The big games keep on coming at AAMI Park! It’s another title showdown as Heart aim to silence the Brisbane Roar!
The big games keep on coming at AAMI Park! It’s another title showdown as Heart aim to silence the Brisbane Roar!
What a four-day feast of football at AAMI Park! Following leaders Central Coast Mariners’ visit on Wednesday night, current champions Brisbane Roar head to Melbourne for another mouth-watering clash. You can’t ask for better entertainment than two of the Hyundai A-League’s top teams going toe-to-toe in a scintillating showdown under the lights on Saturday night, so get your ticket today and see whether the Heart can once more stop the Brisbane Roar!
Perhaps the initial signs that Heart gave of being title-hopefuls came against Brisbane in December when they became the first away team to win at Suncorp Stadium in what seemed like a lifetime.
With Brisbane still reeling from their first defeat in 37 games the week earlier, John van ‘t Schip’s side took full advantage and raced into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Jonatan Germano and Eli Babalj. While Mitch Nichols reduced the deficit in the 78th minute, Heart held on for an impressive victory which sounded a warning to the rest of the Hyundai A-League.
However, Melbourne Heart can be in no doubt that the side they face on Saturday has rediscovered its championship credentials.
After a sticky run of results at the end of last year, Brisbane Roar have picked up their form recently and last weekend showed they are made of stern stuff as they produced the comeback of champions to stun Sydney FC.
Trailing 1-0 from the 39th minute, they seemed set for a demoralising defeat but levelled deep into injury-time with a wonder free-kick from Mohamed Adnan and then – unbelievably – sent a large and noisy crowd wild with Besart Berisha’s headed winner in the dying seconds.
The scenes were reminiscent of last year’s Grand Final and will have left the rest of the Hyundai A-League in no doubt whatsoever that Brisbane Roar are still very much contenders for this season’s crown.
Heart, meanwhile, went into Wednesday’s crunch clash with Central Coast Mariners having hit some poor form. Their second 2-1 home defeat to Perth Glory this season was their third game without a win, which is hardly the form of champions-elect.
Still for a club only in its second season, Heart’s progress has been incredible, and the fact that they are in with a realistic shout at a top-two finish speaks volumes for the hard work that John van ‘t Schip has put in during his season-and-a-half as coach.
This Saturday, AAMI Park hosts one of the most attractive games in the Hyundai A-League fixture list, so you’d be crazy to miss it. With these two sides fighting for position, this is sure to be an absolute nail-biter. Will Roar continue their resurgence, or can Heart keep the pressure on Mariners at the top? Be a part of an incredible atmosphere and find out, as these two ladder rivals go all out for the points!
