The reigning champions will play host to the competition’s new boys when Brisbane Roar meet Western Sydney Wanderers at Suncorp Stadium this afternoon. We’ll have live scores and minute-by-minute commentary from 5.00pm AEDT.
Just over half way through the season and both sides are on opposite ends of the ladder – but not how anyone would have expected at the beginning of the season.
Brisbane’s two-year domination has finally caught up with them, with the side entrenched in the bottom half of the table in ninth position, having not won yet in 2013.
Western Sydney has exceeded expectations, sitting inside the top four as one of the form teams in the A-League, sitting in fourth position.
With ten games remaining the ladder is taking shape with a five-point gap separating fourth and fifth, and the Wanderers will look to extend that buffer to eight points with a win here.
The Roar need the three points to keep track with the top six, despite being only two points adrift of sixth-placed Perth.
Brisbane was thought to have been in an early season slumber and had not been able to fire under coach Rado Vidosic in the early rounds.
Following Vidosic’s demotion, new coach Mike Mulvey has inherited a side suffering a premiership hangover.
The distraction has not helped the side that needs to start winning games or they could not only relinquish their title but also miss the finals.
This is the third meeting between the two sides with the Parramatta club having the wood over the A-league giants.
The Roar and Wanderers met in round four where the Sydneysiders scored their inaugural goal and posted their first win.
The Wanderers have developed a strong squad, with the likes of Youssouf Hersi and Mark Bridge firing, with import Shinji Ono warming to the task.
But the key cog in the machine has been the red and blacks midfielder Aaron Mooy. Mooy has played twelve games this season and has looked dangerous penetrating the Western Sydney’s attack.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Thomas Broich will be looking to ignite a lacklustre Brisbane Roar.
Arguably the A-League’s best player over the past two seasons, Broich has been the cornerstone in the Roar winning back-to-back titles.
A title winner last year will play against his former club for the first time this afternoon, when Rocky Visconte lines up for the Wanderers after transferring mid-season from Brisbane.
Jason Trifiro is also returning from a one-week suspension while Dino Kresinger will have to pass a fitness test, but Tahj Minnecon will miss out after he suffered a knee injury last week.
Brisbane captain Matt Smith and new recruit Jade North are in doubt for the clash and will be given until kick-off to play.
The form guide and injury concerns both point to a Wanderers victory, but home-ground advantage is a massive cue and the Roar will be desperate to save their season.
Prediction: Brisbane 1-2 Western Sydney
Nathan of Perth
Guest
"• gaining an advantage by being in that position" means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a goalpost or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position" <-- from the FFA's interpretations and guidelines to Match Officials There was an moment of play earlier in the year where Glory was on the attack and, after play had been pushed back a moment, leaving Burns offside and not yet back into the action, someone tried a through ball towards him, but he recognised he was offside and threw his hands up and stepped away from the ball. Then I think it was Miller was first to react, ran onto the ball, was all onside. Of course, we didn't score from that because that's just the sort of team we are this year.
Ballymore
Guest
You've only considered interfering with play or interfering with an opponent. You have failed to consider: From the FIFA Laws of the Game. 2012/2013. Law 11 - Offside. "Gaining an advantage by being in that position" (p.35)
ciudadmarron
Guest
Exactly, Ballymore you may well class it as interference but FIFA doesn't. The rules state quite clearly that Ono would have to have touched the ball himself or directly prevented a roar player from getting to the ball for the ref to blow the whistle. He did neither; the roar defenders were not obstructed in their path to the ball, and as they were nowhere near the ball it makes an even stronger case.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Well, not worth the debate at this stage.
dinoweb
Roar Guru
Of course it was offside. The ball was played too him, he ran at the ball, regardless of if he touched it or not, that is playing the ball. The ball would never have been played to that spot if he wasn't there. That said, every player learns very early on that you play to the whistle. The Roar players shouldn't have stopped. Brisbane has also certainly had favourable offside decisions in the past, it is part of the game, and I have no problem with it. As a Roar supporter, it's frustrating, but stuff happens. If we had scored more goals like we should, it wouldnt have been an issue.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
According to all the relevant interpretations released by FIFA, that doesn't count as interfering in play or gaining an advantage. The qualifier for interfering with an opponent requires a much more active performance from the offending player - taking up a position to block sight of the keeper, say, or waving to distract a defender. Simply making a run at the ball, then peeling off doesn't come under the guidelines as far as the offside offence is concerned. And as you say, they should have played the whistle and certainly should have reacted better once it was apparent Hersi had the ball and no offside was to be forthcoming. The situation at that stage was still eminently salvageable for Brisbane.
Ballymore
Guest
I disagree. Ono's presence caused indecision/confusion in the Roar defence. He is also created an extra option that had to be defended as Hersi moved towards goal. I class that as interference. Regardless, BNE should learn to play the whistle.
ciudadmarron
Guest
because he wasn't offside. he was in an offside position but was not interfering with play by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent by preventing them playing the ball (none of the brisbane defenders were near it anyway).
Midfielder
Guest
Tho the Roar played well today...
Ballymore
Guest
Nichols scored first, BNE were good value for their goal. Bit of luck as it fell nicely for him, great lead up work from Brattan. Bridge scored for WSW, who were good value for their equaliser. Controlled the opening stages of the 2nd half. BNE, as they do every week gave time and space on the edge of the area were punished. As usual Theo beaten from distance. As usual Theo beaten on his near stick. Hersi scored the winner. Ono was 3 or 4 metres offside but the AR didn't call it.
Ballymore
Guest
Agreed. Improved mobility, better passer on the pressure and less likely to be caught on the ball. I assume he was dragged due to a lack of match fitness. Hopefully he gets more minutes moving forward.
Ballymore
Guest
Thats a good question, admittably BNE had a plethora of problems before the ACL issue, but having competition entry go from being locked up to being forced to qualify, and then due to inadequate BNE administration forced to qualify on an away trip can't help the player's focus.
Ballymore
Guest
Berisha offers minimal threat when he sits deeper or is isolated on the left flank. I'm not sure him sitting deeper is a tactical decision, but rather reflects he isn't getting great service and must get deeper and deeper to get the ball.
pete4
Guest
Berisha is playing noticeably deeper this season and is not at the pointy end where he scored so many goals last season. Roar's lead up play is fine but final third needs urgent attention
tk
Guest
I reckon they need midfielders who will attack at speed.Berisha is fine but needs support.
pete4
Guest
With the ACL coming Brisbane need to buy a recognised striker(s) before the transfer window shuts. Berisha as a lone ranger isn't enough
Matt
Guest
Without watching the game, 9-4 on target yet 1-2, doesn't seem too flash
tk
Guest
Well thats the third week in a row brisbane have failed to walk through the doors left open by other clubs. I think we draw a line under the season here....the first game that I felt we gave away...and wsw played like crap.
johno
Guest
easy win for Wsw, listen to this idiotic crowd trying to blame the refs, brisbane were outplayed all day. easy money in the bank.
kelvin g
Guest
Hope it's not too late, high time, up and on