisi pengoal Christie pengoal Johnson penmiss|Keeper saved
penaltyscore = 2 – 4
penalties2 = pengoal J. Griffiths pengoal Bridge pengoal Thompson pengoal Elrich----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 11 August 2007
19:30 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague MV
score = 0 – 1
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18801 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague SFC
goals1 =
goals2 = Brosque goal|34
stadium = Olympic Park Stadium
attendance = 3,400
referee = Simon Przydacz----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 12 August 2007
15:00
team1 = ALeague AU
score = 2 – 1
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18805 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague PG
goals1 = Djite goal|66 Cássio goal|83
goals2 = Bertos goal|45
stadium = Hindmarsh Stadium
attendance = 9,606
referee = Craig Zetter----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 12 August 2007
16:00 UTC+10
team1 = ALeague CCM
score = 1 – 3
report = [http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18803 (Report)]
team2 = ALeague QR
goals1 = Simon goal|9
goals2 = Milicic goal|30
Nichols sent off|0|33
Marcinho goal|48
Seo sent off|0|76
Reinaldo goal|86
stadium = Bluetongue Stadium
attendance = 3,500 ( [http://spirit.webcity.com.au/AFN/2007-2008/P5/P5-CCvsQR.htm estimate] )
referee = James Lewis

Group A table

Group B table

Finals

8Team-2Group-Playoff
team-width=150
score-width=30
RD1-team1=ALeague AU
RD1-score1=3
RD1-team2=ALeague QR
RD1-score2=2
RD1-team3=ALeague PG
RD1-score3=3
RD1-team4=ALeague CCM
RD1-score4=2
RD1-team5=ALeague NUJ
RD1-score5=3
RD1-team6=ALeague SFC
RD1-score6=2
RD1-team7=ALeague MV
RD1-score7=1
RD1-team8=ALeague WP
RD1-score8=2
RD2-team1=ALeague AU
RD2-score1=2
RD2-team2=ALeague PG
RD2-score2=1
RD2-team3=ALeague QR
RD2-score3=3
RD2-team4=ALeague CCM
RD2-score4=1
RD2-team5=ALeague NUJ
RD2-score5=0 (4)
RD2-team6=ALeague WP
RD2-score6=0 (2)
RD2-team7=ALeague SFC
RD2-score7=1
RD2-team8=ALeague MV
RD2-score8=0

corers

As at 12 August 2007;3 goals
*flagicon|BRA Cássio (ALeague AU)
*flagicon|AUS Bruce Djite (ALeague AU)
*flagicon|AUS Joel Griffiths (ALeague NUJ)
*flagicon|SCO Simon Lynch (ALeague QR)
*flagicon|NZL Shane Smeltz (ALeague WP)

;2 goals
*flagicon|NZL Leo Bertos (ALeague PG)
*flagicon|AUS Jamie Harnwell (ALeague PG)
*flagicon|AUS Adam Kwasnik (ALeague CCM)
*flagicon|AUS Ante Milicic (ALeague QR)
*flagicon|AUS Nikita Rukavytsya (ALeague PG)

;1 goal
*flagicon|AUS Richie Alagich (ALeague AU)
*flagicon|AUS Danny Allsopp (ALeague MV)
*flagicon|AUS Nigel Boogaard (ALeague CCM)
*flagicon|AUS Alex Brosque (ALeague SFC)
*flagicon|AUS Nathan Burns (ALeague AU)
*flagicon|BRA Daniel (ALeague WP)
*flagicon|CRO Mate Dragičević (ALeague PG)
*flagicon|AUS Travis Dodd (ALeague AU)
*flagicon|GER Andre Gumprecht (ALeague CCM)
*flagicon|Costa Rica Carlos Hernandez (ALeague MV)
*flagicon|BRA Marcinho (ALeague QR)
*flagicon|AUS Nick Mrdja (ALeague CCM)
*flagicon|AUS Sasa Ognenovski (ALeague QR)
*flagicon|NZL Steven Old (ALeague WP)
*flagicon|AUS Matthew Osman (ALeague CCM)
*flagicon|AUS Sasho Petrovski (ALeague CCM)
*flagicon|AUS Bobby Petta (ALeague AU)
*flagicon|BRA Reinaldo (ALeague QR)
*flagicon|AUS Kristian Sarkies (ALeague AU)
*flagicon|AUS Matt Simon (ALeague CCM)
*flagicon|AUS Ufuk Talay (ALeague SFC)
*flagicon|AUS David Tarka (ALeague PG)
*flagicon|AUS Scott Tunbridge (ALeague NUJ)
*flagicon|AUS Jobe Wheelhouse (ALeague NUJ)
*flagicon|AUS Alex Wilkinson (ALeague CCM)
*flagicon|AUS Ruben Zadkovich (ALeague SFC)

;Own Goals
*flagicon|NZL Karl Dodd (ALeague WP) for (ALeague MV)
*flagicon|AUS Mark Rudan (ALeague SFC) for (ALeague WP)

References