Victory came from behind twice in their clash with Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium to eventually take all three points with a 3-2 win, Billy Celeski grabbing the winner, and also reclaimed top spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder in the process.
Date: Saturday November 8
Kick-off: 7:00pm in Brisbane, 8pm (AEDT)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Adelaide
TV and Radio:
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and Sky Sport 2. Hyundai A-League club radio broadcast partner is FRESH FM (Adelaide) and SEN (Melbourne) 1116AM.
Head-to-head
10 A-League meetings: Melbourne Victory – 5 wins, Queensland Roar – 4 wins, Draws – 1
Previous meeting
Melbourne Victory 0, Queensland Roar 2, Round 6, 2008
Past five rounds
Melbourne:
Round 6: Melbourne Victory 0, Queensland Roar 2, Telstra Dome
Round 7: Melbourne Victory 4, Perth Glory 0, Telstra Dome
Round 8: Newcastle Jets 1, Melbourne Victory 0, EnergyAustralia Stadium
Round 9: Melbourne Victory 0, Sydney FC 2, Telstra Dome
Round 10: Adelaide United 2, Melbourne Victory 3, Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide:
Round 6: Melbourne Victory 0, Queensland Roar 2, Telstra Dome
Round 7: Sydney FC 1, Queensland Roar 1, Sydney Football Stadium
Round 8: Queensland Roar 0, Adelaide United 1, Suncorp Stadium
Round 9: Wellington Phoenix 0, Queensland Roar 1, Westpac Stadium
Round 10: Newcastle Jets 1, Queensland Roar 2, EnergyAustralia Stadium
Analysis
Victory came from behind twice in their clash with Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium to eventually take all three points with a 3-2 win, Billy Celeski grabbing the winner, and also reclaimed top spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder in the process.
The victory also snapped a two-game losing streak for Ernie Merrick’s men, with Kevin Muscat’s first penalty in the 55th minute snapping a 252-minute drought dating back to the Round 7 win over Perth Glory at Telstra Dome.
Queensland also trailed in its match against Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium, but only momentarily, as Matt McKay found an equaliser within seconds of his team falling behind, before Charlie Miller’s 35th-minute goal proved the difference in the 2-1 result.
The visitors will welcome back strikers Archie Thompson and Ney Fabiano from suspension for the trip north, Merrick declaring Thompson a certain starter despite him battling the flu and admitting one or two of last weekend’s stars may miss out at selection this week.
National Youth League skipper Mathew Theodore heads back to the junior ranks after being on the bench last week, while Evan Berger, one of Victory’s best against Adelaide, joins Carlos Hernandez on the sidelines.
Hernandez is set to miss another couple of weeks with a thigh injury and Berger will be sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring strain, while Nathan Elasi and Seb Ryall are also away for another fortnight on Qantas Young Socceroos duty.
The Roar have injury and international duty issues of their own, with Reinaldo, Hyuk-Su Seo and Robbie Kruse all injured and Luke Devere, Tahj Minniecon, Mitch Nichols, Isaka Cernak and Tommy Oar also away overseas.
The 10 meetings between these teams have resulted in five Victory wins and four to the Roar, with just the one draw, while in Brisbane the hosts have managed only one win and a draw from five clashes.
The most recent battle between these teams saw the Roar end Victory’s unbeaten start to the season in Round 6 at Telstra Dome, and Frank Farina’s men will be keen to inflict a similar fate on the Victorian team.
Arguably the match of the round, with Victory looking to strengthen its grip on top spot and the Roar a chance to perhaps take over the No.1 place if they win, expect the visitors to snatch the three points with their strikers back and their confidence boosted by last week’s result.
Melbourne Victory Squad: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Kevin MUSCAT (Captain), 3. Michael THWAITE, 7. Matthew KEMP, 8. Grant BREBNER, 9. Danny ALLSOPP, 10. Archie THOMPSON, 11. NEY FABIANO, 12. Rodrigo VARGAS, 14. Billy CELESKI, 15. Tom PONDELJAK, 17. Jose Luis LOPEZ, 18. Leigh BROXHAM, 20. Mitchell LANGERAK (gk), 22. Nick WARD
In: Archie THOMPSON (return from suspension), NEY FABIANO (return from suspension)
Out: Evan BERGER (hamstring – 3 weeks), Mathew THEODORE (omitted)
Unavailable: Carlos HERNANDEZ (quad – 2 weeks), Nathan ELASI (international duty – 2 weeks), Sebastian RYALL (international duty – 2 weeks)
Queensland Roar squad: 1. Liam REDDY (gk), 2. Andrew PACKER, 4.Craig MOORE, 5. Josh McCLOUGHAN, 6. David DODD, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Charlie MILLER, 13. Chris GROSSMAN, 14. Ben GRIFFIN, 15. Matt McKAY, 18. Danny TIATTO, 20. Griffin McMASTER (gk), 23. Tim SMITS, 24. Matt MUNDY , 25. Adam SAROTA.
*two to be omitted.
In: 13. Chris GROSSMAN (promoted), 14. Ben GRIFFIN (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 3. Luke DEVERE (international duty), 9. REINALDO (injured), 12. Tahj MINNIECON (international duty), 14. Ben GRIFFIN (injured), 16. Hyuk-Su SEO (injured), 17. Mitch NICHOLS (international duty), 19. Isaka CERNAK (international duty), 21. Tommy OAR (international duty), 22. Robbie KRUSE (injured)
Victory memberships for the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season are currently available from the Victory Shop, 236 Swan Street, Richmond, by calling 1300 GO MVFC or online by clicking here.
