Beautiful football comes to Suncorp on Sunday as the pass masters of the Hyundai A-League – Gombau’s Reds – meet Mulvey’s reigning champions Brisbane Roar. Enjoy!
Sunday, 12 October 2014
Brisbane Roar FC v Adelaide United
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 4:00pm local (5:00pm AEDT)
*Hyundai A-League fans will have ready access to some of Australia’s finest female football as the Westfield W-League contest between Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers opens an impressive double bill.
Referee: Ben Williams
Assistant Referee 1: Nathan MacDonald
Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Lindsay
Fourth Official: Alex King
TV Broadcast: 5.00pm (AEDT) Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX SPORTS 1HD & 1 and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 612 ABC Brisbane, Local Radio QLD,891 ABC Adelaide, Local Radio SA, Grandstand Digital, Online/A-League Live Mobile phone app
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #BRIvADL
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 2.Matt SMITH (c), 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 4.Adam SAROTA, 7.Mensur KURTISHI, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 10 HENRIQUE, 11.Liam MILLER, 12.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Daniel BOWLES, 15.James DONACHIE, 17.Matt McKAY, 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (GK), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 30.Matthew ACTON (GK)
Ins: Not Applicable
Outs: Not Applicable
Unavailable: 1.Michael THEO (wrist – 2 months), 5.Corey BROWN (rib – 1 week)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (c) (GK), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 6.CÁSSIO, 7.PABLO SÁNCHEZ, 8.ISAÍAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce DJITE, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 24.Bruce KAMAU, 30.John HALL (GK), 32.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS
***one to be omitted***
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Mark OCHIENG (international duty), Ben WARLAND (international duty), Awer MABIL (international duty), Paul IZZO (international duty), Cameron WATSON (toe – 3-4 weeks), Osama MALIK (calf – 2 weeks), Jordan ELSEY (wrist – 6 weeks)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE:
This season-opener pits the defending Hyundai A-League champions against the side with serious designs on stealing their title.
The big question mark over the Roar will be how they replace the tenacity and goals of Besart Berisha, who has joined Melbourne Victory. Mike Mulvey’s talent-laden squad have scored freely in the pre-season but this is a definite step up in class of opponent.
Josep Gombau won’t change his attacking philosophy and has added some important players he believes will help the Reds take the next step this season. The midfield battle will be the most intriguing with Roar’s stars Thomas Broich, Adam Sarota and Matt McKay going head-to-head with Adelaide’s Isaias, Marcelo Carrusca and Jimmy Jeggo.
OPTA DATA STATS
While Brisbane are the most successful side in the Hyundai A-League era, they have struggled at home against Adelaide. United have lost just three times at Suncorp Stadium in 14 visits.
ROUTE TO GOAL
They were team-mates for the Foxtel All-Stars but will now play a pivotal role in which side gets their season off on the right note. Broich’s battle with Reds’ playmaker Carrusca is a riveting prospect and there’s no doubt a large chunk of each coach’s preparation will be on how to shut down the opposition’s chief creator.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Mensur Kurtishi. The Albanian has been tasked with filling the big boots of compatriot Berisha.
It’s not an easy task but the signs in pre-season are ominous and Mulvey certainly has faith in the well-travelled 28-year-old. Five goals in the club’s last pre-season hit-out against Olympic FC certainly proves he is a capable finisher.
FORM LINES
Brisbane have been slamming in the goals in the pre-season, including a 10-rout of Olympic FC in their most recent match. But Adelaide have also been very impressive and are still alive in the Westfield FFA Cup, where they defeated the Roar 1-0 in the round of 16.
DID YOU KNOW?
All five of Brisbane’s Hyundai A-League goals against Adelaide United last season came from the now-departed Besart Berisha.
PREDICTION
Brisbane Roar 2-1 Adelaide United
What a cracking contest to end the opening round of the season. These two teams – serious contenders for the title – are certain to go all-out at each other for the three points. While Adelaide have a formidable record in Brisbane, it’s hard to go past the home side here, especially with basically all their key players fit, fresh and injury-free heading into campaign.
There is also a special treat for local fans and a reason to get to Suncorp Stadium early with a double-header of matches as the Westfield W-League match between the Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers FC to kick off at 1pm local time (2pm AEDST).
