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Preview of round 13 of the A-League (all times AEDT).
FRIDAY
BRISBANE ROAR v NEWCASTLE JETS at Suncorp Stadium, 8.30pm
Head to head: Brisbane Roar 6, Newcastle Jets 6, Drawn 2
Last meeting: Brisbane Roar 3 bt Newcastle Jets 0 at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Sept 2009
TAB Sportsbet: Brisbane $2.00, Draw $3.35, Newcastle $3.50
New Roar coach Ange Postecoglou got a taste of how frustrating life can be at the helm of the club as they unsuccessfully came at Sydney FC late and got nothing last weekend. That’s been far too regular for the Roar in recent seasons. Now to a clash of the competition’s two most unpredictable sides – neither has been able to really get any consistency this season and sit in the bottom half of the table as a result. Newcastle have beaten good sides like Melbourne and Central Coast this season, but lost or drawn matches they have had the better of. The Roar welcome back experienced stars Craig Moore and Danny Tiatto, which may give them the edge.
Key: Will the Roar get a bigger crowd after lowering high ticket prices?
Tip: Brisbane Roar
SATURDAY
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v ADELAIDE UNITED at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 7pm
Head to head: Central Coast Mariners 5, Adelaide United 6, Drawn 3
Last meeting: Adelaide United 1 bt Central Coast Mariners 0 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Sept 2009
TAB Sportsbet: Central Coast $2.20, Draw $3.35, Adelaide $3.00
Two sides at the fringe of the top six needing a win after losses last weekend. Central Coast’s much-vaunted defence finally had an off-night against Newcastle. Adelaide struggled against old enemy Melbourne – coach Aurelio Vidmar lamenting that his side cannot string back-to-back performances together. The Mariners remain the league’s most stingy defence, while the Reds have been struggling for goals all season. United are also missing midfield key Paul Reid, and will need skipper Travis Dodd to exert some influence if they are to unlock Central Coast.
Key: Young striker Matthew Leckie has been excellent for Adelaide. He boasts workrate and talent and is one of the finds of the season.
Tip: Draw
GOLD COAST UNITED v NORTH QUEENSLAND FURY at Skilled Park, 9pm
Head to head: Gold Coast United 1, North Queensland Fury 0, Drawn 0
Last meeting: Gold Coast United 5 bt North Queensland Fury 0 at Skilled Park, Aug 2009
TAB Sportsbet: Gold Coast United $1.55, Draw $3.70, North Queensland Fury $5.85
Get in quick, a maximum of just 5,000 lucky fans will get to see this game after Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer decided it’s cheaper to close three-quarters of their stadium than welcome all comers. Gold Coast must bounce back from their 6-0 humiliation by Wellington last weekend and some indifferent recent form. United have become the team everyone loves to beat, and the fact everyone has now played United once has changed the landscape. Gold Coast have now been scouted by everyone, and certainly Central Coast and Wellington have shown a physical, pressing approach can bring them unstuck. The Fury are improving, but have lost midfielder Ufuk Talay. They’ll also remember defensive frailty killed them against Shane Smeltz and Joel Porter last time they played.
Key: Now is the time for Gold Coast’s marquee man Jason Culina to earn his wedge. A captain’s knock is what’s needed for the Coast to bring them back into the winners’ list and championship contention.
Tip: Gold Coast United
SUNDAY
SYDNEY FC v WELLINGTON PHOENIX at Sydney Football Stadium, 5pm
Head to head: Sydney FC 3, Wellington Phoenix 3, Drawn 1
Last meeting: Sydney FC 2 bt Wellington Phoenix 0 at Sydney Football Stadium, Aug 2009
TAB Sportsbet: Sydney FC $1.75, Draw $3.45, Wellington Phoenix $4.50
There have been few more complete A-League performances than Wellington’s 6-0 demolition of Gold Coast last weekend. The standard of football and commitment was high from the first minute. The Phoenix bossed midfield, created chances and never let up. Can they back it up against the top-of-the-table Sydney FC away from home? Sydney continue to eke out wins with incomplete performances. They were put to the sword by Brisbane in the final 20 minutes last weekend before emerging with all three points. A massive test looms against a Phoenix side with their tails up. And Wellington, who are a far better side than most think, will find out exactly whether they are serious finals chances against the league leaders.
Key: Phoenix striker Paul Ifill was brilliant last weekend. Whether Sydney’s in-form defender Simon Colosimo can rein him in may decide this.
Tip: Draw
PERTH GLORY v MELBOURNE VICTORY at Members Equity Stadium, Perth, 7pm
Head to head: Perth Glory 5, Melbourne Victory 4, Drawn 4
Last meeting: Perth Glory 2 bt Melbourne Victory 1 at Members Equity Stadium, Aug 2009
TAB Sportsbet: Perth Glory $2.65, Draw $3.30, Melbourne Victory $2.45
After a sluggish start, the Victory are starting to fill the gaps in their squad and take on an ominous look approaching the season’s halfway point. Melbourne have won five of their past six, and there is an argument they haven’t quite put it together for 90 minutes yet. They face a Glory side rewinding things back to the club’s golden era. Crowds are up, they’re in the top four, and there’s a hint of the old NSL’s dominant force about Perth in A-League season five. Losing Dutchman Victor Sikora will be offset with the return of Socceroo Mile Sterjovski from injury. The Victory welcome back defender Rodrigo Vargas – a straight swap for injured Thai defender Surat Sukha (hamstring).
Key: Victory midfielder Carlos Hernandez is in player-of-the-year form. The Glory will need to control him, and not concede free-kicks around the box.
Tip: Draw
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