Hyundai A-League Round 7 Preview

Get all the team news for Round 7 of the Hyundai A-League

The 26,336th person to attend a Hyundai A-League match this weekend will become number 4 million to have attended a Hyundai A-League match only seven rounds into season 4 of the competition.

To celebrate this milestone, the 4 millionth person through the gates will receive a prize of four tickets (and travel courtesy of Qantas if required) to the Hyundai A-League Grand Final Breakfast on 27 February and the Hyundai A-League Grand Final on 28 February.

At the end of round 6 last weekend, the Hyundai A-League-s aggregate attendance for 294 matches was 3,973,664.

Weekend Matches

Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners
Friday 3 October 2008
Hindmarsh Stadium
Local kick off 7.30pm (8.00pm AEST)
Referee. Ben Williams

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 2 and Sky Sport 1.
Hyundai A-League club radio broadcast partner is FRESH FM (Adelaide) and Coast FM (Gosford) 96.3FM.
To purchase tickets visit www.venuetix.com.au.

Adelaide United Squad: 20.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.ALEMAO, 4.Angelo COSTANZO, 6.CASSIO, 9.Paul AGOSTINO, 10.CRISTIANO, 13.Travis DODD (capt.), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 15.Jonas SALLEY, 16. Daniel MULLEN, 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 21.Jason SPAGNUOLO, 22.DIEGO, 24.Paul REID, 30.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk). * one to be omitted

In: Daniel MULLEN (promoted)

Out: Nil

Others Unavailable: Daniel Beltrame (knee – season), Isyan Erdogan (hamstring – indefinite), Lucas PANTELIS (groin – 1 week), Kristian SARKIES (foot – 1 week), Fabian BARBIERO (groin – 1 week)

Central Coast Squad: 1. Matthew NASH (gk), 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Bradley PORTER, 6. David D’APUZZO, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 10. Adrian CACERES, 11. Dylan MACALLISTER, 13. Paul O’GRADY, 15. Andrew CLARK, 16. Nigel BOOGAARD, 17. Matthew OSMAN, 18. Alex WILKINSON, 19. Matt SIMON, 22. Sasho PETROVSKI, 23. Mile JEDINAK, 30. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk). * one to be omitted

In: Matthew Nash (Promoted), David D’Apuzzo (Promoted)

Out: Mark Bosnich (Hamstring – Indefinite)

Others Unavailable: Andre Gumprecht (Knee – Indefinite), Dean Heffernan (Leg – Indefinite), Greg Owens (Hamstring – Indefinite), Danny Vukovic (Suspended – 1 round), Ahmad Elrich (Knee – Season)

Stats, Facts & Milestones
Adelaide United will be aiming to win their fifth home match in a row, which would see the team equal the Hyundai A-League record for most consecutive home victories. Adelaide United’s winning streak at Hindmarsh Stadium commenced in Round 21 last season – the winning streak included W2-0 v Queensland, W1-0 v Perth, W3-0 v Wellington and W2-0 v Newcastle. The only other team to record five Hyundai A-League home wins in succession so far is Melbourne Victory, from February to October 2006.

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD in all official competitions
All matches (played 10): Adelaide United wins 4, Central Coast Mariners wins 4 (2 draws).
In Adelaide (played 6): Adelaide United wins 2, Central Coast Mariners wins 2 (2 draws)

Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory
Saturday 4 October 2008
Telstra Dome
Local kick off 5.00pm AEST
Referee. Strebre Delovski

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 2 and Sky Sport 2.
Hyundai A-League club radio broadcast partner is SEN (Melbourne) 1116AM and 6PR (Perth).
To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com.au.

Melbourne Victory Squad 20.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk), 2.Kevin MUSCAT (Captain), 4.Steven PACE, 7.Matthew KEMP, 8.Grant BREBNER, 9.Danny ALLSOPP, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS, 14.Billy CELESKI, 15.Tom PONDELJAK, 17.Jose Luis LOPEZ, 18. Leigh BROXHAM, 19.Evan BERGER, 22.Nick WARD, 24.Mathew THEODORE, 40.Lou ACEVSKI (gk) *one to be omitted

In: Steven Pace (promoted), Nick Ward (return from injury), Mathew Theodore (promoted from Youth).

Out: Michael Thwaite (ankle – 3 weeks), Carlos Hernandez (suspended – 1 match)

Others Unavailable: Ney Fabiano (suspended – 4 matches), Michael Theoklitos (suspended – 1 match), Sebastian Ryall (international duty – 2 weeks), Nathan Elasi (international duty – 2 weeks)

Perth Squad: 1.Jason PETKOVIC (gk), 2.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 3.David TARKA, 4.Jamie COYNE (c), 5.Jamie HARNWELL, 7.Nick RIZZO, 9.Adrian TRINIDAD, 11.Scott BULLOCH, 13.Nikita RUKAVYTSYA, 14.Eugene DADI, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17.James DOWNEY, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 20.Frank JURIC (gk), 22.Wayne SRHOJ, 26.Jeff BRIGHT, 27.Stuart McLAREN, 30.Tando VELAPHI (gk). *three to be omitted

In: Jeff Bright (promoted), James Downey (return from injury), Nick Rizzo (promoted), Tando Velaphi (promoted).

Out: James Robinson (groin – 10 weeks)

Others Unavailable: Josip Magdic (ankle – season), Hayden Foxe (foot – 1 weeks), Dino Djublic (suspended – 2 weeks), Amaral (hamstring – 1 week)

Stats, Facts & Milestones
Melbourne Victory defender, Rodrigo Vargas, is set to make his 50th Hyundai A-League appearance on Saturday. Vargas joined Melbourne Victory in 2006 from Victorian Premier League side, Green Gully. Vargas has started in every match since – other than two due to suspension.

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS in all official competitions
All matches (played 9): Melbourne Victory wins 3, Perth Glory wins 2 (4 draws).
In Melbourne (played 5): Melbourne Victory wins 2, Perth Glory wins 0 (3 draws).

Sydney FC v Queensland Roar
Saturday 4 October 2008
Sydney Football Stadium
Local kick off 7.00pm AEST
Referee. Matthew Breeze

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 2 and Sky Sport 2.
To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au.

Sydney FC Squad: 1.Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Iain FYFE, 5. Mitchell PRENTICE 6. Tony POPOVIC (C), 7. Rob MIDDLEBY, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 10. Steve CORICA, 11. Brendon SANTALAB, 12. Shannon COLE, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN, 18. Adam CASEY, 19. Mark BRIDGE, 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21. Adam BIDDLE, 23. John ALOISI.
* One to be omitted

In: Adam Biddle (promoted), Adam Casey (promoted)

Out: Matthew Jurman (International duty).

Others Unavailable: Simon Colosimo (groin – 9 weeks), Mike Enfield (knee – 1 week), Jacob Timpano (ankle – 3 weeks)

Queensland Squad: 1 Liam REDDY (gk), 2 Andrew PACKER, 4 Craig MOORE, 6 Dave DODD, 7 Michael ZULLO, 8 Massimo MURDOCCA, 9 Sergio VAN DIJK, 10 Charlie MILLER, 11 Reinaldo, 13 Chris GROSSMAN, 15 Matt McKAY, 16 Hyuk-Su SEO, 18 Danny TIATTO, 20 Griffin McMASTER (rgk), 22 Robbie KRUSE, 23 Tim SMITS, 24 Matt MUNDY. *one to be omitted

In: Tim Smits (promoted), Robbie Kruse (promoted), Matt Mundy (promoted from National Youth League), Chris Grossman (promoted).

Out: Luke DeVere (international duty), 12 Tahj Minniecon (international duty)

Others Unavailable: Josh McCloughan (hip injury – 1 week), Ben Griffin (suspended), Mitch Nichols (international duty), Tommy Oar (international duty)

Stats, Facts & Milestones
The Sydney FC v Queensland Roar should be a fascinating encounter – and not just because Sydney comes off a loss just as Queensland Roar got into the scoring groove last weekend. The match pits the team with the lowest loss-per-home-match ratio against the team with the highest win-per-away-match ratio. Sydney’s record of just 8 losses in 39 home matches (21%) is the Hyundai A-League’s lowest, while Queensland’s impressive 16 victories in 36 away matches (48%) is the Hyundai A–League’s highest.

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS in all official competitions
All matches (played 11): Sydney FC wins 4, Queensland Roar wins 2 (5 draws).
In Sydney (played 5): Sydney FC wins 2, Queensland Roar wins 0 (3 draws).

Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix
Monday 6 October 2008
EnergyAustralia Stadium
Local kick off 3.00pm AEST
Referee. Craig Zetter

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 2 and Sky Sport 1.
Hyundai A-League club radio broadcast partner is Radio Network (Wellington) 1035AM.
To purchase tickets visit www.proticket.com.au.

Newcastle Jets Squad: 1. Ante COVIC (gk), 3. Jade NORTH (C), 6. Jesper HAKANSSON, 7. Kaz PATAFTA, 8. Matt THOMPSON, 10. Jin-Hyung SONG,11. Tarek ELRICH, 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE, 13. Adam D-APUZZO, 17. Antun KOVACIC, 18. Noel SPENCER, 20. Ben KENNEDY (gk), 23. Edmundo ZURA, 25. Daniel PIORKOWSKI.

In: Edmundo Zura (returns from injury), Kaz Patafta (promoted), Antun Kovacic (promoted).

Out: Joel Griffiths (hamstring – 3 weeks), Adam Griffiths (hamstring – 1 week), Jason Hoffman (knee – season), James Holland (Qantas Young Socceroos duties).

Others Unavailable: Shaun Ontong (ankle – indefinite), Ben Kantarovski (Qantas Joeys – 2-3 weeks), Jason Naidovski (Qantas Young Socceroos duties)

Wellington Squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 2. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Jon McKAIN, 5. Karl DODD, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Vaughan COVENY, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10. Michael FERRANTE, 11. DANIEL, 12. Richard JOHNSON, 15. Adam KWASNIK, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 20. Glen MOSS (gk), 21. Leilei GAO, 22. Andrew DURANTE (captain), 25. Manny MUSCAT. * three to be omitted

In: Jon McKain (return from leave), Leo Bertos (return from injury), Glen Moss (gk) (return from injury), Andrew Durante (return from illness)

Out: Jacob Spoonley (gk) (short-term cover player released)

Others Unavailable: David Mulligan (flu – 1 week), Vince Lia (knee – season)

Stats, Facts & Milestones
Newcastle Jets- Jade North is set to make his 200th appearance in all national league competitions. The Newcastle Jets captain commenced his national league career at Brisbane Strikers almost ten years ago on 18 October 1998, aged 16. His club career, all served in Australia, has taken him from Brisbane Strikers (1998-2001, 48 league appearances), Sydney Olympic (2001-2003, 60 appearances) and Perth Glory (2003-2004, 22 appearances) to Newcastle Jets (69 appearances to date) starting with the current Hyundai A-League champions in 2005.

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS in all official competitions
All matches (played 3): Newcastle Jets wins 2, Wellington Phoenix wins 1 (0 draws).
In Newcastle (played 2): Newcastle Jets wins 1, Wellington Phoenix wins 1 (0 draws)

Birthday boys

Wellington Phoenix-s Shane Smeltz turned 27 on September 30
Queensland Roar-s Hyuk-Su Seo turns 35 on October 1,
while at the other end of the scale, Roar-s Robbie Kruse turns 20 on Sunday 5 October.

And a happy Hyundai A-League debut anniversary goes to… who made his Hyundai A-League debut…

Robbie Kruse on 05-10-07 for Queensland Roar in a 2-1 win against Wellington Phoenix.

THIS ROUND RE-WOUND

This round in 2005…
Perth Glory recorded its biggest Hyundai A-League win to date in Round 7 2005-06, with a 5-1 win over Newcastle Jets, at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

This round in 2006…

This round in 2007…
This round in 2007 saw the first starting appearances in the Hyundai A-League competition for Queensland Roar-s teenage pair Robbie Kruse and Michael Zullo, who both scored in Queensland Roar v Wellington Phoenix match, 2-1.

Note.
– Squads subject to change
– Match date and kick-off times are subject to change without notice.