Goalkeeper Matt Acton will make his Hyundai A-League debut for Brisbane Roar in tomorrow night’s match against Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium with regular shotshopper Michael Theo ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Goalkeeper Matt Acton will make his Hyundai A-League debut for Brisbane Roar in tomorrow night-s match against Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium with regular shotshopper Michael Theo ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Acton is one of two changes to the Roar starting eleven with veteran defender Jade North replaced by youngster James Donachie after succumbing to a slight groin strain.
“Matt has been training for this, he-s been selected for this and I-m sure he-ll step up to the plate,” Head Coach Mike Mulvey said.
“We-re not going to risk [Michael], we-ve rested him for six days and we feel that if we rest him for another six days he-ll be ready for the game after.
“It-s Matty Acton-s time to shine.”
The 21-year-old will become the 100th Hyundai A-League player to represent the Roar since the club-s inception in 2005 and it-s fitting that the honour falls to Acton, a player who has toiled away out of the spotlight for more than five seasons.
Townsville-born and raised, Acton relocated to the Queensland capital in 2007 to take up a scholarship with the Queensland Academy of Sport and was part of the Roar-s inaugural Foxtel National Youth League squad the following year.
He signed his first senior contract with the club in July 2012 and has patiently waited for his chance behind Theo, who Acton describes as “one of the most successful and respected goalkeepers in the A-League.”
Roar midfielder Thomas Broich was pleased to see his young teammate finally get a chance to play on the big stage and said the feeling was shared among the squad.
“Matt has had to be really patient, Theo hasn-t been injured and has been doing such a great job,” he said.
“He-s buzzing that he gets to show his skills finally and we back him 100 per cent – he looks good at training and it-s great that it-s a home game too.
“Now he-s in, he gets to be part of the team and that-s massive for us.”
The Glory are without marquee player William Gallas (calf), captain Jacob Burns (suspension) and defender Scott Jamieson (Achilles) for tomorrow but Mulvey is still expecting a tough encounter against Alistair Edwards- side.
“I think they-ve got players to cover that and I think that will probably make them hungrier, the players that are coming in,” the Brisbane boss said.
“It-s a shame that William Gallas is out because he-s a big drawcard and a big name from what he-s achieved in his career but they-ve got capable players, they-ve got Steve Pantaledis who will come in.”
Brisbane Roar-s round eight match against Perth Glory kicks off at 4.30pm at Suncorp Stadium. Tickets are available through Ticketek.
Saturday, 30 November 2013
Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 4:30pm
Referee: Tim McGilchrist
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Brennan
Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Lindsay
Fourth Official: Alan Milliner
TV Broadcast: 5.00pm (AEDT) Live and exclusive coverage on FOX Sports 1HD and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand).
Radio Broadcast: 612 ABC Brisbane, ABC Local Radio Queensland, 720 ABC Perth, ABC Local Radio WA, Grandstand Digital Brisbane and Perth and Online/Mobile phone app
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #GoRoar
Brisbane Roar squad: 2.Matthew SMITH (c), 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 7.Besart BERISHA, 10.HENRIQUE, 14.Diogo FERREIRA, 15.James DONACHIE, 17.Matt McKAY, 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Matthew ACTON (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 26.Corey BROWN, 28.Brandon BORRELLO, 29.Kwame YEBOAH *One to be added*
Ins: Brandon BORRELLO (promoted)
Outs: 1. Michael THEO (shoulder – one week), 13. Jade NORTH (groin- one week)
Unavailable: 3. Shane STEFANUTTO (hamstring – one week), 11. Liam MILLER (calf – one week), 25. George LAMBADARDIS (knee – season)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Daniel VUKOVIC (gk), 2.Jack CLISBY, 3.Brandon O-NEILL, 4.Ryan EDWARDS, 5.Steve PANTELIDIS, 6.Cameron EDWARDS, 8.Ryo NAGAI, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10.Jamie MACLAREN, 11. Adrian ZAHRA, 14.Steven McGARRY, 15. Isaka CERNAK, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA MORAES, 17. Chris HAROLD, 18.Jack DUNCAN, 23.Michael THWAITE, 24.Matthew DAVIES, 25. Riley WOODCOCK *Two to be omitted*
Ins: 11. Adrian ZAHRA (promoted), 15. Isaka CERNAK (promoted), 25. Riley WOODCOCK (promoted), 2. Jack CLISBY (promoted), 3.Brandon O-NEILL (promoted)
Outs: 7.Jacob BURNS (suspended – 2 matches), 21.Scott JAMIESON (Achilles – Season), 36. William GALLAS (calf – 1 week)
Unavailable: Nil
