It’s tough to know which Brisbane Roar to expect this season, but recent history tells us that the goals will be flying in when Robbie Fowler’s men face Champions Sydney FC on Saturday.
Hyundai A-League encounters between the Queenslanders and Sky Blues have averaged four goals per game over the past five years. Only two clean sheets have been kept in this fixture across the last half a decade.
Nestrata Jubilee Stadium is turning into a good luck charm for Steve Corica’s men. The Champions have won four out of four at Kogarah, scoring 11 and only conceding twice. Robbie Fowler needs to find a fix for Roar’s dreadful away form. They have won only one in their last 19 outside of Queensland.
The key for Brisbane could be not conceding the first goal. Five times this season, Sydney FC have struck first. On each occasion they have got on to win. On the other hand, Roar are the only Hyundai A-League club without a first-half goal.
Brisbane’s Jay O’Shea has been the most creative player this season, making 26 chances, but the most common source of goals in the competition is the Alexander Baumjohann-Adam Le Fondre connection. Three times the pair have combined to score, including twice last week at Western United.
Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar FC
Saturday, 7 December 2019
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Kick-Off: 7:30pm AEDT
MATCH PREVEW: Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar
HOW TO WATCH: Catch all the action from Round 9
Sharp shooters v pass kings on Friday night
Melbourne City average a competition high 17 shots per game, while visitors Perth Glory have the highest passing accuracy, 84%, in the Hyundai A-League.
Erick Mombaert’s side may be the form team heading into the Friday night clash but the Hyundai A-League Premiers are undefeated in their last six visits to AAMI Park and have only lost one in their last 10 games against City.
It’s been six years since City last won five straight at AAMI Park and three points against Glory on Friday would be only the second time they have accomplished that feat in their history. A third straight Hyundai A-League defeat for Tony Popovic’s men defeat would be their worst run in two years.
It’s all eyes on the strikers. Jamie Maclaren is on a historic run of nine goals in four Hyundai A-League games, while ex-City striker Bruno Fornaroli has scored more goals at AAMI Park than anyone. The Uruguayan has 29 goals in 36 games at the venue.
Melbourne City FC v Perth Glory
Friday, 6 December 2019
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-Off: 7:30pm AEDT
MATCH PREVEW: Melbourne City v Perth Glory
Phoenix return to fortress Eden Park
Wellington Phoenix play their fifth Hyundai A-League match at Eden Park on Saturday and they are yet to lose in Auckland.
Their opponents, Western Sydney, have the edge in the form book. Wanderers have won eight of their last 13 against the Nix.
However, Markus Babbel’s side have not kept a clean sheet in their last nine matches outside of New South Wales and they are one of two teams yet to record a shut out in 2019/20.
Ulises Davila and David Ball could be the combination to watch for the Kiwi club. The Mexican has made seven chances for the English striker this season, a competition high. Mitch Duke brings the threat for Western Sydney. Their captain has scored four of his team’s last eight goals.
Wellington Phoenix v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Saturday, 7 December 2019
Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-Off: 7:00pm Local, 5:00pm AEDT
MATCH PREVEW: Wellington Phoenix v Western Sydney Wanderers
Home team struggles in Victoria
Western United will be want to pick up where they left off in their 3-2 win against Melbourne Victory earlier in the season, but no home team has come out on top of a contest between two Victorian clubs in the last nine inter-state meetings.
Mark Rudan’s team need a spark. They have lost three in a row without scoring a goal in more than five hours of football, and the competition newcomers have conceded the opening goal more than any over team in the Hyundai A-League, six.
Captain Alessandro Diamanti looks the most likely to make something happen for the Green and Black. The Italian leads the division in passing into the opposition’s box, with 128, that’s 28 more than any other Hyundai A-League player.
Marco Kurz’s men may have arrived at the perfect time for United. Victory have lost five of their last seven on the road, including their last two. They haven’t lost three straight away games in the last four years.
Western United FC v Melbourne Victory
Sunday, 8 December 2019
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Kick-Off: 4:00pm AEDT
MATCH PREVIEW: Western United v Melbourne Victory
Three straight Jets clean sheets seven years in waiting
It’s been almost seven years since Newcastle Jets kept three clean sheets in a row and Ernie Merrick’s men travel to the City of Churches with back-to-back shut outs under their belts.
But the form guide between the clubs tips heavily in Adelaide United’s favour. The Reds are undefeated in their last five against the men from the Hunter, and the Jets have claimed only one win in their last eight outings at Coopers Stadium.
To stand a chance, the Jets need to take their chances and they certainly have been so far in 2019/20. Newcastle boast the highest shooting accuracy of any team, 58%, in the Hyundai A-League.
Only three players have multiple goals and assists to their names and, one of them, Riley McGree (six goals, two assists) will miss out with a knee injury. In his absence, Dimitri Petratos (two goals, two assists) could be the most likely to make some magic happen.
Adelaide United v Newcastle Jets
Sunday, 8 December 2019
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Kick-Off: 5:30pm local, 6:00pm AEDT
MATCH PREVIEW: Adelaide United v Newcastle Jets
