Brisbane Roar are up against Wellington Phoenix in their final home game of the 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League season at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Roar look to continue their positive run of form in Saturday’s Round 28 clash having beaten Western United and drawn with Adelaide in their last two games.
Asumah Abubakar again showcased his class in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Adelaide, finding the back of the net with a strike from range for what was his fourth goal in nine games.
The Phoenix, who sit eleventh on the league table head into Saturday’s match at Suncorp Stadium having lost their last outing 3-2 at Coopers Stadium against Adelaide.
While finals are now out of the equation for both sides, Saturday’s match will have some bearing on the make up of the Australia Cup plays offs set to take place in Darwin in May.
The Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Final Rounds Playoffs feature the four clubs that finish 10th to 13th in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 regular Season with 10th playing 13th and 11th facing 12th.
Roar’s last home game of the 2024/25 campaign kicks off at 3pm at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. Get your tickets HERE
WHAT WAS SAID
“I think the group’s really together at the moment, the coaching staff, the players, we’re all fighting, all pushing in one direction.
I think the performances have been very positive in the second half of the season and whilst we’ve had little blips with results here and there we also had some really strong results.
I think our goal is to finish the season as strong as possible and I think we’re all very confident in there that we can finish the season strongly.” – Sam Klein
TEAM NEWS
Ruben Zadkovich has named an unchanged squad for Saturday’s match against Wellington Phoenix at Suncorp Stadium.
Henry Hore is in the mix for further action after returning from a groin issue as a second half substitute to play 25 minutes in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with the Reds.
Matt Acton, who was started between the sticks in Roar’s last eight games is in line to play his 50th A-League match in Saturday’s match against the Phoenix.
Phoenix midfielder Paulo Retre has been name in Giancarlo Italiano’s squad and is set to return from a hamstring injury in Saturday’s match.
Brisbane Roar Squad: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 6.Austin LUDWIK, 8. Walid SHOUR, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 11. Asumah ABUBAKAR, 12.Lucas HERRINGTON, 13. Henry HORE, 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 (two to be omitted)
Ins: N/A
Outs: N/A
Unavailable: 3. Corey BROWN (injured), 4. Ben WARLAND (injured)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 35. Dublin BOON (gk), 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER, 46. Lachlan CANDY (two to be omitted)
Ins: 8. Paulo RETRE (returning from injury)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 12. Chico GERALDES (injured), 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk) (injured)
LAST TIME WE MET
Roar and Phoenix were forced to settle for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw after trading second half goals through Isaac Hughes and Henry Hore in the reverse fixture at Sky Stadium in February.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 50
Brisbane Roar wins: 21
Wellington Phoenix wins: 13
Draws: 16
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 – Round 28: Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix
Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Saturday, 26 April (3:00pm AEST KO)
TICKETS
