Round 2 A-League match previews

Preview of round two of the A-League this weekend (all times AEST).

FRIDAY
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v NEWCASTLE JETS at Bluetongue Stadium, 8pm
Head to head: Central Coast 5, Newcastle 6, Drawn 6
Last meeting: Newcastle Jets 2 bt Central Coast Mariners 1 at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Dec 2008.
TAB Sportsbet: Central Coast $1.95, Newcastle $3.65, Draw $3.35

Five yellow cards per team per match is apparently enough to get a whack from the FFA’s fun police these days, so both clubs might want to ready their cheque books. The F3 derby is always a passionate clash and this is now also a top-of-the-table clash no one expected. Let’s hope both teams don’t hold anything back. The Mariners were excellent and hard-working against Melbourne for a deserved round one win. But losing centre-half Chris Doig (groin) is a setback and will force a reshuffle. Newcastle have room for improvement, even following their 3-2 win over Wellington. Italian attacking midfielder Fabio Vignaroli is a rarity – a decent Jets overseas signing – and looms as the man the Mariners have to stop following a nice A-League debut last week.

Key: The Mariners have named four strikers in their squad. Do they go for it, or attempt a second week of counter-attacking to eke out a win?

Tip: Draw

SATURDAY
GOLD COAST UNITED v NORTH QUEENSLAND FURY at Skilled Park, 5.30pm
Head to head: First meeting
Last meeting: First meeting
TAB Sportsbet: Gold Coast $1.48, North Queensland $7.00, Draw $3.75

Gold Coast sent the signal to the rest of the A-League with their second goal in the 3-1 win over Brisbane last weekend. Shane Smeltz’s ball to Joel Porter, then a deft flick to Jason Culina for a goal that oozed class showed the Coast can walk the walk to go with the talk. They lose defender Adam Griffiths, who appears Saudi Arabia-bound, but have cover. And they’ll only get better as they gel. Fellow new boys North Queensland have a point to prove and will need to be on their game to flatten Gold Coast’s coming out party. The Fury unveil Socceroo left-back Shane Stefanutto for his A-League debut, while Robbie Fowler on the scoresheet on debut is a good sign. Still, a first win may have to wait another week.

Key: Plenty of other A-League imports have been spoken about, but Gold Coast’s Dutch centre-back Bas van den Brink was the pick of the lot last weekend. He’s commanding in the air, class on the ground, and his battle with Fowler will be compelling.

Tip: Gold Coast

MELBOURNE VICTORY v BRISBANE ROAR at Etihad Stadium, 7.30pm
Head to head: Melbourne 7, Brisbane 4, Drawn 1
Last meeting: Melbourne Victory 2 bt Queensland Roar 1 at Etihad Stadium, Jan 2009.
TAB Sportsbet: Melbourne $2.05, Brisbane $3.30, Draw $3.35

Victory were badly brought undone by Central Coast’s disciplined tactical defence for a shock loss last weekend. But it’s hard to see the Victory being that flat twice in a row. Interesting to see whether Brisbane operate a similar styled defensive line to the Mariners to stop Melbourne exploiting the space behind their two strikers – the Victory’s “happy place” in their march to the title last season. Brisbane were well beaten by an impressive Gold Coast in round one. They do have the advantage of playing a Victory side without skipper Kevin Muscat (hamstring) for a month. But Melbourne have good cover defensively, with Matthew Kemp to slide across to pair with Rodrigo Vargas in central defence. The Roar have lost defender Andrew Packer for up to three months with a groin injury.

Key: Victory striker Archie Thompson rarely has two anonymous games in a row. Expect him to kung-fu the corner flag at some point in trademark celebration.

Tip: Melbourne

SUNDAY
WELLINGTON PHOENIX v PERTH GLORY at Westpac Stadium, 3pm
Head to head: Wellington 3, Perth 2, Drawn 1
Last meeting: Wellington Phoenix 1 drew with Perth Glory 1 at Westpac Stadium, Dec 2008.
TAB Sportsbet: Wellington $2.35, Perth $2.85, Draw $3.35

Perth – everyone’s tip as the league’s big improvers – were OK without inspiring any awe against Adelaide in a 1-0 loss. Defensively they look good, and they can effect a like-for-like change with Jamie Coyne (knee) being replaced in the squad by another defensive midfielder in Wayne Srhoj. Socceroo Mile Sterjovski had a forgettable A-League debut and will be looking for better against Wellington, who just lost out to Newcastle. It’s hard to rate the Phoenix a better side than last year, and the signs are they’ll struggle. But with Perth perhaps a few weeks away from gelling, Wellington might be able to pinch a little something from the weekend.

Key: Glory’s Dutch winger Victor Sikora was well held against Adelaide. But he’s a quality import whose delivery from wide might be able to unhinge Wellington, whose defence of the ball coming in can be iffy.

Tip: Draw

SYDNEY FC v ADELAIDE UNITED at Sydney Football Stadium, 5pm
Head to head: Sydney FC 7, Adelaide 5, Drawn 2
Last meeting: Adelaide United 2 bt Sydney FC 0 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Jan 2009.
TAB Sportsbet: Sydney FC $2.00, Adelaide $3.50, Draw $3.35

A lot to like from both teams in round one. Both were winners, both played excellent patches of football to signal they’ll be around the pointy end of things come March. Sydney FC fans get their chance to see just how new coach Vitezslav Lavicka has turned things around, and whether the style is to their liking. There’s no greater test than Adelaide – the two clubs having turned on some fearsome and fiery clashes in their short histories. No place for Adelaide’s new signing Mark Rudan against his old club despite his clearance coming through, though centre-halves Iain Fyfe and Robert Cornthwaite deserve to stay for an outstanding effort against Perth. They’ll have their hands full with Sydney FC’s reborn John Aloisi and potential star in the making Kofi Danning up front.

Key: Aloisi looks set for a big year as he eyes a Socceroos swansong at the World Cup. Too classy to have two bad years in a row and as a South Australian product, will be revved up to test United’s defence.

Tip: Sydney FC