For Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar, the entire A-League season comes down to this game. Both teams are in control of their own destiny: win, and they’re into the finals. We’ll have live scores and updates from 8.00pm AEDT.
The team that loses (or in the event of a draw) this last match of the home-and-away season will nervously await the result of Newcastle’s and Perth’s games (Friday and Saturday respectively).
Mike Mulvey’s Brisbane squad have a 10-goal lead on Sydney in goal differential but are equal in points with Frank Farina’s Sydney and both are only nervously one point ahead of Newcastle and Perth.
Farina called the match their ‘grand final’ earlier this week, a sentiment not echoed by the Roar coach, who is treating the game like any other.
Sydney is the underdog for this game as they haven’t been able to win an away game against Brisbane since September 2007, although they did defeat Brisbane 2-1 in their last game just over a month ago in Sydney.
Over the past three weeks, Sydney has remained undefeated, with perhaps their best performance coming last week, holding the rampaging Western Sydney Wanderers to a 1-1 draw.
Sydney will be without Brett Emerton, who received a straight red in the Sydney derby last weekend and also defender Lucas Neill, who has succumbed to a hamstring injury.
Brisbane recent form has been spotty, with an encouraging 2-0 win last weekend against the Heart but a tough loss the week before to the Mariners.
They’ll be bolstered with Socceroo Jade North, who wasn’t used in Australia’s game against Oman on Tuesday night.
Keep your eyes on the two players in the mix for the golden boot – Besart Berisha (Brisbane) and Alessandro del Piero (Sydney) are both on 13 goals and only three behind leader Danny McBreen; perhaps a bit of magic will put them on top.
We’ll have live commentary on the Roar from 8.00pm AEDT, so feel free to leave your thoughts in the space below.
Ian
Guest
i was in 339 and could see parts of 331 and 333 standing a lot being quite involved. gave our seats to a friend to use and i was missing the atmosphere, though the view was good. quality game all round. looking forward to next week. the Shafston Hotel at East Brisbane will show it live on the big screen
Cameron
Roar Guru
Thumbs up for your prediction Stevo. You would have won a fair bit just putting $10 on.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Did I ever!! It was amazing. Sections 331 and 333 also got up and joined in a bit. I can't wait till the active support captured all three sections. Perhaps then the Den can be expanded even further. Enough about support though. I'm feeling very good about Brisbane at the moment and I don't care if we verse Adelaide or Melbourne. We have played well against both teams this year. Beating Victory in Melbourne for the first time since Qld Roar would be lovely and oh how the days of AP could quite easily become a thing of the past. Mike Mulvey is starting to create something special again and if it doesn't happen this year, then a full off season and pre season will help immensely.
Ian
Guest
enjoy that one kellett? I DID!!! i'm jealous i wasn't in my usual section 333 with those platinum tickets i won.
Ian
Guest
just read your prediction at the bottom - WOW! what a game to be at. great performance, great crowd. Brilliant!
Cameron
Roar Guru
My beloved Brisbane Roar, Thank you for such a wonderful evening. If I was the others teams I would not think for one second you have it easy when facing us. Good luck in the finals, but I can still see three grand finals in a row.
Matthew
Guest
Brisbane a real finals dark horse. In a knock out series they could be very dangerous.
West
Roar Pro
and if MV lose at WP and AU win, then elimination finals could be AU v SFC and MV v BR. Would rather play AU than MV away, so still some possibilities yet.
West
Roar Pro
Sure, if Perth and NJ lose then SFC finish 6th, but unlikely both will lose. PG looks like the best chance for 5th and only needs a draw at home. But yes SFC could still finish in the top 6 if NJ and PG both lose and that result is good for me too. Wanderers need at least a draw to wrap up the plate.
tk
Guest
I love it when a plan comes together. That was the best finishing bisbane have produced since they beat victory at the start of the season. The whole team was great.
pete4
Guest
Got to say looks like Brisbane are back! Best performance from them in sometime
Dave
Guest
I would never deny that Brisbane deserve to win but it's the way they go about it that annoys me, it's not Hollywood so quit the acting.
Titus
Guest
And what if Perth lose?
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
You should be!
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
19,010
Stevo
Guest
Foooooooook, like I said at the start: "Roar to win 3:1 and SFC to be chasing aimlessly around the pitch. With the exception of ADP who’ll find something from his top drawer." And I'm not a betting man LOL
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
FULLTIME Brisbane Roar 3 – 1 Sydney FC Brisbane Roar are guaranteed a finals spot! They were the class side at home, producing the finishes to punish Sydney's mistakes at the back, and Franjic's strike on 79 minutes was a finals-quality shot. Sydney are left to wonder why they play so badly in Brisbane, and they're also forced to root for rivals Western Sydney in their game against Newcastle tomorrow. Three horse race now for one last finals spot available - who will it be? Thanks for joining us on the Roar, it was a top game to watch (unless you're from Sydney of course).
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
90' + 3 Brisbane Roar 3 – 1 Sydney FC Corner for Brisbane after he holds two men off in the corner, and then he turns to the home crowd and pumps his arms furiously! Broich with a final shot, nowhere near the goal.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
90' + 2 Brisbane Roar 3 – 1 Sydney FC Sydney's attacks now are really becoming desperate balls into the Brisbane box that Theo takes easily.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
90' Brisbane Roar 3 – 1 Sydney FC Crowd is 19,010 at Suncorp Stadium. Three minutes added on.