Brisbane Roar become just the second team in A-League history to start a campaign with three consecutive losses after suffering a 0-2 home defeat at the hand of Sydney FC.
The only other team to hold that dubious honour is the now defunct North Queensland Fury.
Last season’s champions appear to have a long season ahead of them at this stage.
FINAL SCORE:
Brisbane 0
Sydney 2
Defending champions Brisbane Roar are out to halt a miserable start to the season when they host third-placed Sydney FC. Join The Roar from 8:00pm (AEDT) for live scores and coverage.
Arguably the league’s most consistent side in recent seasons, the Brisbane Roar have endured a tough start to their campaign with losses to Adelaide United and Perth Glory.
Brisbane have enjoyed recent success against Sydney, and will be looking to improve on that record. In their three meetings last season, the Queenslanders recorded two wins (4-nil, 5-2) and a 1-1 draw against their southern rivals.
Sydney FC enter the match on the back of a promising start to their league campaign. In their opening two fixtures they have recorded a draw against Melbourne City, and a 3-2 derby win against the Wanderers.
They are however backing up after a mid-week loss in the FFA Cup.
Tonight’s match is their third match in less than a week, and physically could be a challenge for the Sydneysiders in the latter stages of the way.
How Brisbane can win:
Despite being on the wrong side of the score-sheet in their opening two matches, the defending champions haven’t actually played bad football. They have had to make adjustments to their playing style – the loss of Berisha, and Franjic has hurt them. An early season suspension for their skipper Matt Mckay hasn’t helped either.
They conceded very late against Perth, and they won’t make that same mistake again. An early goal could give them the confidence to run away with the match.
How Sydney can win:
All through pre-season Graham Arnold has spoken about the necessity of having squad depth. He made several changes for the FFA cup loss to Adelaide United, and will welcome back some players who missed that match for tonight’s encounter, but lose Nikola Petkovic after he was sent off against the Reds.
Sydney’s passing game against the Wanderers was crisp and effective, but due to the changes made for the match against Adelaide, they lacked the same fluency. To get a result they will need to recapture it.
If Sydney are to win they will need to weather the early onslaught that Brisbane will throw at them, and look for opportunities to counter.
Likely Result:
Beware the wounded champion.
Brisbane 2-nil.
TK
Guest
Two words for brisbane last night.....too slow. Another word...disorganised. I don't have much more to add that I haven't said before but donachie struggled again, there was very little urgency until they went two goals down, their passing was poor and going backwards way too often, keeper had a bad night and needs kicking practice ( there were sections of the crowd cheering when he got it over halfway) they continue to try and pass their way out of situations at the back when Sydney pushed men forward in attacking press. MM subs were poor in response also. Pulling one striker who was getting no ball and simply replacing him with another who got no ball was never going to change the game, nor was Liam miller. It is always easy to criticise from the stands, but it's going to be a tough season if they can't sort their go forward out and put teams under pressure up front. I counted the Sydney keeper being called into action maybe three times in the whole match....there was no genuine threat on Sydney's goal at all.
Richard
Guest
Roar off 2 roughstart too the season again. Lost money on them tyvm guys
Patrick Hargreaves
Roar Guru
I disagree that there is a hint of tactical mastery to Arnold's pressure game, it was hardly anything to what Melbourne Victory do and I don't think Sydney attack has gelled at all. There was hardly any consistency from that Sydney attack besides some individual forays. Well, that Brosque 1-2 was a treat, but one of those touches was a definite accident.
Cameron
Roar Guru
You need to look much deeper.
The Minister
Guest
Welcome to the A-League Marc Janko! I told you peeps... ;-)
Patrick Hargreaves
Roar Guru
Brisbane aren't as bad what's being thrown around, sure the attacking third had less guided direction than MH370's flight path and at times their defence looked to have been recruited from a prison - plenty of shanks & ill advised offences, however there midfield walked over Sydney's. Brattan can still pick a pass and for the majority of the game they held the ball comfortably. All they need to do is translate Petratos' random outbursts into Albanian and they will be fine. They might train at Moore Park, but that was Smash n' grab straight outta Cabramatta for Sydney.
Cameron
Roar Guru
You're not wrong there Fuss.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Still early days, but Brisbane are following the path to mediocrity that I had anticipated. SydneyFC looked good in patches. 2nd half was pretty uninspiring.
Punter
Guest
Ibini had a shocker.
Liam Howitt
Roar Guru
Thank you for joining The Roar tonight. There's a huge weekend of football both at home and abroad this weekend. Enjoy your evening.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Arnie brings his Marinators style to the Smurfs and snuffs out the Roar. Good but speculative goals from Janko and DImi and poor Roar passing and turnovers. Gotta hand it to Arnie, he's turned the Smurfs into a tough nut to crack.
Liam Howitt
Roar Guru
Sydney FC have ended their horror run at Suncorp Stadium which stretches back to 2007 with a comprehensive 2-nil victory. They now sit temporarily on top of the ladder.
jamesb
Guest
Sydney FC were so in control tonight. They'll go very far this season. While for Brisbane, they just look toothless in attack. Their goalkeeper is not up to A-League standard. The only problem for FC is Ibini. He was Brisbane Roar best player.
Liam Howitt
Roar Guru
Brisbane become just the second team in A-League history to start a campaign with three consecutive losses. The other team to hold that dubious honour is the now defunct North Queensland Fury. Smith sums up it perfectly on Fox Sports "the goals we conceded tonight were f**** some goals" he's right about that they were 2 crackers that downed the defending champions tonight.
Liam Howitt
Roar Guru
Fulltime Sydney 2 Brisbane 0
Liam Howitt
Roar Guru
93' Ibini goes for a gallop into the back field, but the chance goes begging as he blasts over the top instead of crossing into an unmarked Antonis.
Liam Howitt
Roar Guru
4 minutes of stoppage time added on.
Liam Howitt
Roar Guru
88' Brisbane having their most dominant period of the match as they camp down the Sydney end, but just can't deliver the final ball. Sydney chage Gligor on, Gameiro off.
Liam Howitt
Roar Guru
86' Og takes a big risk as he slides in on Borello. No penalty but we've seen them given. Sydney 2 Brisbane 0
Liam Howitt
Roar Guru
81' lovely switch from Antonis. Gameiro's header flashes wide. Sydney 2 Brisbane 0