A motivated Brisbane Roar return to Suncorp Stadium this Tuesday night for a mouthwatering clash against an in-form Melbourne Victory.
The mid-week match will be another challenge for the Roar who are facing a top-four side for the fourth time in their five games, but goalkeeper Jamie Young says the squad are relishing their chance to test themselves against the league’s top sides.
“It is a challenge and an opportunity to play against Melbourne Victory,” Young said on Monday morning.
“We want to be up there [up the ladder] as well. Our first half performance against Perth [in Round 11] is a great template and an example of what we can produce.”
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A number of former Roar players could return to Suncorp Stadium tomorrow night in a fixture that has produced a number of memorable encounters over the years, but Young says the home side are remaining focused on the task at hand.
“In the past there’s been good rivalries between us and the Victory,” Young added.
“At the end of the day we are playing the Melbourne Victory and we want to win a game of football.”
It was a frantic six-goal first-half shootout when these sides last faced each other at Suncorp Stadium back in Round 8.
In recent weeks the Roar have shown they can match it with the league’s best, and are hoping a strong 90-minute performance will bring a positive result with it.
Match Day Guide: Roar vs Victory
Young has shown in recent weeks why he is one of the Hyundai A-League’s finest, and the defending Goalkeeper of the Year, making a number of critical and impressive saves.
“Any footballer wants games and obviously the results haven’t been there, but I’ve enjoyed the challenge regardless,” Young stated.
“Goalkeeper is quite individualistic in that sense in protecting the goal and hopefully that leadership challenge can transfer to positive results.”
Roar’s number 21 is also hoping a passionate Brisbane crowd at Suncorp Stadium is just the recipe to spur the side to a maiden win of 2019.
“I think Suncorp Stadium has that real feel to it where we can use our home and the humidity to build momentum and get the result,” Young concluded.
“We can get the crowd behind us, get some momentum and get the result.”
The final word from our Head Coach & Goalkeeper
MATCH DETAILS
Hyundai A-League 2018/19 – Round 15: Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Tuesday, 15 January
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Brendan WHITE (gk), 2.Dane INGHAM, 3.Luke DEVERE, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 9.Adam TAGGART, 11.Eric BAUTHEAC, 14.Alex LOPEZ, 15.Stefan NIGRO, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 18.Joe CALETTI, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 24.Connor O’TOOLE, 26.Nick D’AGOSTINO, 33.HENRIQUE, 34.Aaron REARDON **two to be omitted**
Ins: 4.Daniel BOWLES (returns from suspension), 18.Joe CALETTI (promoted), 34.Aaron REARDON (promoted)
Outs: 19.Jack HINGERT (ankle)
Unavailable: 6.Avram PAPADOPOULOS (glute),10.Brett HOLMAN (knee), 13.Stefan MAUK (groin)
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matt ACTON (GK), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Corey BROWN, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Kenny ATHIU, 8.Terry ANTONIS, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.James TROISI, 11.Ola TOIVONEN, 13.Birkan KIRDAR, 14.Tommy DENG, 15.Raul BAENA, 16.Josh HOPE, 19.Rahmat AKBARI, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (GK), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 24.Elvis KAMSOBA, 25.Anthony LESIOTIS **two to be omitted**
Ins: 13.Birkan KIRDAR (promoted), 19. Rahmat AKBARI (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Jai INGHAM (quad – TBC), Keisuke HONDA (Hamstring – 4 weeks), Nick ANSELL (Hamstring – TBC), Georg NIEDERMEIER (Calf – TBC)
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro
Assistant Referee 1: Nathan MacDonald
Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Lindsay
Fourth Official: Alex King
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones
