The A-League Finals continue tonight with a match between in-form Brisbane Roar and the home underdogs Adelaide United. We’ll have live scores and minute-by-minute updates from 5.00pm AEST.
Adelaide finished the season in fourth place, one spot and two wins ahead of Brisbane, but their form of late has been unconvincing, with the Reds having only had one win in their last seven games.
In the final regular season game, Adelaide drew 1-1 away to Perth, needing a goal in the 90th minute to tie it up.
Brisbane by contrast were victorious in a must-win game against Sydney FC last week in a compelling fashion, scoring three goals to ADP’s Sydney’s one.
They’re coming into the finals after three wins and a draw in the last five weeks, but coach Mike Mulvey stated recently that they’re disappointed with their overall season and are looking to make amends in the finals.
Interim Adelaide coach Michael Valkanis holds no stock in recent form, maintaining that finals games are one-off occurrences and previous wins mean nothing.
That’s certainly a sentiment that Adelaide must embrace, as they haven’t scored against Brisbane Roar in the last 268 minutes and lost two of their three games against the Roar this season.
In their most recent game just over a month ago, Brisbane were deserved winners with a goal to Ben Halloran, and Adelaide were reduced to ten men late in the game when Malik received his second yellow.
Only three goals have been scored in the three games between these two teams this season, and that owes in a large part to the men between the sticks – Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide) and Michael Theo (Brisbane) are topping the A-League in saves made.
Brisbane captain Thomas Broich is also a man to watch, currently leading the A-League in assists (10).
The game kicks off at 5.00pm AEST at Hindmarsh Stadium, and we’ll have live scores and commentary on The Roar from kick-off and throughout the 90 (or more) minutes.
j binnie
Guest
tk - It should also be mentioned in relation to "penetration" that the so called "high press" is actually the first step on achieving "penetration" .How is that you may ask?????. When a "fast break" takes place and a few accurate passes and quick movement result in "penetration", the act of having an attempt at ,or succeeding in scoring, sees possession of the ball automatically going back to the opponent and once again a team has to gain that possession before another penetrative attack can take place. Hence the importance of keeping up the high degree of "pressing" opponents until the ball is won again and the whole process of "attack" can begin again.Hope this is of some interest . jb
Cameron
Roar Guru
Jbinnie, Currently i'm very pleased. Fingers crossed Broich and Brattan will be alright to go like MM said but next week will be a great test.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
Brattan just had minor bruising, Mulvey said he should play, Broich, lets hope he's fit cause he could single handedly win us the game. Hingert won't play, which means Franjic goes back to RB. Halloran/Nijland should fit into the right wing. If Broich is fit we will have a great chance against the Wanderers. If not it's a uphill battle.
Sleemo
Guest
He's already guaranteed the coaching job for next year. He signed a three-year deal a couple of months ago and short of a 2007-style 6-0 finals loss a la Adelaide, I don't see him not starting next season as the Roar coach.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Bragging? Haha. It's not bragging cause ultimately there is nothing to brag about. I'm just saying it won't be easy for the Wanderers this time.
Cameron
Roar Guru
I know exactly what history and records indicate WSW77. I'm not saying for one second we've got it easy and will win but when you starting saying "BR can’t play the same game they played against AU with WSW it will be suicide." That's cockiness or over confident. I know your team won all three encounters but they didn't do it easy now did they? And that was against a,poor opposition. What do you call the Roar now? I call them dangerous but I don't underestimate the Wanderers.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
Brisbane are a different side now. They have momentum, confidence, and the hunger that won them back-to-back championships. Tough task for a first ever finals match.
AZ_RBB
Guest
update on tickets. From Wanderers CEO Lyall Gordon "Brisbane Roar members will have at least a 24-hour period where they can buy tickets (approx 1400) and if there's any left over, we'll have the opportunity to release those into the Football Family" i know there are thousands of Wanderers fans out there desperate for tickets but i would love to see those away bays full of Roar supporters. will create a much better footballing atmosphere. also i know for a fact that every Wanderers fan would've preferred to have played Adelaide having put 10 past them in our previous 2 encounters. and kellett dude haha are you seriously bragging about not losing to us by more than one goal in any of our encounters? i know in the 3rd match Roar were the better team for 80mins but hey it's a 90min game. you snooze for 10 you lose.
WSW77
Guest
Who is being cocky here? What I see are BR fans already underestimating WSW. Also a win is a win and the records say: WSW vs BR 3 Wins out of 3 Games.
Cameron
Roar Guru
And yet in our three meetings you haven't yet managed to beat Brisbane by more than one goal. Roar also dominated you for the majority of the first clash and last clash. I wouldn't be so cocky, or maybe over confident.
WSW77
Guest
Well BR are on fire but that's against teams that lack a proper defence. BR can't play the same game they played against AU with WSW it will be suicide.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Isn't it illegal to try to re-sell tickets? What I've always been told is the clubs are alerted as to the ticket number and then refuse then entering for re-selling the product.
tk
Guest
Had not noticed the change in the stats but certainly noticed the change on the field. Looking much more potent and decisive in attack.
Roarsome
Guest
I was sitting right near the tunnel and he went straight up on the final whistle.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
Hopefully!
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
Roar will be bigger obstacle than you think. WSW have no finals experience, while the Roar are the most experienced out of the remaining teams.
Roarsome
Guest
Final will be CCM v BR in Sydney. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
j binnie
Guest
kellett- "Possession" is normally counted by timing the amount of consecutive passes made showing ball retention whether the ball is going forward,backwards or laterally across the field. Penetration however is measured by counting the amount of times such a passing retention or movement actually ends in an attempt at the opposition goal. Many of the world's top coaches now regard possession without penetration as a total waste of time & effort unless of course you are defending a narrow lead with only minutes to go Roar over recent weeks have "enjoyed" high percentages of "possession" & yet have still lacked the number of shots at goal,or for that matter,actual goals scored, to show that the domination of "possession" has resulted in "penetration".. These last 3 weeks have seen a subtle change in that statistic & has also resulted in a huge increase in "pressure" being mounted all over the field with the resulting lift in "penetration" & a huge reduction in that aimless passing of the ball back & across the field. Other teams will have noticed as well & that puts the ball back in their court.They have had narrow results against the Roar over the season,but not THIS "new" Roar.You should be pleased. jb
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
Wanderers tickets are the hottest tickets in town and not using ANZ has made them very popular. Tickets on sale up to $1,000 on eBay. ANZ is not available on the 21st, so if WSW and/or Mariners make the GF, it will be at SFS.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Roars past three games in terms of possession and territory %: 57/64 61/51 53/57 Results were as follows: 2 - 0 Heart 3 - 1 Sydney 2 - 1 Adelaide Now out of all of these matches, Roar had shots on goal/target: 24/7 Heart 11/3 Sydney 20/8 Adelaide Courtesy of FOXSPORTS A-League Match Centre Application. I see now :) Well these stats don't lie, perhaps things are finally improving and at the right time too..unfortunately though we picked up potentially season ending injuries for players which could spell terrible trouble for us.