It is round two of the Hyundai A-League and Brisbane Roar are looking to bounce back from their first round defeat with a victory away against Perth Glory this Sunday.
Last season’s Hyundai A-League Champions suffered a narrow home loss last weekend against a strong Adelaide United and they now embark on a challenging trip to Perth.
Perth Glory had a challenging trip of their own last week to Wellington Phoenix but were good enough to come away with away with a 2-1 victory to give them a fantastic start to their season.
Head Coach Mike Mulvey said he expects Perth to be as tough as always.
“Anybody that goes out to the west knows that it’s a long flight plus there’s a team there that’s willing to fight tooth and nail for everything,” he said.
“They’ve got some quality, brought some good players in, got a good coach and they’re going to be difficult to play against.
“We’ll pay them the greatest respect but it’s about our performance, we want to make sure we get our bit right.”
Roar players could literally be feeling the heat in Perth with the match to kick-off at 2pm [WA time] however the maximum 21 degrees forecast for Perth on Sunday might keep the team cool under pressure.
Mulvey said he is expecting an early onslaught from the opposition but hopes his team can weather the storm and impose their game on Perth.
“We know that we can play good quality football, we just need to get back on the horse as quickly as possible,” he said.
“I particularly have a very strong belief in what we’re trying to achieve and the way we’re trying to go about it.”
The Roar will be without influential midfielder Matt McKay who is missing through suspension, but they are not short on talent to fill his boots.
Either Adam Sarota or Steve Lustica could take McKay’s place alongside Liam Miller and Luke Brattan in the centre of the park.
Sunday’s game could mark Sarota’s first in his return to the club, with the FC Utrecht loanee forced to miss out last week’s game through a late knee injury.
Young James Donachie is set to again fill the right-back position with Albanian striker Mensur Kurtishi likely to again spear-head the attack and will hope to get his Brisbane Roar goals account up and running.
Sunday’s clash will be milestone game for veteran left-back Shane Stefanutto who will play his 100th Hyundai A-league game for Brisbane Roar.
Perth Glory will be without injured duo Ruben Zadkovich (back) and tricky Brazilian Sidnei Sciola (calf) but still offer plenty of quality players to threaten Brisbane with including Irish international striker Andy Keogh, Dutch winger Youssouf Hersi and former Roar star Mitch Nichols.
Sunday, 19 October 2014
Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar FC
nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-Off: 2:00pm local time / 4.00pm Brisbane time
Referee: Shaun Evans
TV Broadcast: Live and exclusive coverage on FOX SPORTS 1HD & 1 from 5.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 720 ABC Perth, Local Radio WA, 612 ABC Brisbane, Local Radio QLD, Grandstand Digital, ABC Grandstand Online/A-League Live Mobile phone app
Perth Glory squad: 1.Daniel Vukovic (GK) 2.Jack CLISBY, 3.Brandon O’NEILL, 5.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Youssouf HERSI, 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebosja MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA, 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Jamie MACLAREN, 17.Mitch NICHOLS,18 Jack DUNCAN (GK) 19.Josh RISDON, 21.Scott JAMIESON, 23.Michael THWAITE (c), 26.Harry O’BRIEN ***two to be omitted***
Ins: 2. Jack CLISBY (promoted), 26. Harry O’BRIEN (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (back – 1 week) ,16.Sidnei SCIOLA (calf – 3 weeks)
Brisbane Roar: 2.Matt SMITH (c), 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 4.Adam SAROTA, 7.Mensur KURTISHI, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 10.HENRIQUE, 11.Liam MILLER, 12.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Daniel BOWLES, 15.James DONACHIE, 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Kofi DANNING, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 30.Matthew ACTON (gk) ***two to be omitted***
Ins: 4.Adam SAROTA (returns from injury), 14.Daniel BOWLES (promoted), 20.Kofi DANNING (promoted)
Outs: 17.Matt McKAY (suspension – 2 weeks)
Unavailable: 1.Michael THEO (wrist – 2 months), 5.Corey BROWN (rib – 1 week), 6.George LAMBADARIDIS (knee – 4 weeks)
