Brisbane Roar go in search of a big three points in their pursuit of an Isuzu UTE A-League top six spot when they go up against Western United in Round 18 action at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Roar start the weekend in eighth position on the A-League ladder on 21 points, four shy of the competition’s top six with nine rounds left to play of the 2023/24 regular season.
Western United, who suffered a 2-1 defeat against Melbourne Victory on Tuesday night are bottom of the league with just eleven points to their name this season.
United are coached by former Roar boss, John Aloisi and their squad containing several ex-Roar players including James Donachie, Connor O’Toole, Riku Danzaki and Steven Lustica.
Jack Hingert is in line to make his 250th A-League appearance for Brisbane Roar on Friday night, only Matt Mckay (272) has made more top-flight appearances in orange.
WHAT WAS SAID
“We want to work towards bringing back those glory type of days and I know how difficult that is at the moment. It’s been a tricky period for Brisbane over the last few years but the only way is forward and it starts with small improvements and trying to get our environment right.” – Ruben Zadkovich
“I’ve always loved the club, when I first came the first probably four or five years that I was here was probably our most successful times at the club and then I’ve kind of always felt like I’m a part of this club, part of the furniture now but also I never wanted to go away.
I wanted to make sure that we got back to that early success that we had, hopefully while I’m still here.
It’s something that I would feel like if I left without getting back to that success then I’ve almost sort of failed in that sense so I want to do that hopefully while I’m still going.” – Jack Hingert
TEAM NEWS
There’s only one change to the Roar side that travelled west to face Perth Glory last weekend with Ayom Majok coming into the extended squad for Friday’s match.
Western United have been forced into a change in goals with Thomas Heward-Belle missing out with injury although Daniel Penha has been named in the travelling squad despite being forced off in Tuesday’s clash against Melbourne Victory.
Ben Garuccio, Josh Risdon, Sebastian Pasquali and Riku Danzaki all return to squad for Friday’s match while James Donachie is suspended.
FULL TEAM NEWS: Queensland X-Ray Injury Update
BRFC Squad: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 3. Corey BROWN, 5. Tom ALDRED (C), 6. Joe CALETTI, 7. Florin BERENGUER, 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 (Two to be omitted)
INS: 99. Ayom MAJOK
OUTS: N/A
UNAVAILABLE: 2. Scott NEVILLE
Western United squad: 6. Tomoki IMAI, 8. Lachie WALES, 9. Michael RUHS, 10. Steven LUSTICA, 11. Daniel PENHA, 13. Nikita RUKAVYTSYA, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Josh RISDON, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 29. Charbel SHAMOON, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matt SUTTON (gk), 37. Luke VICKERY, 38. Noah BOTIC, 39. Matthew GRIMALDI, 42. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 43. Khoder KADDOUR, 70. Michael VONJA (gk), 77. Riku DANZAKI
INS: 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Josh RISDON (returns from suspension), 21. Sebastian PASQUALI (returns from rest), 70. Michael VONJA (promoted), 77. Riku DANZAKI (returns from injury)
OUTS: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (injured), 34. James YORK (omitted), 36. Zach LISOLAJSKI (omitted)
UNAVAILABLE: 4. James DONACHIE (suspended), 7. Ramy NAJJARINE (injured), 24. Connor O’TOOLE (injured), 27. Jacob TRATT (injured), 41. Oliver LAVALE (injured)
LAST TIME WE MET
A Jay O’Shea penalty wasn’t enough for the Roar as a pair of late goals from Daniel Penha and Josh Risdon saw Western snatch all three points in a 2-1 win for the home side when the pair went head-to-head in the reverse fixture at AAMI Park in December.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 10
Brisbane Roar wins: 3
Western United wins: 6
Draws: 1
KEY STATS Brought to you by Opta
– Western United are winless in their last nine A-League Men matches outside Victoria (D2 L7), conceding 2.7 goals per game across that span; the last and only time they recorded a longer winless run outside their home state was a 10-match span from April 2021 to February 2022 (D3 L7).
– Jay O’Shea has created 60 scoring chances in the 2023/24 A-League Men season, the most of any player in the competition; he’s created 34 chances in 10 games against Western United FC but is yet to log an assist against them.
– Nikola Mileusnic scored his fifth goal of the 2023/24 A-League Men season in last weekend’s match against Perth Glory matching his best return in a single A-League campaign.
– A number of Brisbane Roar players are closing in on club milestones with Jack Hingert set to play his 250th A-League Men’s match for the club on Friday while Joe Caletti (48) is two from his 50th BRFC ALM appearance and Scott Neville (97) is three away from his 100th BRFC appearance.
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2023/24 – Round 18: Brisbane Roar v Western United
Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Friday, 23 February (6:45pm KO)
TICKETS
