It is mission improbable, not mission impossible, for Brisbane Roar who need to record their first win in the AFC Champions League tonight against FC Tokyo if their dreams of progressing to the knock-out stages of the competition are to remain alive.
It is mission improbable, not mission impossible, for Brisbane Roar who need to record their first win in the AFC Champions League tonight against FC Tokyo if their dreams of progressing to the knock-out stages of the competition are to remain alive.
The Australian club are third on the Group F ladder on two points while their opponents are sit at the summit on eight points with South Korean team Ulsan Hyundai, who play bottom-placed Beijing Guoan today, sandwiched in between – also on eight points.
The responsibility of preparing the team to reach the next stage of the continental competition falls on the shoulders of Rado Vidosic, with the Tokyo match marking his first official fixture as Brisbane Roar coach since replacing Ange Postecoglou seven days ago.
As Vidosic explained, part of the equation for finishing in the group-s top two and qualifying for the next round was out of their hands.
However, he has assured the Roar players will do all within their reach to ensure their involvement in the competition stays intact, which would come at the expense of the J-League club.
“First of all, we have to win,” Vidosic said.
“That will put us on five points, still three points behind Ulsan and FC Tokyo so the last game between Ulsan and FC Tokyo will decide if we have any chance.
“Basically we need to win our last two games and rely on Ulsan to beat FC Tokyo, so for us to progress we would have to knock out FC Tokyo.”
The new Roar coach indicated after his appointment early last week that he was likely to tinker with the team formation if things don-t go to plan early in tonight-s fixture.
He has almost a fully fit squad at his disposal – just versatile defender Jack Hingert, still recovering from an ankle injury, is ruled out of the match day five clash while Henrique is also at home in Brisbane, granted personal leave to be with his pregnant wife who is due to give birth any day.
The Brazilian winger has been a constant in the Brisbane starting eleven throughout the past 12 months but Vidosic was confident the other squad members were more than capable of filling the void.
“He-s a good first team player but this will give some of our younger players a chance to step up and show what they can do,” he said.
“I don-t think we will miss him too much.”
Nick Fitzgerald is expected to take his place in the starting line-up.
Brisbane Roar play FC Tokyo in match day five of the AFC Champions League tonight at Tokyo-s National Stadium. Kick-off is at 8.30pm AEST with coverage live and exclusive on Fox Sports 1 from 8.25pm.
