Titans will clash! The Hyundai A-League’s big two battle for top spot
Saturday 6th November 8:15pm
Titans will clash! The Hyundai A-League-s big two battle for top spot in one of the most anticipated games of the season so far. Don-t miss this epic encounter.
Games don-t come much bigger than this, as arguably the two most exciting sides of the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season clash for the second time at Suncorp Stadium. For an example of fast-paced action between two positive teams that go into every game looking for the win, there is simply nowhere else to be this weekend.
With the first 2000 kids- tickets that are booked through Ticketek being FREE (phone 132849), there is even more incentive to bring the whole family along for this table-topping thriller.
Thanks in no small part to the excellent atmosphere created by their noisy support, Roar-s form at home has been amazing this season. Before their draw in Sydney last weekend, they secured seven points from three home games in quick succession at Suncorp and are now unbeaten in eight home matches.
This run has included the impressive scalps of both Melbourne sides, Central Coast Mariners and Sydney. One of only a couple of teams not to have been beaten there in the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season is Adelaide United though. In fact, United have never tasted defeat at Suncorp Stadium.
However, the second away game in a row will prove to be a huge test of The Reds- mettle. Having gone through their opening 11 games of the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season without loss, they suffered their first defeat of the campaign to their old adversaries, Melbourne Victory, last week despite having led early on through Iain Fyfe-s goal.
A trip to Suncorp Stadium will go someway towards illustrating whether the loss in Victoria was a blip or whether Rini Coolen-s side will now lose the momentum that saw them cruise through the first third of the season.
When the two sides met in Brisbane in Week 7, they played out a tense 1-1 draw, with United having the better of the game. The match saw the return of Sergio van Dijk to his old stomping ground and, after Mathew Leckie-s strike had been cancelled out by Thomas Broich, the former Roar hero had a golden chance to seal the points but, unmarked and a yard from goal, he somehow contrived to put the ball wide.
He-ll be looking for a better outcome this time round against his former employers, so Roar-s back-line will have to be at their best to keep him out. Any lapses like the one that allowed Sydney-s Alex Brosque to steal in and score last week are sure to be pounced upon by a United side that have much more about them than just the threat of Van Dijk.
The striker-s five goals are backed up by and three each from Iain Ramsey and Marcos Flores. Matthew Leckie is second top scorer with four, so it is a massive blow to the Reds that he will be out for a couple of months with a nasty knee injury. He will be temporarily replaced by the returning Joe Keenan.
A less likely goalscorer last week was Brisbane-s Luke Devere. After heading his first of the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season in Sydney, the defender will be looking to celebrate his birthday on Friday with three points.
This match-up will be like nothing we-ve seen so far this season, as the top two go toe-to-toe looking to deal each other a knockout blow. Roar fans, there couldn-t be a better time to play Adelaide United. The Reds tasted the pain of defeat for the first time in 14 games last weekend.
With your help, your boys can inflict further misery on a side whose confidence is dented. It-s set to be an absolute belter that could have a massive impact on the remainder of both sides- seasons, so score yourself a ticket and prepare to make unprecedented noise from the first whistle to the last!
