The Clash
Melbourne City FC will be looking to pile the pressure on the second-placed Newcastle Jets when they face Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday night.
Warren Joyce’s side are undefeated in five fixtures, their latest result a 2-2 draw against the Jets at AAMI Park last Thursday night.
City were forced to come from behind on two occasions, as Daniel Arzani notched his first goal for the Club from the penalty spot before Dario Vidosic salvaged a draw with a late equaliser.
It won’t be easy for the travelling squad, who play a Brisbane side that has won two games on the trot following a string of three consecutive losses.
Despite winning five games this season, John Aloisi’s sides recent form which has seen them defeat both Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners which suggests they will be full of confidence and eager to take on a City side looking to secure their position in the top four.
The Roar will be desperate to stop City’s dangerous attack, which has netted seven goals in two games.
With both side’s looking to extend their unbeaten runs, there is no doubt that Sunday night’s clash will be full of entertainment.
Team News
Bart Schenkeveld returns to the squad for this week’s clash. See our full team news.
Last time they met
City travelled to Suncorp Stadium in Round 7, where they suffered a 3-1 loss to Brisbane.
Avraam Papadopoulos opened the scoring for the home side inside five minutes, before Eric Beautheac doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Stefan Mauk pegged one back for City, before Papadopoulos secured his brace and all three points for the Roar.
What was said
Head Coach Warren Joyce
“It’s another tough challenge for us. We know that Brisbane are a good side so we just have to make sure we are right on it. Every game is a big game between now and the end of the season and we’re looking forward to the challenge Brisbane brings for us.
“Our performances have been good for a while. You want that consistency, if you have it day in, day out, you end up getting the wins and points at the end of the day. That’s what you’re looking to get in training, you see those things on a daily basis and we have to keep carrying that into the games.” See his comments in full.
Brisbane forward Brett Holman
“It’s almost finals football for us already. Every game is so important for us now otherwise we could fall too far behind,”
“We knew we had to bounce back straight away and we did. It’s up to us to now keep this form going and beat more sides.
“Everybody is back, we’re in with a good shot [of playing finals] and there’s nothing to hold us back.”
Where and when
City face Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, kick-off 7:00pm (AEDT), before returning to AAMI Park to host Sydney FC next Saturday night.
The match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 501.
