Make no mistake – Brisbane Roar will be furious after the events that transpired last weekend.
Date: Sunday, 13 November 2011
Kick-off: 5.00pm AEDT, 4.00pm local
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Head-to-head
Played 12: Wins: Brisbane 8, Wellington 1, Draws: 3
Previous encounter
Brisbane 2, Wellington 0, 26 January 2011
History:
This is probably one of the most one-sided rivalries in A-League history. Wellington has registered just one win against the Roar in 12 meetings and have never tasted victory at Suncorp Stadium. The last time they ventured across the Tasman and into Brisbane, they left as yet another victim of the Roar’s ruthless run which now stands at 33 matches without defeat.
Form:
Past five matches:
Brisbane: WWWWD
Wellington: DWLLL
Summary of form:
For all the brilliance that got their undefeated run going, Brisbane were made to look toothless in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Victory. Down to nine men after Matthew Foschini’s controversial red card, Victory parked the bus and shut the Roar out with an impressive second-half defensive display.
Meanwhile, after a promising start to the season with a draw on the Gold Coast and a win over Newcastle, the Phoenix have put together a streak of their own, albeit a much unwanted one – three losses in a row.
Match Committee:
No major fitness worries for Brisbane, while Wellington are still without the likes of Lucas Pantelis, Vince Lia, Paul Ifill and Mirjan Pavlovic due to injury.
Danger men:
Thomas Broich – The German midfield maestro scored one of the goals of the round last week, with his stunning low free-kick that slid right under the feet of the Victory wall and past a stunned Lawrence Thomas in goal.
It takes a certain type of player to have the audacity to attempt such a shot, but it was simply what we’ve come to expect from Broich. He can turn a match on its head and no doubt he’ll be at the centre of things once again when the Phoenix come to down.
Dani Sanchez – The Spanish playmaker has featured in each of Wellington’s matches so far this season and has provided the spark that the Kiwi side had previously lacked.
Blessed with exquisite technical ability, Sanchez also has an eye for goal as well, and isn’t afraid to shoot from distance. The key for the Phoenix will be getting the ball off the Roar and putting it at the feet of this 26-year-old.
At the end of the day…
Make no mistake – Brisbane Roar will be furious after the events that transpired last weekend. Unable to break down a stubborn, nine-man Victory side, they looked more Luton Town than Roarcelona.
Ange Postecoglou would be smarting and waiting for the next available opportunity to send his men out to battle once more and get them back to playing the football that got them to where they are on the table.
That’s extremely unfortunate news for Wellington, who probably couldn’t have picked a worse time to face the Roar. The Phoenix are not in good touch at the moment and there is a real danger that they could be torn apart by a Brisbane side desperate to put last week’s disappointment behind them.
That said, sides coached by Ricki Herbert are generally stingy at the back. While the Roar should win this one and make it 34 in a row, the Phoenix will make it difficult.
