A-League – Match Preview – Wellington Phoenix vs Brisbane Roar

A-League – Match Preview – Wellington Phoenix vs Brisbane Roar

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The 25th meeting between the Wellington Phoenix and the Brisbane Roar will see the Phoenix play host to this season’s fast starters at Westpac Stadium on Saturday. 

The Roar come into this match as the only team to have won both of its opening two matches home and away, while the Nix suffered a surprise defeat to the Newcastle Jets at home on matchday one. But, after again going a goal down in the first half against Perth Glory last week, they recovered to win 2-1 away at nib Stadium.

Despite needing a last-gasp winner from Vince Lia to clinch a dramatic victory against Glory, the Phoenix cause was made easier as for the second consecutive week, an opposing captain was sent off. This time it was Perth skipper Richard Garcia.

The Roar enjoyed a comfortable home victory over the Central Coast Mariners in their previous fixture, with promising youngster Brandon Borrello scoring both goals in either half of a pulsating match at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. The 2-1 scoreline and victory mirrored the Phoenix result a few hours later and sees the Brisbane side two points clear at the top of the A-League.

The Phoenix will be keen to end the Roar’s perfect record so far and will be looking to put together a winning run of their own.

Key Battle – Corona vs Roly Bonevacia

You can bet that the outcome of this match will largely be decided in the midfield, and more specifically, the clash of two classy international centre-midfielders that will battle it out in the middle of the park. Both players are technically gifted and capable of sumptuous touches.

Both are vital to their team’s success in this A League season. Corona is a vastly experienced 34-year-old Spanish player, with over 300 appearances for Liga BBVA and Liga Adelante side Almeria.

At just 24, having played sparingly in the Eredivisie in the Netherlands, Roly Bonevacia is 10 years younger than his Spanish counterpart and can look at his opposing midfielder’s long career in Europe as something to aspire to.

Having made his mark last year at the Phoenix, Bonevacia has the opportunity this season to truly stake a claim as one of the A-League’s best, and his midfield battle with Corona will be a crucial test of his mettle.

Team News 

Each side has a key player absent with leg injuries. Phoenix captain Andrew Durante remains sidelined due to a calf injury, while Roar number one Michael Theo is out with a quad strain.

With no further injuries in their victory over the Glory, Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick should deploy the same side that started that game to face the Roar at home.

Wellington Phoenix Expected XI (4-3-3): Moss (GK); Doyle, Muscat, Sigmund [c], Fenton; Riera, Bonevacia, Lia; McGlinchey, Krishna, Sarpong.

Without Theo in goal this weekend, backup custodian Jamie Young will step into a strong Roar side that should look similar to the one that comfortably defeated the Mariners at home.

Brisbane Roar Expected XI (4-3-3): Young (GK); Brown, North, Bowles, Hingert; Corona, McKay [c], Lustica; Broich, Borrello, Maclaren.

Head-to-Head

History is on the side of the Brisbane Roar for this fixture. With 24 games played between the two sides, the Roar have won 15 and lost only four, with the spoils shared five times.

Previous Meeting

One of the Phoenix’s four total wins in this fixture was the two clubs’ latest contest, and it was the first time the Nix had won an away match against this opposition, snapping their Suncorp Stadium hoodoo at the 12th attempt.

It was a bizarre and unprecedented first win for the Nix however, as referee Allan Milliner deemed the highly waterlogged pitch unsafe for the players to continue and with the Phoenix leading 2-1, the full-time whistle was blown. The Nix got the win as FIFA rules specify that there is no replay after 70 minutes of a match have been played.

Prediction

This match should be a tight affair, but in-form Brisbane have traditionally been the better side in past 90 minute matches between the two teams, both home and away, so expect them to make it three wins from three.

Wellington Phoenix 1 Brisbane Roar 2 

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