Western United FC
0
Match Complete
Brisbane Roar FC
1
| A. Durante |  | 88' | ||
| 61' |  | M. Muratovic | ||
| 43' | | B. Inman | ||
| J. Risdon | | 30' |
| 5 | Shots | 13 | ||
| 0 | On Target | 7 | ||
| 11 | Fouls | 15 | ||
| 3 | Corners | 5 | ||
| 2 | Offsides | 1 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
Western United and Brisbane Roar will be closing this week’s round of A-League action with what is set to be a thrilling game at Mars Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, with the game kicking off 4pm (AEDT).
Western United have had a recent dip in form, only winning one of their last five and have lacked spark and the cutting edge, but they welcome back main marquee and club captain Alessandro Diamanti this weekend.
Diamanti has been crucial to the team’s success this season, netting four goals and making four assists, while also providing 31 key passes throughout the season. He has also made 21 successful dribbles and has a pass accuracy in the opponents half of 62.6 per cent, as well as winning 42 fouls this season.
Diamanti will most likely be thrust straight back into the starting team as they look to sustain their hopes for the finals, currently sitting in seventh place.
Brisbane Roar will be without Scott McDonald for this vital fixture as there is a clause in his contract that forbids him from playing against Western United all season, but Scott Neville has returned from suspension following the yellow card he picked up against Sydney FC.
Brisbane have been in great form in recent weeks, only losing one of their last four to Sydney FC and have beat Wellington Phoenix, Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners.
They face a tricky challenge against Western United and may line up quite defensively, as they did against Sydney FC but lack any real pace to attack on the counter.
However, Dylan Wenzel-Halls is always a threat when playing and may start up front alongside Mirza Muratovic, the 20-year-old who has burst onto the scene this season.
Prediction
Despite Western United’s recent form, I just can’t see Brisbane creating too many chances without Scott McDonald and Western United will be boosted by the return of their talisman Diamanti.
Western United 2-0 Brisbane Roar
Remember to join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, with the ball first rolling at 4pm (AEDT).
Game information
Time: 4pm (AEDT)
Venue: Mars Stadium, Ballarat
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo, MyFootball Live
Odds: Western United $2.50, Brisbane Roar $2.88, Draw $3.50
Squads
Western United
1. Filip Kurto (gk), 4. Andrew Durante, 5. Dylan Pierias, 7. Valentino Yuel, 8. Panagiotis Kone, 9. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, 11. Connor Pain, 12. Dario Jertec, 14. Max Burgess, 15. Jonathan Aspropotamitis, 17. Joshua Cavallo, 18. Besart Berisha, 19. Josh Risdon, 22. Tomislav Uskok, 23. Alessandro Diamanti (c), 24. Thiel Iradukunda, 25. Luke Duzel, 27. Jerry Skotadis, 28. Oskar Dillon, 30. Ryan Scott (gk)
Brisbane Roar
1. Max Crocombe (gk), 2. Scott Neville, 3. Corey Brown, Daniel Bowles, 5. Tom Aldred (c), 6. Macaulay Gillesphey, 7. Jai Ingham, 8. Jacob Pepper, 10. Bradden Inman, 12. Aiden O’neill, 15. Aaron Reardon, 19. Jack Hingert, 20. Aaron Amadi-Holloway, 21. Jamie Young (gk), 22. Jake Mcging, 23. Dylan Wenzel-Halls, 25. Rahmat Akbari, 26. Jay O’shea, 27. Kai Trewin, 30. Mirza Muratovic
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Given the lack of creativity up front despite all the possession I thought Rudan would have thrown Stamatelopoulos into the game.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
with comments like this, you're in the wrong game kid. Try driving a truck.
Jack George
Roar Guru
Definitely. Seems like a natural goalscorer who contributes during build-ups and also has a bit of pace. A great player to come off the bench, although I would actually start him and bring Wenzel-Halls on, I think he is a better player when brought on late in the game with his energy and his direct play.
Jack George
Roar Guru
I struggled to think of things to write for the match review, and if I wasn't live blogging I doubt I would have kept the TV on. Thanks for tuning in!
Jack George
Roar Guru
No worries.
stu
Guest
Welcome 3 points. Nice slick training ground ball control by the roar. Still wasteful in front of goal and I feel fair to say that Inman remains a mystery wrapped in an enigma when in terrific scoring opportunities. Would not normally raise this, however I will note that I thought WU were the only team on the park listening to Fox. Andy Harper just has a problem with the roar.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Disappointing! With a bit of luck, Brisbane Roar could win big, 4-0 at least. Only 1-0 now. Totally outclassing! This tells the reason why Rudan was so happy after winning the Roars in Suncorp in Round 10.
Jack George
Roar Guru
He was playing some beautiful balls in earlier this season, seems low on confidence.
Coastyboi
Guest
Cheers, Jack.
Jack George
Roar Guru
The Roar were very boring this evening but will be happy to have grabbed all three points without Scott McDonald. It will be interesting to see how they go against Perth next weekend...
Jack George
Roar Guru
Thank you for joining me this afternoon, and although the A-League is now over for this weekend make sure to check out other blogs on the Roar! Have a good week everyone!
Jack George
Roar Guru
Match Review: Brisbane Roar has clinched all three points in a crucial game in the race for top six at Mars Stadium, with the final score being 1-0 in Brisbane’s favour. The game started quite brightly with both teams having promising chances early on. In the first minute, Josh Risdon found the ball in behind and delivered a great ball in from just in front of the corner flag, which eluded Scott Neville and found Connor Pain, but his shot from inside the six-yard box blazed over the bar. Jack Hingert became the second wing-back of the game to pull the trigger in the third minute as his shot on the right-hand side seemed destined for the bottom left-hand corner, but Kurto got a hand to it. The follow up was perhaps the most dangerous part of the play with Inman lurking for a tap-in, but Risdon got to the ball just ahead of Inman to deny the shot. There was a lack of chances from that moment on, with one of the main ones coming in the thirteenth minute when Burgess found Berisha in behind the Brisbane defence with a beautiful ball. Berisha had a good first touch but then stumbled, allowing Tom Aldred to clear. Aldred was a rock in defence in this clash, winning three duels and making nine clearances, with four of them being headed. He also made two interceptions and won two aerial duels. The first goal of the game came in after half time, in the sixtieth minute following some beautiful intelligence from Brad Inman. Inman dispossessed the back-tracking Tomoki Imai and sprinted forward, creating a two on one situation against Oskar Dillon. Instead of pulling the trigger, Inman played a beautiful side-footed pass across to Mirza Muratovic, which left the twenty-year-old striker with a tap in for his second goal in two games. Western United struggled to reply, not making any noteworthy chances even with talisman Alessandro Diamanti back on the field after being substituted on in the fifty-third minute. Brisbane Roar plays against Perth Glory at home next Saturday, while Western United are off to New Zealand to face the high-flying Wellington Phoenix. Final score: Western United 0, Brisbane Roar 1
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
Bit of a boring game, crowd couldn't really get into it. However Brisbane did what they needed to do and look prime for a top 6 finish, hopefully we get a good match next week at the legendary Dolphin Stadium.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
On a positive note, that Muratovic kid has a future.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
You did well to stay awake Jack. It was just one of those games. Just saw Berisha on telly looking pretty down and miserable. Had nothing positive to say about the WU performance.
Jack George
Roar Guru
FULLTIME! Brisbane Roar clinch all three points here at Mars Stadium! The match report will be out in ten minutes, but in the meantime, discuss your thoughts on the match! Final score: Western United 0, Brisbane Roar 1
Jack George
Roar Guru
90 + 2' Pierias finds the ball on the right but Jamie Young just gets there ahead of Yuel, which could be Western United's last attack... Western United 0, Brisbane Roar 1
Jack George
Roar Guru
90 + 2' Diamanti crosses but yet again Tom Aldred is in the way. Western United 0, Brisbane Roar 1
Jack George
Roar Guru
90 + 2' Pierias finds Kone in behind but his ball into the box is cleared by Brisbane. Western United 0, Brisbane Roar 1
Jack George
Roar Guru
90 + 1' Muratovic gets the ball in behind and shoots at the near post but Kurto is smart with his save. Western United 0, Brisbane Roar 1