Luis Garcia finally comes to Queensland as the Central Coast Mariners make their way to Brisbane after a run of promising results. The Spanish influence seems to have taken a hold of the team as a newfound confidences oozes through their play.
However, they come up against a Brisbane team that has found some long lost form, after dismantling Sydney FC down in the New South Wales Capital.
Key battle – Jamie Maclaren vs Jake McGing
Key to Brisbane’s resurgence was the fact that key striker Jamie Maclaren was back from Olyroos duty and inevitably back to his goal-scoring best. After dearth of goals during the absence of Brandon Borrello and Maclaren, Brisbane’s attack seemed to breathe life once again, as the youngsters combined with a reinvigorated Thomas Broich to put Sydney to the sword. Two goals for the young steriker as well as a perfectly worked set play goal for Matt Mckay meant the Brisbane attack looks back on track to continue their title challenge.
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For the Mariners it is a case of finally stopping the leaking. This entire season has been filled with situations where the porous Central Coast defence has let another lead slip due to the defence clocking off. While Jake McGing may have been at the heart of many of those collapses, he has also been at the heart since the team’s improvement. At only 21 this player has a bright future, and tough experiences such as this year will hold him in good stead.
However, this game will prove to be a big test as McGing comes up against one of the form strikers in the league in Maclaren. His positioning, pace and all round tenacity makes him a handful for any defender. McGing will have to have his wits about him, looking to hold off and not let the striker nip in between him and his fellow centre-back.
This will require a level of trust between the two as the defence looks to bounce of each other and make a solid combination across the back four. Further to this, the experienced impact of Garcia further up the filed will have a calming influence across the team, flowing through to the defence.
Team news
The only team news of note for any Mariners fan is that Luis Garcia is fit and firing. He has brought a new sense of belief to a team that looked destined to go out without a whimper. Mariners fans will be hoping that he starts, as his influence across games continues to grow.
For Brisbane, the team looks to be strengthening with each week. The Olyroos players are back, Michael Theo has lasted two games without and injury and Luke DeVere’s return to the starting line-up is imminent. His impact in the Brisbane defence cannot be underestimated as only last year he was playing for the Socceroos. As each week passes by, the depth within the Brisbane Roar team is leading people to believe that this team has the depth, at least in the majority of positions to win the league.
Brisbane Roar expected XI (4-3-3): Young, Hingert, Donachie, North, Brown, McKay, Petratos, Corona, Broich, Maclaren, Borrello
Central Coast expected XI (4-3-3): Izzo, Rose, McGing, Poscoliero, Roux, Ferreria, Neill, Rose, Austin, Garcia, Stella
Head-to-head
These two teams have come face to face 37 times, with the win ration sitting firmly in Brisbane’s corner, with the Queensland team having won on 23 occasions. Central Coast have only managed seven wins, the same as the amount of draws.
Previous meeting
The last meeting between these two teams went right to the wire with a wonder goal from Dimitri Petratos, curling into the top corner, the only difference. The 1-0 win to Brisbane was a helping hand for the club while the Mariners felt a sense of missed opportunities.
Prediction
While the Mariners will be keen to continue their little run of form, Brisbane will be too strong. An almost fully fit Roar, coupled with the fact that Maclaren has picked up right where he left off will mean Central Coast will have their backs against the wall from the beginning. An early goal to the Mariners may make the game interesting but Brisbane will be too strong in the end.
Brisbane Roar 3 Central Coast 1
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