Friday’s A-League 2016 Round 12 match is between Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers. The opening kick off is set to commence at 19:57 local time with the game to be played at Suncorp Stadium. The home team Brisbane Roar are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers.
Preview:
The Roar are unbeaten in their last nine and with all eyes mainly on Sydney FC and Melbourne City this season, the likes of Brisbane and the Victory have quietly climbed up the A-League ladder.
Roar have managed to get results, even when they haven’t performed particularly well and that’s a sign of a good team.
Brisbane sit now in equal second with Victory and are looking to chase down Sydney in top spot.
The Wanderers have been wildly inconsistent in recent weeks with a big win, big loss, high scoring draws and drama in virtually every match they play.
The incredible thing about their recent run is they’re actually playing some outstanding football but are finding ways to concede goals.
They threw away another 2-0 lead last week, this time against Wellington but despite the ongoing frustration, team morale is high and that’s not easy to maintain when things aren’t going your way.
KEY BATTLE: Jamie Maclaren v Brendon Santalab
While Maclaren was expected to be the number one front man for the Roar, Santa was tipped to make his usual deadly contributions as a super sub.
However, this season, Santalab has had to take centre stage as a regular starter and with five goals so far, he has proven to be Tony Popovic’s go-to man.
This’ll be an even battle and both will end up on the scoresheet.
The Verdict
I expect to see plenty of chances in this one and goals as well. Both are good going forward but at the same time have been vulnerable at the back.
Unibet Odds:
Brisbane $2.00
Draw $3.60
Western Sydney $3.80
Tip: Draw at $3.60
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer – M Arana at $11.00
Correct Score: Brisbane Roar 2-0 at $10.00
Teams:
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 3.Luke DEVERE, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 5.Corey BROWN, 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 11.Tommy OAR, 13.Jade NORTH, 15.ARANA, 17. Matt MCKAY (c), 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 24.Connor O’TOOLE, 26.Nick D’AGOSTINO, 28.Brandon BORRELLO.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 1.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 2.Shannon COLE, 3.Jack CLISBY, 5.Brendan HAMILL, 6.Mitch NICHOLS, 8.DIMAS (c), 10.Nicolás MARTÍNEZ, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 13.Bruno PIÑATARES, 14.Jumpei KUSUKAMI, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 16.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 17.Artiz BORDA, 18.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 20.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 22.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 23.Lachlan SCOTT.
Other Sports News:
Legal action opens ‘can of worms’: Gallen
Alex McKinnon’s lawsuit against the NRL and Jordan McLean over a tackle that left him paralysed will “open up a can of worms”, says Cronulla captain Paul Gallen.
He believes other players now fear similar legal action, News Corp reported on Tuesday.
McKinnon is preparing to launch legal proceedings against the NRL and Melbourne forward McLean over the 2014 tackle which left him wheelchair bound.
The 24-year-old former Newcastle second-rower’s career ended after a three-man tackle involving McLean, who was suspended for seven weeks.
Gallen told News Corp if someone was allowed to sue someone for getting injured on the field “it will open up a real can of worms”.
“It will be something players will be concerned about, for sure, especially if you are allowed to sue individuals,” Gallen said.
“I still think everyone will go into a tackle as hard and fierce as ever, to be honest with you.”
Gallen said the tackle incident was “just a dreadful, dreadful accident.”
Rugby League Players Association chief executive Ian Prendergast said McKinnon was entitled to pursue his legal rights and it was important to let that play out without pre-judging the outcome.
McKinnon received the maximum $500,000 compensation payout from the NRL, around $1.2 million through fundraising efforts and was paid out the final two years of his Knights contract, estimated to be around $500,000.
He was also guaranteed a job for life by the NRL and works with the club in recruitment and development.
However he estimated it will cost him $20 million to lead a normal existence for the rest of his life.
