Roar Review – Round 25

Round 25 sees Brisbane play the first of two successive home games against Sydney FC with the chance to return to the top of the league win a win.
Last week the Roar started the game well against Melbourne City, playing a controlled, composed game and taking the lead before a red card and a penalty just after the half time break swung the game in favour of the hosts who ran out 3-1 winners and went top of the league as a result.
Results however have been favourable for John Aloisi’s side and they find themselves with another chance to claim top spot on the table with a win, although City would have the chance to go ahead on goal difference with their game on Monday.

As things stand with just three games remaining, Western Sydney still sit in the box seat, however with their loss tonight the chance is there for Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne City to take top spot this weekend.
Sydney looked to be cruising to a vital win last Saturday on the Central Coast before a late fight back from the Mariners saw the home side snatch a point and leave the Sky Blues desperately clinging to their finals hopes. Tonight result which saw Melbourne edge six points clear of Sydney for the final spot in the top 6 wont help their cause and leaves the visitors needing a win to remain in the hunt.

These two sides have met twice this season, both in Sydney, with Brisbane returning home with four points out of six after a 0-0 draw in round 5 and a 3-1 win in round 17. That win in round 17 was an important one for the Roar who were coming off back to back hidings against Melbourne and Adelaide, and a Jamie Maclaren brace set the Roar on their way.

The first meeting this season between the two was one that was dominated by the Sky Blues in terms of territory and possession, but a resolute defensive display kept chances to a minimum, with neither side creating a clear cut goal scoring chance over the 90 minutes.

That win in round 17 was an important one for the Roar who were coming off back to back hidings against Melbourne and Adelaide, and a Jamie Maclaren brace set the Roar on their way. Matt McKay also netted for Brisbane, before a Sydney set piece deflected off Spaniard Corona and into the back of the net.

Brisbane will have to make two changes to their starting line-up from the side who lost to Melbourne City last week, with Jack Hingert suspended after his sending off, and Matt McKay a late call up to the National Squad this week.

The timely return of James Donachie will result in Daniel Bowles shifting to the right side of the back four, while Steven Lustica seems to have beaten Javi Hervas and Tommy Oar to a start on the left side of the midfield three. Hervas however will get a reprieve of sorts by returning to the substitutes bench.

NPL

In the NPL, the competition is on a one week break for Easter, and the Young Roar closed out the opening phase of the 2016 season with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Olympic on Sunday. A hat-trick for youngster Nick D’Agostino and a fourth to Joseph Champness was more than enough to condemn the side from Brisbane’s southern suburbs to their worst start in the history of the competition.

Brisbane meanwhile sit mid table after the opening month, with a win, two draws and a loss from their opening four games. When the league resumes next month, Brisbane will travel north to Kawana to take on Sunshine Coast.

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