Adelaide travels to Brisbane as the competition leader after recording the only win in the opening round.
Date: Sunday August 24
Kick-off (local time): 5:00pm AEST
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV and Radio: Live & exclusive broadcast on Fox Sports 3 and Sky Sports 3. Hyundai A-League club radio broadcast partner is FRESH FM (Adelaide)
Head-to-head
Nine Hyundai A-League meetings: Queensland Roar – 2 wins, Adelaide – 4 wins, Draws 3
Previous Hyundai A-League meeting
Adelaide United 2, Queensland Roar 0, Hindmarsh Stadium, Round 22, January 2008
Results so far
Queensland Roar
Round 1: Wellington Phoenix 1, Queensland Roar 1, Westpac Stadium
Adelaide:
Round 1: Adelaide United 1 Perth Glory 0, Hindmarsh Stadium
Analysis
Adelaide travels to Brisbane as the competition leader after recording the only win in the opening round. The Reds got the job done against the Glory last week thanks to Travis Dodd, while Queensland emerged for a tricky away fixture against Wellington with a point.
Things are looking pretty good in Aurelio Vidmar’s squad at the moment with Alemao, Cristiano, Paul Reid and Scott Jamieson all impressing in their opening hit outs for the Reds. Cristiano set up Dodd’s goal and will clearly be a very important player for Vidmar this season.
Diego, Michael Valkanis and Cassio are both still out through injury, with the Reds side set to look pretty much the same as it did in the season opener. Kristian Sarkies is back from the Olympics while back-up stopper Mark Birighetti is away on international duties replaced by Julian Torresan.
This game marks Sasa Ognenovski’s first match against his old club since switching sides in the off-season. Interestingly, he scored for the Roar when these sides last met at Suncorp Stadium in Round 1 last season.
The big defender will be kept busy by Queensland’s new attacking combination of Sergio Van Dijk and Reinaldo, while Charlie Miller, who marked his A-League debut with a goal last week, is also likely to prove a headache.
Skipper Craig Moore returns from suspension in a big boost for Frank Farina’s side, while young gun Robbie Kruse and Chris Grossman are also in. Luke De Vere is out.
Interestingly enough, Queensland has never won against Adelaide at Suncorp Stadium with two Adelaide wins and two draws in the four matches.
Queensland Roar Squad: 1 Liam REDDY (gk), 4 Craig MOORE, 5 Josh McCLOUGHAN, 6 Dave DODD, 7 Michael ZULLO, 8 Massimo MURDOCCA, 9 Sergio VAN DIJK, 10 Charlie MILLER, 11 Reinaldo, 13 Chris GROSSMAN, 14 Ben GRIFFIN, 15 Matt McKAY, 16 Hyuk-Su SEO, 18 Danny TIATTO, 20 Griffin McMASTER (rgk), 22 Robbie KRUSE, 23 Tim SMITS.
*two to be omitted.
In. Craig MOORE (returns from suspension), Chris GROSSMAN (promoted), Robbie KRUSE (promoted).
Out. Luke DEVERE (national team duty).
Unavailable. 2 Andrew PACKER (injured), 19 Isaka CERNAK (injured).
Adelaide United Squad: 20. Eugene Galekovic (gk), 3. Alemao, 4. Angelo Costanzo, 7. Lucas Pantelis, 8. Kristian Sarkies, 9. Paul Agostino, 10.Cristiano, 25. Robert Younis, 24. Paul Reid, 13.Travis Dodd (capt.), 14. Scott Jamieson, 15.Jonas Salley, 18.Fabian Barbiero, 19. Sasa Ognenovski, 21.Jason Spagnuolo, 30 Julian Torresan (gk).
* 1 to be omitted
In. Kristian Sarkies (returns from Olyroo duty).
Out. Mark Birighitti (gk) – international duties).
Unavailable. Daniel Mullen ( international duties), Cassio (calf – 2 weeks), Diego (hamstring – 2 weeks), Michael Valkanis (knee – 2 weeks), Daniel Beltrame (knee – season), Isyan Erdogan (hamstring – indefinite).
