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Preview of round three of the A-League this weekend.
FRIDAY
ADELAIDE UNITED v GOLD COAST UNITED at Hindmarsh Stadium, 8pm
Head to head: First meeting.
TAB Sportsbet: Adelaide $2.45, Gold Coast $2.65, Draw $3.30
Gold Coast leave the Sunshine State for the first time this season and by the time they come back, we’ll know just how serious a championship threat they are in their debut season. Lots of well-deserved oohs and aahs for the quality of their performance against North Queensland in a 5-0 shellacking last weekend. But Adelaide are a tried and tested quality outfit on the bounce from a narrow defeat to Sydney FC last weekend. Getting out of Hindmarsh with three points will be the Coast’s toughest test to date. Still no spot for Adelaide new boy Mark Rudan, but new striker Lloyd Owusu is a chance to debut and he’ll need to be at his best to test a Gold Coast defence looking as strong as their much-vaunted attack. Impressive Brazilian midfielder Robson returns from injury for the Coast.
Key: Gold Coast striker Shane Smeltz was exceptional in a four-goal haul last weekend, but faces a more difficult task against solid Reds centre-halves Robert Cornthwaite and Iain Fyfe.
Tip: Draw
SATURDAY
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v SYDNEY FC at Bluetongue Stadium, 3pm
Head to head: Central Coast 4, Sydney FC 6, Drawn 3
Last meeting: Central Coast Mariners 2 by Sydney FC 1 at Bluetongue Stadium, Dec 2008.
TAB Sportsbet: Central Coast $2.70, Sydney FC $2.40, Draw $3.35
Surprise packets Central Coast get to test themselves against unbeaten Sydney FC, who sit second on the table despite not entirely clicking in their two wins to date. The Mariners are still without injured centre-back Chris Doig, which could make for an interesting afternoon against a Sydney FC side spoiled for choice attack-wise. John Aloisi, Kofi Danning and now Mark Bridge are all on the scoresheet already this season and there’s competition for spots. Coach Vitezslav Lavicka will be pleased to be ekeing out wins without perfection, and Sydney appear a side slowburning their way towards a lofty ladder position and finals football. Influential midfielder Stuart Musialik is in line for his first start of the season, further strengthening Sydney’s squad.
Key: Who will handle the drama best? Mariners-Sydney clashes are usually packed with it – and the odd red card. Remember the 5-4 extravaganza a couple of seasons back won by Sydney with a late spot-kick?
Tip: Sydney FC
NORTH QUEENSLAND FURY v MELBOURNE VICTORY at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 5pm
Head to head: First meeting.
TAB Sportsbet: North Queensland $4.25, Melbourne $1.78, Draw $3.45
Was it just a bad day at the office? Or are the Fury the New Zealand Knights in disguise? Echoes of the most awful team to ever play in the A-League – one win from 21 games in 2005-06 – were stirred up by the Fury’s sub-standard performance against Gold Coast last weekend. Predictably the axe has fallen on several players and the inclusion of tough midfielder Ufuk Talay at least promises something better. The Victory will make decisions on their leaky defence at the last minute with Matthew Kemp’s wife close to giving birth to the couple’s first child. Midfielder Billy Celeski is back in the starting 11 which adds hugely to the Victory. Archie Thompson is still yet to fire up, and the Fury could be in for a tough afternoon if the Socceroo striker does.
Key: Victory midfielder Carlos Hernandez was electric in the come-from-behind 3-3 draw with Brisbane. A repeat will shred the Fury’s brittle backline.
Tip: Melbourne
SUNDAY
BRISBANE ROAR v WELLINGTON PHOENIX at Suncorp Stadium, 3pm
Head to head: Brisbane 4, Wellington 0, Drawn 2
Last meeting: Brisbane Roar 3 bt Wellington Phoenix 2 at Suncorp Stadium, Dec 2008.
TAB Sportsbet: Brisbane $1.65, Wellington $5.00, Draw $3.55
Brisbane considered themselves a bit stiff to leave Melbourne with just a point after leading the premiers 3-1. But they have a chance to click into gear and post win No.1 for the season here. Phoenix striker Paul Ifill is in doubt with a groin problem and if he or tough midfielder Tim Brown (groin) don’t recover from their injuries, Wellington will struggle. The Phoenix posted a shock 2-1 win over Perth last weekend across the ditch, and exciting young striker Costa Barbarouses is among those promoted. But the Roar matched motors with a good side in the Victory for most of last week’s match. That should give them the inside running against Wellington, who have never beaten the Roar.
Key: Roar midfielder Danny Tiatto went off at halftime with a back-related hamstring problem last weekend. The Roar lost their way a little when they lost him, and his presence will help.
Tip: Brisbane
PERTH GLORY v NEWCASTLE JETS at Members Equity Stadium, 5pm
Head to head: Perth 5, Newcastle 3, Drawn 4
Last meeting: Newcastle Jets 2 bt Perth Glory 1 at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Jan 2009.
TAB Sportsbet: Perth $2.00, Newcastle $3.50, Draw $3.35
It’s only round three, but you get the sense it’s already make or break for Perth. Winless and not playing particularly well, everyone’s tip as the big improvers are in danger of another underwhelming year. Winning at home must be the first step and they’ll need to beat the Jets to shake the circling vultures. Newcastle add quality youngster Ben Kantarovski to their squad, and could exceed a lot of expectations if they pick up all three points here to remain unbeaten for the season. There’s been some nice football in patches under the Branko Culina regime, and their disjointed preparation leading into the season means they should get better the more games they play.
Key: Regular Jets defender Ljubo Milicevic looks back in decent form in a defensive midfield role. At his best, he is a quality player and he’s likely to get the job of marking Glory’s yet-to-fire marquee player Mile Sterjovski.
Tip: Newcastle
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