Brisbane Roar aim to pick up three points when they take on Sydney FC in their 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League home opener at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
The two sides come into Friday’s match off the back of contrasting schedules with Ruben Zadkovich’s men having had the bye last weekend, while the Sky Blues suffered back-to-back defeats in their last two outings in a congested schedule that saw them travel to Japan and Auckland.
Roar also tasted defeat at the hands of league leading, Auckland on the opening day of the 2024/25 season.
Neicer Acosta, Rafael Struick, Walid Shour, Harry Van Der Saag, Ben Warland, Hosine Bility and Queensland youngster, Ivan Ozzi all played their first match for the club in last months Round One clash.
All of those players barring Neicer Acosta along with Queensland youngster Sam Klein are in the mix to play their first game for Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
WHAT WAS SAID
“We hope there’s a big turnout on Friday night, we hope our our crowd can get there and we want to get the job done for them because at the end of the day they’re the ones that pay our wages and we know how much of a privilege it is to be in our position, so we want to make sure we throw everything at it.” Ruben Zadkovich
“I think I’m just more excited than anything to be honest, it’s been however long, six, seven months since the last game at Suncorp and I just can’t wait.
These are the games you want to play, Friday night, hopefully get a good crowd, hopefully it’s nice and hot so the Sydney boys get a bit sweaty but yeah I’m just excited.” Macklin Freke
TEAM NEWS
Ruben Zadkovich’s side welcome back Corey Brown, Florin Berenguer and Quinn MacNicol, who return from suspension, injury and international duty respectively to be named in the extended squad.
Roar will be without Ecuadorian attacker, Neicer Acosta who suffered a knock in training this week.
Sydney FC will be without Douglas Costa, Joe Lolley and Corey Hollman who all sustained injuries on the sides travels last week.
Brisbane Roar Isuzu UTE A-League Men Squad: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 3. Corey BROWN, 4. Ben WARLAND, 6. Joe CALETTI, 7. Rafael STRUICK, 8. Walid SHOUR, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 15. Hosine BILITY, 16. Thomas WADDINGHAM, 17. Harry VAN DER SAAG, 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), 30. Quinn MACNICOL, 35. Louis ZABALA, 43. Adam ZIMARINO
Ins: 3, Corey BROWN, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 30. Quinn MACNICOL, 43. Adam ZIMARINO
Outs: 11. Neicer ACOSTA, 49. Ivan OZZI
Unavailable: 2. Scott NEVILLE (knee), 5. Marcus FERKRANUS (knee)
Sydney FC Isuzu UTE A-League Men Squad: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 5. Hayden MATTHEWS, 7. Adrian SEGECIC, 8. Anas OUAHIM, 9. Patryk KLIMALA, 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES, 13. Pat WOOD, 15. Leo SENA, 16. Joel KING, 17. Anthony CACERES, 19. Mitch GLASSON, 20. Tiago QUINTAL, 22. Max BURGESS, 23. Rhyan GRANT (C), 25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI, 28. Nathan AMANTIDIS, 33. Marin FRANCE, 37. Will KENNEDY, 41. Alex POPOVIC. (Two to be omitted)
Ins: 19. Mitch GLASSON (promoted), 20. Tiago QUINTAL (promoted), 22. Max BURGESS (return from suspension), 33. Marin FRANCE (promoted).
Outs: 6. Corey HOLLMAN (ankle), 10. Joe LOLLEY (groin).
Unavailable: 3. Aaron GURD (foot), 11. Douglas COSTA (hamstring).
CLASSIC CLASH
A Henry Hore brace along with an opportunistic finish from Nikola Mileusnic saw Roar run out 3-0 winners in an emphatic display against Sydney in their home opener at Suncorp Stadium last season.
The head-to-head between the two sides across 20 seasons of the A-League is all square with the pair having taken 19 wins apiece from their 58 previous meetings.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 58
Brisbane Roar wins: 19
Sydney FC wins: 19
Draws: 20
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 – Round 3: Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC
Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Friday, 1 November (6:35pm KO)
TICKETS
