Brisbane Roar FC
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PREVIEW
Melbourne Victory
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Brisbane Roar are given an almost immediate opportunity to bounce back from their last round loss, but the task won’t be easy against a rampant Melbourne Victory side at Suncorp Stadium. Join The Roar for live updates and scores from 7:50pm (AEDT).
Brisbane looked flat last week in Newcastle, so a return home should be the right antidote to any malaise that is emerging in the team.
A win here for the Roar is crucial at this early stage of the season, as they will not want to lose touch too early with the top six.
The key for Brisbane tonight will be their start. They were slow out of the blocks against Newcastle, and Brisbane have not troubled the scoresheet in a first half since Round 3.
If Brisbane can get the jump on Melbourne Victory early, the home side are in with a shot. It will help if they have a fit Adam Taggart up front.
The addition of Stefan Mauk is a handy addition also.
As for Melbourne, well what can you say?
Five wins in a row, a strong performance in a 2-nil win over Adelaide last round – Melbourne are the absolute in-form team of the competition.
The hardest task for Kevin Muscat might be to try and make sure that his team doesn’t become complacent.
Muscat will have spent the week drilling into his players that tonight is a danger game, a true potential banana peel, and they won’t want to undo a month’s worth of good work on a bad Friday night.
Prediction
I’m going on form, and it’s hard to go past Victory. Brisbane are in a slump, Melbourne are firing on all cylinders, and on form, the Victory should stretch that winning streak to six.
Melbourne to win 3-1.
Join The Roar for live scores and blog from 7:50pm and don’t forget to leave a comment in the section below.
Shawny
Guest
John Aloisi needs to go. Ever since he took over our defence has dropped to a point it looks like they're bringing in 4 guys from different teams in the state league every week...and that's not even why I thought to write this. In the past few weeks how many "brain explosion" moments have happened and all he's done in the post-match interview is either blame the other team or the ref? This completely ignores the fact we only have one player (Taggart) who actually looks like a threat in front of goal and a midfield who should be one of the best in the league yet is playing like a bad local team. None of this is new, it's been going on and progressively getting worse for a couple of seasons now. Join me, Aloisi Out.
Nico
Guest
In fairness Toivanon aggravated the situation with his push on Boutheac and should have been cautioned as well
Mister Football
Roar Guru
pressure
Kdog
Guest
Im an impartial veiwer, aloisis a joke, cant control his team
Kdog
Guest
3 melbourne guys??? The only hand i saw between all 3 was the aloisis boy
Punter
Roar Rookie
Bautheac's tackle straight red, disgraceful, what was the 3 Melbourne players doing pushing him as well, dirty Muscat.
perry cox
Roar Guru
In the naughty corner Stevo. That's how you deal with children. Aloisi's post-match interview was disgraceful - the referee was to blame for Bautheac's tackle. Aloisi is the head of that team, and the head is rotten. It is flowing down into an aggressive and violent team.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Bautheac needs to spend a few days in the cooler.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Well that was that. Some very good movement by the Melbourne side and they look like finals contenders. Not sure what to say about Brissy.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time Melbourne Victory have secured a six game winning streak, and top spot for the majority of the weekend, with a thrilling first half rout of Brisbane, 4-2. The main talking point will be the hot-headed brain explosion of Eric Bautheac that cost his side dearly, but absolutely nothing should be taken away from Melbourne, who mesmerised with pinpoint passing and clinical first half finishing. Goals to Ola Toivonen, Kosta Barbarouses with a double, and a Keisuke Honda penalty did the damage, while for Brisbane, Adam Taggart scored his own penalty, and a Toivonen own goal gave Brisbane some brief hope. A great first half, with a second half that could not live up to the expectation. Melbourne looking the goods early, while Brisbane continue to pile pressure on themselves. Bautheac should spend the weekend apologising to all and sundry in the Brisbane Roar organisation. Brisbane had looked promising early, and how they didn't score in the opening minute was down to Victory grit in defence, and sheer bad luck. Melbourne with the Victory again, to kick off round 8. Brisbane Roar: 2 Melbourne Victory: 4
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Well done to the Roar for stifling MV in that 2nd half, took a bit of the fizz out of the game, to their credit, but an absolutely insane first half.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Papadopoulos with a stellar last few minutes
perry cox
Roar Guru
93' - We enter the last minute. Shame about the second half, but can't complain too much after the first half. Meanwhile, Papadopoulos tries to score an own goal himself, can only manage a corner. Brisbane Roar: 2 Melbourne Victory: 4
perry cox
Roar Guru
Nobody did Stevo.
perry cox
Roar Guru
91' - The regulation 3 minutes of stoppage time. Antonis tries to dink in an assist, and he finds ... absolutely nobody. Brisbane goal kick. Brisbane Roar: 2 Melbourne Victory: 4
perry cox
Roar Guru
90' - Well, I think this result is well and truly in the bag everyone. Neither side seemingly eager to chase much down. Except maybe Honda - he's likely unhappy that Melbourne don't yet have 10. Brisbane Roar: 2 Melbourne Victory: 4
perry cox
Roar Guru
89' - Hope has been lively since coming on. Young fella obviously eager to impress. Brisbane Roar: 2 Melbourne Victory: 4
perry cox
Roar Guru
88' - And Taggart finally comes off for Wenzel-Hall. And Akbari is on for the Victory. Brisbane Roar: 2 Melbourne Victory: 4
perry cox
Roar Guru
87' - Seriously, Aloisi might as well take Taggart off. He's just taking up space. Meanwhile, Antonis shoots, from about six yards, over the crossbar - another back heel from Barbarouses this time! Brisbane Roar: 2 Melbourne Victory: 4
perry cox
Roar Guru
86' - Honda chips in a cross, Nick Ansell heads true.... Oh, it's just over the crossbar. That should have hit the target, at the very least. Brisbane Roar: 2 Melbourne Victory: 4