The odds may be stacked against them but Adelaide United FC holds no fears as it heads to Suncorp Stadium to try and put an end to Brisbane Roar’s extraordinary unbeaten streak.
The odds may be stacked against them but Adelaide United FC holds no fears as it heads to Suncorp Stadium to try and put an end to Brisbane Roar-s extraordinary unbeaten streak tomorrow night.
Remarkably, no team has managed to inflict a defeat on Brisbane in its past 31 Hyundai A-League outings.
In addition to the Roar having taken all before them last season, which saw their only loss come against Melbourne Victory back on September 12 last year, already after three games this season the reigning champions boast three wins from as many starts, the most number of goals scored and the only team yet to concede on the score sheet.
Now it is Adelaide United-s turn to hunt the hunted, and after a week when the playing group brought to the fore some home truths following last Saturday-s disappointing home defeat to Sydney FC, the Reds and Coach Rini Coolen are ready to take it up to the benchmark team in the league.
“Somebody asked me if it-s a good time to play against Brisbane? We will find out after the game, but you can use a game like this to build up your level and your confidence by having a result,” Coolen said.
“If we don-t (get a result) then we have to work up to the week after, but in every away game we go to get results and knowing that Brisbane is a fantastic team, we are a good team as well and that-s what we showed against Melbourne Victory.”
The Reds have had a topsy-turvy start to season seven, a loss in Perth followed by a win over the Victory before the recent negative result against Sydney. But despite the inconsistent start, there is a quiet air of confidence among Coolen and the Reds that hints they are ready to put a stop to the Brisbane juggernaut.
There is reason for the Reds to feel confident. They have recorded four wins and suffered just one loss in their nine appearances at Suncorp Stadium, while they also defeated the Roar, albeit it being in a pre season friendly back in September.
“At the moment they-re definitely the best team in the league, that-s what they showed last year and also this season, so you have to have a game plan like every game and it-s about pressuring them in the areas where it-s allowed, it-s about the moment when you don-t press and give them some space which creates some space for yourself – they-re things that happen during the game and you have to be ready,” Coolen said.
“I think they (the Roar) have a few players who can make the difference by scoring goals and through their movement, but it-s more about the team, their transitions and how they keep ball possession, so like every team they have individual players who make a difference but it-s more the team performance that makes them very strong.”
“We have our game plan and you can-t forget that you have to defend against them but also find moments to hurt them, and I think we have enough quality players to find those moments so we can create some chances.”
One United player who experienced the Roar-s incredible feats first hand is Milan Susak. The Reds stopper made 29 appearances for the Roar last season and will revisit Suncorp for the first time since he held the championship aloft in that memorable 2010/11 season decider.
But that was in the past and now Susak-s allegiances lie in Adelaide, and as he plots his former side-s downfall, he is adamant they can be beaten.
“Of course they are. They lost last year to Melbourne 3-0 and they are beatable,” Susak said.
“It has been seven or eight months since then (the Grand Final) and I-m looking forward to going back there and getting a result with Adelaide United.”
“I-m looking forward to it because a few of the boys have been sending me a few messages during the week trying to give it to me, so I-m looking forward to getting a good result and giving it to them after the game.”
“We-ve had a great week on the track, we sorted a few issues out and we-re pretty positive we-re going to get a result.”
United-s Ukrainian midfielder Evgeniy Levchenko is set to come straight back into the starting eleven after missing last week with a calf injury, while Dario Vidosic has also been given the green light after suffering a heavy knock against Sydney FC.
Following off season ankle surgery, defender Nigel Boogaard has also been named in an extended squad for the first time since he last ran out for the Reds in last season-s knockout final loss to Gold Coast United back in February.
Kick-Off is at 7.30pm ACDT.
Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season – Week 4
Brisbane Roar v Adelaide United FC
Friday 28 October 2011, Suncorp Stadium
Kick-Off: 7.00pm AEST (7.30pm ACDT)
Referee: Strebre Delovski
TV: Live and exclusive on FOX Sports 1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adelutd_fc (hash tag #aleague #HALbriadu)
Adelaide United: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Osama MALIK, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Jon McKAIN, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 8.Evgeniy LEVCHENKO, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 14.Cameron WATSON, 16.Spase DILEVSKI, 17.Iain RAMSAY, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 21.Francisco USUCAR, 22.Milan SUSAK, 23.Andy SLORY
*two to be omitted*
In: Evgeniy LEVCHENKO (returns from injury), Nigel BOOGAARD (returns from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Bruce DJITE (groin – 1-2 weeks)
Brisbane Roar squad: 1.Michael Theoklitos (gk), 2.Matt Smith (c), 3.Shane Stefanutto, 4.Matt Jurman, 5.Ivan Franjic, 6.Erik Paaratlu, 7.Besart Berisha, 8.Massimo Murdocca, 9.Kofi Danning, 10.Henrique, 11.Issey Nakajima-Farran, 16.Mohamed Adnan, 17.Mitch Nichols, 19.Jack Hingert, 20.Andrew Redmayne (gk), 21.James Meyer, 22.Thomas Broich
*Two To Be Omitted*
In: James Meyer (Promoted), Jack Hingert (Promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Matt Mundy (Knee Injury – 1 Week), Rocky Visconte (Hamstring Strain – 1 Week)
Adelaide United FC vs. Brisbane Roar – Hyundai A-League HEAD TO HEAD Record:
Played 19 – 8 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses
2-Jan-2011… L 0-1… 2010/11 Wk 21 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
6-Nov-2010… L 0-4… 2010/11 Wk 13 (Suncorp Stadium)
18-Sep-2010… D 1-1… 2010/11 Wk 7 (Suncorp Stadium)
6-Feb-2010… W 2-0… 2009/10 Rd 26 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
12-Dec-2009… W 1-0… 2009/10 Rd 18 (Suncorp Stadium)
6-Nov-2009… L 0-2… 2009/10 Rd 14 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
21-Jan-2009… W 1-0… 2008/09 Preliminary Final (Hindmarsh Stadium)
14-Jan-2009… D 0-0… 2008/09 Rd 16 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
17-Oct-2008… W 1-0… 2008/09 Rd 8 (Suncorp Stadium)
24-Aug-2008… D 1-1… 2008/09 Rd 2 (Suncorp Stadium)
20-Jan-2008… W 2-0… 2007/08 Rd 21 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
2-Nov-2007… L 0-1… 2007/08 Rd 11 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
25-Aug-2007… D 2-2… 2007/08 Rd 1 (Suncorp Stadium)
4-Jan-2007… L 0-1… 2006/07 Rd 19 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
11-Nov-2006… W 1-0… 2006/07 Rd 12 (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
22-Sep-2006… D 0-0… 2006/07 Rd 5 (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
1-Jan-2006… W 4-2… 2005/06 Rd 16 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
22-Oct-2005… W 2-1… 2005/06 Rd 9 (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
2-Sep-2005… D 0-0… 2005/06 Rd 2 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
At Hindmarsh Stadium
Played 10; Adelaide United 4, Brisbane Roar 4, Draws 2
At Suncorp Stadium
Played 9; Adelaide United 4, Brisbane Roar 1, Draws 4
Last time they met in the Hyundai A-League
2-Jan-2011 Week 21, Hyundai A-League 2010/11 Season at Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide United FC 0
Brisbane Roar 1 (Solarzano 69-)
Adelaide United last three results
Wk 3. 22/10/11… L 1-2… vs. Sydney FC (Hindmarsh Stadium)
Wk 2. 14-10-2011… W 1-0… vs. Melbourne Victory (Hindmarsh Stadium)
Wk 1. 9-10-2011… L 0-1… vs. Perth Glory (nib Stadium)
