Sydney FC’s hopes for a top-two finish go on the line in Friday night’s Round 23 Hyundai A-League opener against Brisbane Roar (kick off 7.50pm AEDT).
Steve Corica’s side will know they must improve from their 2-0 defeat to Melbourne City in Round 22, a match in which the Sky Blues failed to register a shot on target.
However, a timely international break has allowed them to refresh and refocus ahead of the trip to Suncorp Stadium.
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The season hasn’t gone according to plan for Roar, but the Queenslanders will head into this fixture quietly confident of springing a surprise having upset Sydney FC 2-1 in Round 18 back in February.
Dylan Wenzel-Halls was the hero on that night, completing his side’s late turnaround with a 90th-minute stunner. The young striker should prove difficult for Sydney to contain having scored four goals in his last six matches.
Darren Davies’ team did not enjoy the same luck as that infamous February night in their most recent outing, where they were undone by former player Kosta Barbouses in a 2-1 defeat to Melbourne Victory.
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Key Opta stats
- Sydney FC have won only two of their last 17 visits to Suncorp Stadium to face Brisbane Roar in the Hyundai A-League (D4, L11).
- Brisbane Roar have conceded four or more goals in four of their last six Hyundai A-League games at Suncorp.
- The Sky Blues have lost only one of their last 11 Hyundai A-League games played on a Friday (W9, D1), including a 2-0 win over Adelaide United in their last such fixture.
Ins and Outs
Brisbane Roar squad: 1.Brendan WHITE (gk), 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 11.Eric BAUTHEAC, 12.Ruon TONGYIK, 14.Alex LOPEZ, 15.Stefan NIGRO, 16.Charles LOKOLI-NGOY, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 18.Joe CALETTI, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 26.Nick D’AGOSTINO, 32.Zachary DUNCAN, 33.HENRIQUE, 34.Aaron REARDON, 36.Daniel LECK, 92.Eli BABALJ **two to be omitted**
Ins: 16.Charles LOKOLI-NGOY (promoted), 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk) (promoted), 26.Nick D’AGOSTINO (returns from international duty), 34.Aaron REARDON (promoted)
Outs: 22.Tobias MIKKELSEN (groin), 31.Macklin FREKE (not selected)
Unavailable: 2.Dane INGHAM (foot), 4.Daniel BOWLES (knee), 10.Brett HOLMAN (knee), 13.Stefan MAUK (groin), 19.Jack HINGERT (knee), 24.Connor O’TOOLE (broken leg)
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Aaron CALVER, 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Jop van der LINDEN, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.Adam LE FONDRE, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Danny DE SILVA, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE, 16.Reza GHOOCHANNEJHAD, 17.Anthony CACERES, 20.Alex CISAK (gk), 22.Siem DE JONG, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 31.Luke IVANOVIC **two to be omitted**
Ins: 5.Jop van der LINDEN (promoted), 6.Josh BRILLANTE (promoted), 11.Danny DE SILVA (return from elbow injury), 22.Siem DE JONG (return from knee injury)
Outs: 3.Ben WARLAND (ACL – indefinite), 18.Jacob TRATT (not selected)
Unavailable: 12.Trent BUHAGIAR (ACL – indefinite), 19.Chris ZUVELA (ACL – indefinite)
How to watch
You can catch Sydney FC’s trip to Brisbane Roar on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.50pm (AEDT) on Friday. You can also stream the match live on the MyFootball Live App, or by subscribing to Kayo Sports.
Tickets
BE THERE at Suncorp Stadium as the Roar take on Sydney FC on Friday night.
