Sydney FC travel north to face Brisbane Roar on Sunday afternoon as Charlie Austin faces the Sky Blues for the first time.
Warren Moon’s Brisbane Roar are sitting at the bottom end of the table, only two points ahead of Western United and are yet to register a win to their name. Of frustration to the Roar faithful will be their potency in front of goal having scored only one goal so far this campaign, off the boot of Austin, against Western Sydney Wanderers where they threatened to score more than the singular goal.
Sydney FC on the other hand, have had no issues in front of goal, leading the league for goals scored with ten. Melbourne City are the next best with eight goals, however Steve Corica’s side having been leaking goals at the other end. Sydney have conceded the second most goals which often makes for end to end, entertaining matches.
Coming into this match, Sydney have won their previous two away matches, most recently against Macarthur last Saturday at Campbelltown Stadium and they will be hoping to make it three wins from three away matches before the World Cup break. In the last meeting with Brisbane Roar, Sydney travelled up to Moreton Daily Stadium after a disappointing result in Asia and they were humbled 3-1 by the Queensland outfit, so they will be hoping for better fortunes this time around.
Adam Le Fondre is the leading scorer in this fixture with seven goals however his injury will see him spend another week on the sidelines, after coming off in the first half against Adelaide United two weeks prior. Pat Wood is likely to lead the line again following his impressive performance against Macarthur last weekend which earnt him Under Armour Player of the Match.
As for Brisbane Roar, they held Melbourne Victory last weekend in a 0-0 clash which left much to be desired. The Queensland heat coupled with the defensive efforts of both sides meant that they cancelled each other out and chances were few and far between. Jordan Holmes was shown a straight red card in the match however, and he will miss this clash with Sydney on Sunday, with Macklin Freake coming in between the sticks instead. Credit should go to Brisbane Roar who held Melbourne Victory goal-less, despite playing much of the second half with a man disadvantage.
On Sunday afternoon, it will be a chance for Brisbane Roar to kick-start their season or Sydney FC to climb higher and show that they do indeed mean business this season.
READ MORE: INS & OUTS | ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE ROUND FIVE
READ MORE: SYDNEY FC ACADEMY SETS STANDARD ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Players to Watch
Charlie Austin – Brisbane Roar
You can look no further than Brisbane’s talisman up front, the face of A-Leagues All Access in Round Two where we got a glimpse into his passion and determination to win. He knows his way to goal, having scored 273 goals across his career from notable clubs such as Burnley, Southampton and Queens Park Rangers. He now calls Brisbane home and has been an outlet for the Roar this season, netting twice in the cup and once in the league already.
He is a natural goal-scorer and a character that is showcasing the best of the Isuzu UTE A-League. However, he is sure to be a nuisance to Aaron Gurd and James Donachie who will need to be at their best to keep the Englishman quiet.
Luke Brattan – Sydney FC
Luke Brattan is back in the heart of midfield, having recovered from his ACL injury which sidelined him for majority of last season. Since his arrival back into the side, many Sydney FC fans have laurelled at his presence on the pitch. He is a brilliant ball playing midfielder and one that marshals his troops throughout the 90 minutes. Defensively he offers amazing cover to his centre-backs and in Alex Wilkinson’s absence has led the team through some difficult 90 minutes.
Since being a surprise starter against Melbourne Victory, Brattan has played every minute of A-League action this season and has created eight chances. His passing range and accuracy is one of the best in the league and he continues to impress fans and critics. If Sydney are struggling to find a break-through against a defiant Brisbane Roar, Brattan will be one to keep an eye on as he has the ability to unlock defences.
Match Details
Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC
Isuzu UTE A-League Round Five
Sunday 6th November 2022
Kick Off: 3pm AEDT (2pm Local)
Moreton Daily Stadium, Brisbane, QLD
Broadcast Live: 10Bold & Paramount+
Tickets: Click Here
