The Roar are bottom of their group after two games but still only a win away from top spot.
Date: Wednesday, April 4
Kick-off: 8:30pm AEDT, 7:30pm local
Venue: Ulsan Munsu Stadium
Head-to-head
Played 0: Wins: Ulsan 0, Brisbane 0, draws: 0
Previous encounter
The is the first match between the two sides
Form:
Past five matches:
Ulsan: WWDLD
Brisbane: DWDWW
Ulsan started their K-League campaign on fire, picking up all nine points on offer in their first three games. First was an impressive 1-0 win away to 2010-11 runners-up the Pohang Steelers.
Ulsan remain fourth following a loss and a draw in their two most recent domestic fixtures. In the AFC Champions League, Ulsan sit second in Group F after a win and a draw in their opening two fixtures.
For Brisbane, their pursuit of an unprecedented back-to-back A-League title may just have coincided with a less than satisfactory start to their maiden ACL campaign.
A thoroughly deserved 2-0 win in the first leg of their major semi-final with the Central Coast Mariners on Friday capped off their impressive late-season run but you get the sense the Roar may not be fully focused on their continental duties until a second title is in their hands.
Match Committee:
No fresh injury concerns for the Roar after they rested a host of players including Thomas Broich, Michael Theoklitos, Matt Smith, Mohamed Adnan and Mitch Nichols for their final game of the regular season against Gold Coast United.
Danger men:
Thomas Broich – The German’s influence on the side is without question and he has been back to his best after missing eight matches with a heel injury earlier in the season.
His absence coincided with the end of the Roar’s record-breaking undefeated streak as well as the league’s leading scorer, Besart Berisha’s, Midas touch. The Roar’s master creator is integral in unlocking miserly defences and did so again on Saturday when he jinked into the box and laid on Erik Paartalu for the crucial second goal against the Mariners.
Lee Keun-Ho – The South Korean international has been in ominous form early in the season, netting four times in five K-League matches. The former Gamba Osaka forward enjoyed his most profitable season in the J.League season just past with 15 goals in 32 games before securing a move back to the K-League and has taken no time adjusting.
His movement and powerful dribbling will be at the forefront of Ange Postecoglou’s planning as Berisha will not be the only natural goal scorer on the pitch on Wednesday.
At the end of the day…
The Roar are bottom of their group after two games but still only a win away from top spot. Much was expected of the Roar, even on debut, in Asia’s premier club competition, with their sleek passing and movement seen as a flag bearer for the progress the A-League has made.
However, their start to the campaign has been less than such and they now desperately need a result in South Korea to keep their hopes of progression alive. A win for Ulsan will extend their gap over the Roar to six points, making the A-League side’s task all the more important.
The key will be transferring their fine form and fluidity in the A-League to the ACL even with the pressure of a finals campaign weighing on their mind.
If anything, Saturday’s positive result over the Mariners will alleviate some of that and reaffirm belief among what is arguably the most talented squad to grace the A-League in its seven seasons.
But Ulsan are in good form both domestically and in the ACL and boast a proven goal scorer and track record at the tournament, having qualified for the 2008 ACL.
