The Sunday afternoon matchup to complete Round 17 sees top-of-the-table Brisbane Roar and reigning champions Central Coast Mariners meet at Suncorp Stadium. We’ll have live scores from 5.00pm AEDT.
The Roar found their best football last weekend to record a come-from-behind victory over the Wellington Phoenix, which was Brisbane’s first win from their last three matches .
Brisbane will be buoyed by the signing of golden son Jean Carlos Solorzano for the rest of the season.
Early in the season Suncorp had been a bit of a fortress, but the Roar have found it hard to put sides away on their home turf of late.
They must put that right as they head towards the business end of the campaign, with Western Sydney Wanderers and the Mariners both looming.
Central Coast looked to have recaptured the form that lead to a championship last week, dispatching the Newcastle Jets with a complete performance in a 2-0 win.
The Mariners have had a shock go through their camp with key defender Trent Sainsbury accepting a deal that sees him exit Bluetongue Stadium to play in Holland, while 37-year-old talisman Daniel McBreen has returned to the Chinese Super League.
The Mariners will need experienced players like Nick Montgomery and Matt Simon to stand up and lead an inexperienced line-up.
The X-Factor
Thomas Broich
The Roar have one of the most gifted squads in the competition but Broich is arguably their most important player.
After an average 2012/13 campaign, the German has been back to his best this season and has really lifted his game especially when the likes of Besart Berisha, Henrique and Liam Miller have been absent through injury.
If the Mariners are to spring an upset here, they will need to keep Broich quiet anyway they can.
clayts
Guest
Agree. I find myself saying this every time we play them. They do it on their own turf in front of their own fans too. And continue to lose. Mariners fans don't seem to mind though which I find both astounding an impressive. I would have hated being a Mariners fan sitting there and watching my team not even try and play football from 1'. Yes, they had a couple of chances by long balls over the top, and yes that is a valid tactic but when you've won 6 games out of 30-odd against this opposition, maybe try something different? Would you rather lose 2-1 defending the whole match or something like 4-3 actually having a go?
Roarsome
Guest
Yeah, I thought Bes played unusually deep for large portions of the game today. We haven't seen that for some months, maybe even late last season. I think the goal will do him the world of good for now but the second form or intensity drop, Melbourne will be the first point of reason.
Kareem
Guest
Lol I thought it was implied... But I can spell it out for you if you wish... Lack of cohesion in attack, due to loss of our 2 most influential players (mcbreen and mcglinchey)...also missing Flores. Our best ball playing defender has now left...the benefits of having someone able to play the ball out of the back make such a huge difference especially against a team like brisbane. Anderson is not too bad, but he is still young and his passing is nowhere as good as trents. Seip struggles to play out from back. The fulcrum for our attack rested on the shoulders of a youngster making just his 4th ever start...and he was playing out of position (much better playing as a deep lying midfield) Shall I go on? Or have I satisfied your demands? Ps. Not making excuses. Brisbane dominated, scored more than we did etc. Congratulations to them. But I definitely think mariners can take more heart out of that performance than brisbane can...I thought the points were there for brisbane to take. And I tipped them for the win... Something I rarely do against the mariners! And out of our losses this season...I am much happier than I was after the wanderers, Adelaide and previous brisbane game.
Bob
Guest
You couldn't explain how dominant they were
Ballymore
Guest
Lots of dumb fouls I thought. Primarily in the 1st half.
Stevo
Guest
Hahahahaha, nothing ridiculous just a personal preference. If you like your football reactive based on a sucker punch so be it.
The Bear
Guest
Brisbane led the foul count (uncharastericslly) ...
The Bear
Guest
What a fabulous display tonight. A classic as we have come to expect from this match up. I thought Moss actually garnered his reasonably thin squad well but man did the Roar absolutely pwnd them tonight, in every sense but the scoreboard. That being said the lads need to consolidate their team selections because I reckon Besart's head isn't quite right. I have a lot if faith in Dimi and Solo working really well together and Ricky was outstanding tonight too. Broich was immense as usual. Really great leader on the pitch. These are the Premiers folks. Back where they belong.
Doc
Roar Rookie
Welcome back Ballymore.
The Bear
Guest
I thought Ibini could have actually been a match winner for them. Against s lesser team/club they probably could have suceeded with that tactic. In fact they almost squared it up at the end! ;)
Ballymore
Guest
CCM are slow learners. How many times do they have to park the bus against Brisbane and lose before they try something different?
Kareem
Guest
Ah lol So we should happily give brisbane the points? You sound like the ridiculous barca supporters/sympathisers that criticise Chelsea/madrid etc. for playing deep in defence and opportunistic football on the break...
Stevo
Guest
i find it hard to like the way CCM play. It's kind of like a bunch of pick-pockets spending time at a Sunday market hoping to score from some unsuspecting passersby. The best team on the night won - fortunately.
The Bear
Guest
Good to see Solo was there for the tap in. Bit risky there on BB part. Reddy has been immense this arvo.
Kareem
Guest
Brilliant effort by the boys. Lost our 3 best players of 2013 in the January transfer window + our "marquee" player to injury (Not to mention the offseason losses previously) And the boys didn't seem too rattled despite the difficult past month... If we find a couple of decent replacements, brisbane should be worried come finals time! Great effort boys...all 16 that remain of you! And chuck in Bosnar and the Korean fellow, as well as a fitter bernie and we will give it a good shake come finals time! Although I am worried about the ACL...might struggle!
Kareem
Guest
Has your head been in the sand the past month??? Perhaps that could possible, maybe, somewhat explain the dominance...
TK
Guest
And how many times winning it late against the old foe ? excellent work boys. A handy three points this weekend especially.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
Brisbane Roar 2-1 Central Coast FT Brisbane will be very happy with their efforts tonight. The 5th time they have come from behind to win this year. Brisbane go 7 points ahead having played one less fixture to the team in second. . CCM went too defensive too early and payed the price. That's all tonight and thank you for tuning in
TK
Guest
there is the standrad berisha goal in the second half. you beauty.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
is it 1-1 or 2-1 to BRI?