Minor premiership decided on goals
Melbourne Victory won the minor premiership having scored more goals than Adelaide United who were tied with them on points and goal difference.
The goal difference for both teams was 12 and Adelaide needed to win by at least two clear goals to have a superior goal difference and so the 1-nil over the Central Coast Mariners was not enough.
The Queensland Roar finished third on 36 points because to finish second Adelaide had a to draw or lose.
Wellington Phoenix's defeat at the hands of Victory meant that the Mariners no longer needed to get a result for their match against Adelaide but a heavy defeat would have guaranteed Adelaide the minor premiership.
There was change in the bottom four with Sydney FC moving into fourth place after a 4-nil demolition of cellar dwellers Newcastle Jets.
After looking like they could get fourth place the Phoenix ended in sixth position but its a positive result for a team that finished bottom last season.
So here is the final ladder:
| Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | Goal Diff | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Victory | 21 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 38 |
| Adelaide United FC | 21 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 38 |
| Queensland Roar | 21 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 36 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 28 |
| Sydney FC | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 26 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | -8 | 26 |
| Perth Glory | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | -13 | 22 |
| Newcastle Jets | 21 | 4 | 6 | 11 | -18 | 18 |
So in the finals Melbourne Victory will meet Adelaide and the Roar will meet the Mariners.
The winner in the Victory/Adelaide match will go straight to the Grand final but the loser will meet the winner between
Roar and the Mariners to the decide the other finalist.
delicious | 
diggGood job from Melbourne to get the minor premiership but they were not as convincing this season compared to season 2. I think Adelaide's away record let them down just like the Roar's poor home results at the start otherwise it would have been a different story.
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I think you are right Jared about Victory and the fact that they were tied on points with Adelaide means the minor premiership could easily have gone either way.
The Roar finished strongly and I will not be surprised to see them reach the grand final.
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This was an awesome game, dramatic all the way.
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