FTS A-League Round 3 Preview: Brisbane Roar vs Sydney FC

Brisbane Roar will be hoping of a return to form in the 2014-15 A-League season when they take on third-placed Sydney FC at Suncorp Stadium on Friday evening.

Two games, two losses for Brisbane Roar. However close they were, as defending champions the heat has been turned up and they will now have to learn to deal with it.

Sydney FC on the other hand are surprising many with an air of resilience instilled in them by one of the most decorated A-League coaches – Graham Arnold. Their come from behind win against Western Sydney Wanderers epitomised this spirit as they went on to overturn a 2-0 deficit eventually running out as 3-2 winners. This is especially inspiring when you take into account the rabble they were with Frank Farina only seven months ago.

A different test for both teams will arise this Friday. For Sydney, it will be to get back up from their harsh loss to Adelaide United that saw Nikola Petkovic sent off at one-all a few minutes from full time. In turn the Sky Blues weren’t able to hold on and eventually lost 3-1.

For Brisbane it seems a tougher challenge; can they bounce back from a harsh reality in Perth? That fixture saw them ship three goals in a high scoring game that resembled something that should be held on a basketball court rather than a football pitch. A great challenge awaits these two teams in a contest that has left plenty of goals and controversy in its wake.

Although Brisbane have not been getting the results, their overall performances have been promising and because of that Mulvey won’t be changing much in terms of the way Brisbane play any time soon,

 “The guys have played some fantastic stuff for us, but sometimes it doesn’t come off and it hasn’t today. It’s a long trip home, but we aren’t going to be crying, we’re not going to be blaming anybody else other than having a look in the mirror, getting ourselves back to Brisbane and getting ready for Friday night.”

 A disappointing aspect of Brisbane’s play both against Adelaide and Perth has been the effort and focus of the defenders. The overall shape and structure that Brisbane performed so beautifully last season was non-existent against Glory with the entire team inviting pressure onto them instead of driving it away with ferocious pressing even around the box. If Brisbane want to triumph against a Sydney side brimming with attacking talent this Friday, they will need to address this issue immediately before it becomes out of hand later on in the season.

Although Brisbane have their own defensive issues, Sydney FC have had plenty of difficulty in this area of the park as well. Sydney will have to go for the jugular early against Brisbane and keep a well-organized defensive unit, as Roar will deploy their usual tactic of holding the ball and passing. This is the last thing Sydney wants after extra time on Tuesday night with only 10 men.

Eyes On… Thomas Broich: Surprise, surprise this guy gets mentioned in the category of ‘you must stop’ if Sydney want to be triumphant on Friday the must stop this guy from doing his thing. He scored a goal against Adelaide and set up Henrique for his power drive in the second half against Perth Glory.  He has a great scoring record against Sydney fc scoring against them twice last year. As for Brisbane fans they hope the Maestro is back to his best in a couple of day’s time.

 Alex Brosque: Alex has been in fine form for Sydney fc in the past few weeks and has really taken on the role as Sydney fc captain. Brosque will return to where it all started for the man in the A-league and he will look to cause havoc in that creative forward half of the park as well as look to score some himself.

Head To Head: 27 Games: Brisbane Roar: 12. Draws: 8. Sydney FC: 7.

Form Guide: Brisbane Roar: (L L W L D). Sydney FC: (L W D D W)

Last Encounter: Allianz Stadium. Sydney FC 1-1 Brisbane Roar (Berisha 23’; Ryall 40’)

Brisbane Roar (probable): Young; Steffanutto, North, Smith, Hingert; Brattan, Lustica, Miller; Broich, Kurtishi, Henrique.

Sydney FC (probable): Janjetovic; Ryall, Ognenovski, Jurman, Gersbach; Antonis, Dimitrijevic, Brosque; Ibini, Janko, Gameiro,

Absentee List: 

Brisbane: Michael Theo (wrist – six weeks); Adam Sarota (knee – four weeks); Corey Brown (rib – one week); George Lambardis (knee – four weeks); Matt McKay (suspended – one week)

Sydney FC: Nikola Petkovic (suspension); Shane Smeltz (groin); Rhyan Grant (knee – 1 week); Matthew Jurman (knee)

Prediction: Brisbane Roar 3-2 Sydney FC

With the two teams being well stocked in the attacking third but a bit diminished in the back I see a lot of goals being shipped in this game. However, Sydney’s new desire to win and a lack of player stocks for Brisbane has me believing that it will be a third straight loss for Mike Mulvey’s men.

FTSAUS Fact-file: 

• Sydney FC have won just one of their last seven A-League matches against Brisbane Roar (W1 D1 L5).
• Brisbane Roar have scored in all but one of their last 19 A-League meetings with Sydney FC.
• Brisbane Roar have lost their opening two A-League games of the season – they have never lost their opening three games in an A-League campaign.

 

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