After a long off-season, the Hyundai A-League has finally returned and Brisbane Roar begins its title defence with a blockbuster home hit-out against Adelaide United on Sunday afternoon.
The Roar will aim to hit the ground running and avenge their 2-0 Westfield FFA Cup loss away to Adelaide in September which knocked them out in the Round of 16.
Regulars Matt McKay, Matt Smith and Shane Stefanutto were missing from that match due to injury and illness but all are fit and ready for Sunday’s season opener.
Having taken home the Championship last season, Head Coach Mike Mulvey says that the ambition and desire to win is as strong as ever.
“There’s been some challenges and we’ve lost some personnel, but now we’re getting that feeling that game day is coming and players change when game day comes around,” he said.
“We’re not a one trick pony, we’ve got quality all across the park and it’s about stepping up and doing the job on Sunday.”
Sunday’s match will showcase some of Brisbane’s latest recruits with Mensur Kurtishi, Adam Sarota, Jamie Young and Daniel Bowles named in the extended squad.
It will be a great introduction to the Hyundai A-League for Albanian striker Kurtishi who will hope to please the home fans with a debut goal or two.
Kurtishi has provided fans with a taste of his goal-scoring capabilities with many pre-season strikes including five goals against local side Olympic FC and a hat-trick against Northern Fury.
Head Coach Mike Mulvey says Kurtishi is going to be a man for the occasion.
“He’s got to know the boys, he’s gelled really well and I think he’s starting to find his feet now,” he said.
“He’s got ability which we’ve all seen at training and people have seen glimpses of it in preseason.”
With veteran keeper Michael Theo out injured with a broken wrist, new keeper Jamie Young is expected to fill the void between the posts.
Youngsters Corey Brown (rib) and George Lambadaridis (knee) will also be missing for Brisbane due to injury.
Adelaide will be missing speedy young gun Awer Mabil who is away with the Young Socceroos and defensive utility Osama Malik who is out with a calf injury.
Sunday, 12 October 2014
Brisbane Roar FC v Adelaide United
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 4:00pm local (5:00pm AEDT)
Referee: Ben Williams
TV Broadcast: 4.00pm local (5.00pm AEDT) Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX SPORTS 1HD & 1 and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 612 ABC Brisbane, Local Radio QLD,891 ABC Adelaide, Local Radio SA, Grandstand Digital, Online/A-League Live Mobile phone app
To purchase tickets, vist Ticketek.
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 2.Matt SMITH (c), 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 4.Adam SAROTA, 7.Mensur KURTISHI, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 10 HENRIQUE, 11.Liam MILLER, 12.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Daniel BOWLES, 15.James DONACHIE, 17.Matt McKAY, 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (GK), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 30.Matthew ACTON (GK) *two to be omitted*
Unavailable: 1.Michael THEO (wrist – 2 months), 5.Corey BROWN (rib – 1 week), 6. George LAMBADARIDIS (knee – 1 week)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (c) (GK), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 6.CÁSSIO, 7.PABLO SÁNCHEZ, 8.ISAÍAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce DJITE, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 24.Bruce KAMAU, 30.John HALL (GK), 32.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS *one to be omitted*
Unavailable: Mark OCHIENG (international duty), Ben WARLAND (international duty), Awer MABIL (international duty), Paul IZZO (international duty), Cameron WATSON (toe – 3-4 weeks), Osama MALIK (calf – 2 weeks), Jordan ELSEY (wrist – 6 weeks)
