Goals are guaranteed as the two best teams in the Hyundai A-League go head-to-head
Saturday 19th February 7:00pm
Goals are guaranteed as the two best teams in the Hyundai A-League go head-to-head in a Bluetongue Blockbuster. Secure your ticket today!
The table doesn-t lie. Especially after 30 games. So it cannot be disputed that this Saturday represents the coming together of the two finest sides in the Hyundai A-League. And what a absolute firecracker of an match it is set to be. After all, these two teams didn-t reach the pinnacle through playing negative football. Rather, they have risen to the top displaying breathtaking, fluid, exciting stuff that has wowed crowds around the country.
Between them, they have netted more than 100 times this season, meaning goals on Saturday are guaranteed. There is simply nowhere else to be than the Bluetongue when this one kicks off, so be sure to get hold of a ticket today and get ready to be part of an amazing atmosphere and a nail-biting occasion.
If the two clashes between the sides in NSW this season are anything to go by, then the net will be bulging non-stop at The Bluetongue. In the games at the venue in the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season, there have been an amazing 12 goals. The first of these occasions, in November, was one that the Yellow Army will be keen to forget though, as Roar ripped their side to shreds. With Costa Rican import Jean Carlos Solorzano striking twice in the opening ten minutes, the game was over before it had really begun, and the visitors went on to win 5-1.
However, in contrast to that one-sided affair, the next meeting between the sides in January saw the six goals shared evenly in what was perhaps the game of the season. In 90 blistering minutes, goals from Adam Kwasnik, Matt Simon and Patricio Perez were almost enough to end Brisbane-s unbeaten run, but Roar found the net three times as well, with substitute James Meyer ending the scoring with a screamer from thirty yards.
It was a match that had everything: a lead that changed hands, a penalty kick, brilliant goals, red and yellow cards and 90 minutes of breathless excitement for the fans. If a match-up over a month from the end of the season can create such thrills, then just imagine what the coming together of these sides in a Major Semi-Final will be like. The drama, tension and excitement is set to be unbelievable.
While a game against the seemingly unbeatable Roar is daunting, Mariners are also boasting a decent run of matches without defeats. It was ten games ago that Graham Arnold-s men last lost, so they-ll go into this massive clash very confident they can get a result. As for Roar, well, what can you say about them that hasn‘t already been said? They walked to the Premier-s Plate without so much as a blip or a wobble. One defeat all season and the occasional draw is about as bad as it has got for Ange Postecoglou-s side.
Last weekend, over 20,000 fans celebrated the historic occasion at Suncorp and the team rewarded the huge turnout with a derby demolition of rivals Gold Coast United that gave a statement of intent to the other play-off contenders. Mariners, meanwhile, picked up a derby victory of their own, with a last-minute strike from Patricio Perez ending Newcastle-s faint hopes of a top-six spot and sending the Navy and Yellow into the finals with their tails up.
Yellow Army, it-s time to stand up and be counted. Brisbane Roar arrive in Gosford with the Premier-s Plate in the bag, so you-ll need to get right behind your team if they are to overcome what is a pretty daunting obstacle. With the return leg in Brisbane still to come, it is imperative that Graham Arnold-s side get a good result this Saturday, so pack the Bluetongue and sing your hearts out for the full 90 minutes. Forget everything that has come before; this is when it really counts and it is now that your support is absolutely crucial.
So bring your family, bring your friends and turn the stadium into a sea of yellow and navy as Mariners and Roar go toe-to-toe in the biggest game of the season so far. Do not miss it!
Click here to see the first leg of the Central Coast and Brisbane Roar match
