Brisbane Roar go up against Melbourne City in Isuzu UTE A-League Round 13 action at AAMI Park on Saturday afternoon.
Roar come into Saturday’s match after suffering a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Newcastle Jets on Tuesday night.
Melbourne City start the weekend in second position on the league table and defeated Western United 2-0 in their last outing.
Young stars are likely to take centre stage in Saturday’s match with the likes of Lucas Herrington, Jacob Brazete and Sam Klein bursting onto the scene and impressing for Roar in recent weeks while an injury crisis at City has seen a number of youngsters take centre stage for Aurelio Vidmar’s side.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 4pm AEST and forms part of a double header that sees Roar’s A-League Women face City at 6:45pm AEST.
WHAT WAS SAID
“I think probably four weeks in a row now… they’re all good performances, really good performances.
We’ve had a lot of big chances, clear-cut chances at 0-0 and I feel like had we taken those chances that the momentum can swing for us but not to be.
What’s important now is that we stay really focused on those performances and those areas we can improve.” – Ruben Zadkovich
“This team’s last performances recently have been really good, really positive.
I just think once the penny drops for us in this league all it takes is a couple of wins back-to-back and you’re in a good position.
All the boys are really happy and we’re together and we’re ready to go.” Jacob Brazete
TEAM NEWS
Hosine Bility comes back into contention for Ruben Zadkovich’s side after missing Tuesday’s clash against Newcastle through suspension.
Florin Berenguer is also in the mix to come up against his former club after the 35-year-old was rested midweek.
18-year-old fullback Pearson Kasawaya could make his A-League debut after being named in the extended squad for the first time.
Kasawaya is an athletic left footed full back who has represented Australia at U20 level and played a key role for Sydney FC’s NPL side alongside Jacob Brazete before making the move to Brisbane.
Melbourne City have named an unchanged squad from the side that beat Western United 2-0 on Tuesday night.
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 2. Scott NEVILLE, 3. Corey BROWN, 7. Rafael STRUICK, 8. Walid SHOUR, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 12. Lucas HERRINGTON, 14. Pearson KASAWAYA, 15. Hosine BIILITY, 16. Thomas WADDINGHAM, , 18. Jacob BRAZETE, 19. Jack HINGERT, 21. Antonee BURKE-GILROY, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 24. Sam KLEIN, 26. Jay O’SHEA (C), 27. Ben HALLORAN, 29. Matt ACTON (GK), 35. Louis ZABALA, 43. Adam ZIMARINO (Two to be omitted)
Ins: 14. Pearson KASAWAYA, 15. Hosine BIILITY
Outs: 11. Neicer ACOSTA, 30. Quinn MACNICOL
Unavailable: 4. Ben WARLAND (knee)
Melbourne City squad: 1. Jamie YOUNG (GK), 2. Callum TALBOT, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 20. Arion SULEMANI, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 27. Kai TREWIN, 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 35. Medin MEMETI, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 41. Lawrence WONG, 42. Ben DUNBAR, 46. Ben MAZZEO, 47. Kavian RAHMANI, 50. Mikey GHOSSAINI.
In: 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC (both promoted).
Out: Nil.
Unavailable: 7. Mathew LECKIE (hamstring), 8. Jimmy JEGGO (achilles), 10. Yonatan COHEN (knee), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (knee), 17. Max CAPUTO (leg), 21. Alessandro LOPANE (knee), 23. Marco TILIO (hamstring), 30. Andreas KUEN (hamstring), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI (knee).
LAST TIME WE MET
Melbourne City prevailed 4-1 when the sides went head-to-head in the reverse fixture at Suncorp Stadium last month.
Yonatan Cohen bagged a brace while Andreas Kuen and Steven Ugarkovic were both on target against a Roar side who found the back of the net through Jay O’Shea.
With Kuen and Cohen currently sidelined through injury, Aurelio Vidmar’s side will rely on a younger attacking unit on Saturday afternoon.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 42
Brisbane Roar wins: 13
Melbourne City wins: 22
Draws: 7
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 – Round 13: Melbourne City vs Brisbane Roar
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Saturday, 11 January (4:00pm KO AEST)
