Brisbane Roar are back at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, taking on Wellington Phoenix in Isuzu UTE A-League Men Round 15 action.
Roar start the weekend in ninth position on the A-League ladder with 17 points, four points adrift of the top six while Wellington are top of the table with 28 points to their name.
Ruben Zadkovich will take charge of the side for Friday’s match with Head Coach, Ben Cahn on medical leave.
WHAT WAS SAID
“We would all love to have success, I think success for us this season probably means being able to make the top six considering where we are now and what’s left of the season.
If I can help contribute to that success to the club’s aims for the rest of the season, that would be awesome.” Marco Rojas
“We’re still confident, this league is very tight and if you get on a roll and win a few games together, you get right back up there so hopefully we can start it this weekend.”
“We do have a plan, we’ve gone through it this week at training, we’ve worked hard. Hopefully we can implement it this weekend.” Henry Hore
TEAM NEWS
New signing, Marco Rojas is in line to make his Brisbane Roar debut while Jay O’Shea and Keegan Jelacic both return from suspension for Friday’s match.
The Phoenix will be without Captain, Alex Rufer and and Tim Payne who are both suspended while Sam Sutton misses Friday’s match with injury.
Fullback Matt Sheridan and midfielder Fergus Gillion come into the match day squad for Giancarlo Italiano’s side.
BRFC Squad: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 3. Corey BROWN, 5. Thomas ALDRED (C), 6. Joe CALETTI, 7. Florin BERENGUER, 8. Jonas MARKOVSKI, 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC, 12. Taras GOMULKA, 13. Henry HORE, 16. Thomas WADDINGHAM, 17. Carlo ARMIENTO, 19. Jack HINGERT, 20. Marco ROJAS, 21. Antonee BURKE-GILROY, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 26. Jay O’Shea, 27. Kai TREWIN, 29. Matt ACTON (GK), 32. James NIKOLOVSKI, 35. Louis ZABALA, 99 . Ayom MAJOK
INS: 20. Marco ROJAS, 23. Keegan JELACIC 26. Jay O’SHEA
OUTS: 22. Alex PARSONS
UNAVAILABLE: 2. Scott NEVILLE, 14. Rylan BROWNLIE
Wellington Phoenix squad: 3. Finn SURMAN, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin CONCHIE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Ben OLD, 9. Oskar ZAWADA, 10. David BALL, 11. Bozhidar KRAEV, 12. Mo AL-TAAY, 15. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 23. Luke SUPYK, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 26. Isaac HUGHES, 40. Alex PAULSEN (GK), 42. Fergus GILLION, 43. Matt SHERIDAN.
Unavailable: 14. Alex RUFER (c) (suspended), 6. Tim PAYNE (suspended), 19. Sam SUTTON (injured).
LAST TIME WE MET
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 47
Brisbane Roar wins: 21
Wellington Phoenix wins: 12
Draws: 14
KEY STATS Brought to you by Opta:
-Nikola Mileusnic (Brisbane Roar FC) has been directly involved in three goals in his last four A-League Men games at Suncorp Stadium (2 goals, 1 assist) and scored one goal in his most recent game against the Wellington Phoenix in the competition (November 2023).
-The Wellington Phoenix have conceded just nine fouls per game this A-League Men season, the joint- fewest of any team in the competition and their fewest in a season since Opta records began in 2012/13.
-Brisbane Roar FC have been caught offside 39 times throughout the 2023/24 A-League Men season, more than any other team in the competition and 10 more times than the Wellington Phoenix (29).
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2023/24 – Round 15: Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix
Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Friday, February 2 (6:45pm KO)
TICKETS
