Ufuk Talay’s Sydney FC squad will host the Brisbane Roar this Sunday evening at Allianz Stadium. The round 20 showdown will be a critical match for the Sky Blues as they work towards entering the top four.
Sydney FC’s ISUZU-UTE A-League squad are entering this match on a high after an impeccable 4-1 win over their arch-rivals, the Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend during the 37th Sydney Derby.
After securing fifth place, the Sky Blues are chipping at the heels of Melbourne Victory. The Brisbane Roar also celebrated a win over the weekend after securing their sixth consecutive triumph against Melbourne Victory.
However, a home game for Sydney FC could make their streak eight matches undefeated. With each side gunning to cement their position on the ladder, this weekend’s match is expected to be a display of athleticism and high intensity football.
Ones To Watch: Rhyan Grant and Marco Rojas
Sydney FC legend, Rhyan Grant, is having a great season so far for his only club. After a fantastic opening goal against the Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend, the 33-year-old secured another ‘Performance of the Round’ accolade alongside his two previous ‘Team of the Week’ mentions. For the 2023/2024 season, Grant has netted three goals. The Socceroo averages 2.7 tackles and 1.3 intercepts per game, and currently has a passing accuracy of 81%.
Since his debut for the Sky Blues in 2008, the four time Championship winner has made over 328 appearances for Sydney FC, including four A-League Grand Finals. Undoubtedly one of the A-League’s most experienced players, Grant’s form continues to reach new heights as the highly anticipated A-League Finals edge closer.
Marco Rojas is no stranger to the intensity of the A-League. Making his debut in 2009 for Wellington Phoenix, the forward has gone on to appear in an A-League Grand Final, six A-League Finals and five FFA Cups. Over 15 years, Rojas has scored 41 goals. The All Whites representative has netted two goals this season, both being against his former club, Melbourne Victory last weekend. Regarded as one of the league’s most dangerous attacking players, the match-up between Rojas and Grant could be a defining moment for the game.
Head-To-Head 2023/2024 Season:
| 9-3-7 | SYD – RECORD – BRFC | 7-4-9 |
| 24-20-21 | H2H | 21-20-24 |
| 15-11-6 | H2H AT ALLIANZ | 6-11-15 |
| 54.4% | POSSESSION PG | 53.5% |
| 1.9 | GOALS SCORED | 1.8 |
| 1.6 | GOALS CONCEDED | 2.2 |
| 19.2 | SHOTS PG | 15.2 |
| 6.7 | SHOTS ON TARGET | 5.8 |
| 1 | CLEAN SHEET | 2 |
| 3.1 | SAVES PG | 4.3 |
| 381 | PASSES PG | 455 |
| 1.9 | YELLOW CARDS PG | 2.0 |
| 2 | RED CARDS PG | 3 |
Team News:
The Sky Blues will welcome back Luke Brattan after a suspension in Round 19 saw him miss the Sydney Derby. In terms of injury, Aaron Gurd, Patrick Wood, and Joe Lacey are still recovering from their respected injuries. Jack Rodwell and Wataru Kamijo were both back on the field training last week and could be in contention.
Brisbane Roar will forgo defender, Scott Neville, after an unfortunate ACL rupture during a training session last week. Neville will miss the remainder of the 2023/2024 season. 17-year-old Rylan Brownlie is also predicted to miss this weekend’s match-up after sustaining a knee injury in January.
Last Time Out:
Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar last went head-to-head in January this year for their 55th A-League match-up. It was an intense match with the result being 2-1 in favour of the Sky Blues. Fabio Gomes had an impeccable game, scoring the opening goal within the first minute of play. The Brazilian went on to net a second goal minutes before the half-time whistle. In injury time, Nikola Mileusnic made a comeback for the Brisbane Roar, scoring moments after Gomes’ double. However, a gruelling second half saw both sides struggle to capitalise further and Sydney FC run out winners.
Match Details:
Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar Isuzu UTE A-League Round 20
Sunday 10th March, 2024
Allianz Stadium, Sydney, NSW
Kick Off: 5:00pm AEDT
Gates Open: 4:00pm AEDT
Broadcast Live: Paramount+ & 10Bold
