Brisbane Roar are up against Adelaide United in Isuzu UTE A-League Round 22 action at Coopers Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Ruben Zadkovich’s side look to build on a strong showing in their last outing where they were denied all three points by a 97th Kasey Bos strike in a 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory.
Henry Hore bagged his third goal of the season and first back at Suncorp Stadium since returning from his loan spell in Korea to put Roar ahead after 20 minutes before his side were left to rue several missed opportunities and a number of key saves from Victory, goalkeeper Mitch Langerak which allowed the visitors to snatch a share of the spoils in Saturday’s match.
Matt Acton put in a strong shift between the sticks in his first appearance of the season while Austin Ludwik, Asumah Abubakar, Nathan Amanatidis and Pearson Kasawaya all played their first home games for the club at Suncorp Stadium.
Adelaide United also experienced some late drama in their last outing – a rollercoaster 4-4 draw with league leaders Auckland at Go Media Stadium where the hosts took a 92nd minute lead through Hiroki Sakai before Bart Vriends equalised in the 98th minute to make sure his side went home with a point.
Despite sitting third on the A-League ladder, Carl Veart’s side who are home to former Roar midfielders, Stefan Mauk and Jay Barnett have one just one of their last five games.
Saturday’s match at Coopers Stadium kicks off at 4pm AEST and will be broadcast live on Paramount +, 10 Bold & 10 Play.
WHAT WAS SAID
“Over the last five weeks we’ve had some really positive performances and again on the weekend, we’ve done everything but win that game and as disappointing as it is for us, especially for our fans and members the performance was super positive and if we can build on that and take that momentum into the Adelaide game then we stand a really good chance of taking the three points.” – Ruben Zadkovich
“Adelaide have been one of the best teams this season, I think everyone in the league knows that. The way they’ve play in playing has been really effective for them, so hopefully we can go over there take the three points and hopefully I can contribute to that.” – Lucas Herrington
TEAM NEWS
Lucas Herrington is back in the matchday squad after returning from international duty where he was part of the Young Socceroos side that won the AFC U20 Asian Cup in China and qualified for the FIFA U20 World Cup for the first time in 13 years.
There’s also a potential Isuzu UTE A-League debut on the cards for another exciting young Queenslander, James Durrington in Saturday’s match.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder who played his junior football for Gold Coast United is a key contributor for Young Roar, netting four goals throughout the 2024 NPL Queensland campaign before making his first team debut in Roar’s pre-season tour of India.
Adelaide United also welcome back a trio of Young Socceroos with Luka Jovanović, Jonny Yull, and Panagiotis Kikianis all returning to Carl Veart’s squad.
FULL TEAM NEWS: Queensland X-Ray Injury Update
Brisbane Roar Squad: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 6. Austin LUDWIK, 7. Rafael STRUICK, 11. Asumah ABUBAKAR, 12.Lucas HERRINGTON, 13. Henry HORE, 14. Pearson KASAWAYA, 15. Hosine BIILITY, 17. Nathan AMANATIDIS, 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, 47. James DURRINGTON
Ins: 12. Lucas HERRINGTON (returns from international duty), 47. James DURRINGTON (promoted)
Outs: 7. Florin BERENGUER
Unavailable: 3. Corey BROWN (injured), 4. Ben WARLAND (injured), 8. Walid SHOUR
Adelaide United Squad: 1.James DELIANOV, 3.Bart VRIENDS, 4.Jordan ELSEY, 6.Stefan MAUK, 7.Ryan KITTO, 9.Luka JOVANOVIĆ, 10.Zach CLOUGH, 12.Jonny YULL, 14.Jay BARNETT, 17.Ben FOLAMI, 19.Yaya DUKULY, 20.Dylan PIERIAS, 26.Archie GOODWIN, 40.Ethan COX, 42.Austin AYOUBI, 44.Ryan WHITE, 51.Panagiotis KIKIANIS, 55.Ethan ALAGICH, 58.Harry CRAWFORD, 74.Amlani TATU
In: 9.Luka JOVANOVIĆ (Returns from International Duty), 12.Jonny YULL (Returns from International Duty), 51.Panagiotis KIKIANIS (Returns from International Duty)
Out: 23.Luke DUZEL (Omitted), 27.Josh CAVALLO (Omitted), 52.Sotiri PHILLIS (Omitted)
Unavailable: 8.Isaías (hamstring), 21.Javi LÓPEZ (Calf), 36.Panashe MADANHA (hamstring), 54.Bailey O’NEIL (Individual training)
LAST TIME WE MET
Despite leading twice through goals from Keegan Jelacic and Jay O’Shea a second half fightback from Adelaide saw the Reds take all three points in a 3-2 victory with strikes from Stefan Mauk, Zac Clough and Archie Goodwin when the two club’s went head-to-head at Allianz Stadium in Unite Round.
The last time the sides met at Coopers Stadium a pair of goals in the first ten minutes of the second half from Jez Lofthouse & Jay O’Shea sealed a 2-0 win for Roar in Round 7 of the 2023/24 A-League campaign.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 59
Brisbane Roar wins: 20
Adelaide United wins: 28
Draws: 11
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 – Round 22: Adelaide United v Brisbane Roar
Coopers Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday, 8 March (4:00pm AEST KO)
