A-LEAGUE ROUND 14
The Age
Friday November 6, 2009
MELBOURNE VICTORY V CENTRAL COAST MARINERSTomorrow, Etihad StadiumTV: 7pm, Fox Sports 2WHAT€™S AT STAKE: Melbourne can go top of the ladder with a win here,and also avenge its home loss to the Mariners on the fi rst day of theseason. Mariners need to win to stay in touch with top two.WHO ARE YOU: Matt Simon is tall, ungainly, awkward, physical andrelishes rought and tumble. That will be an identikit target man then.TEAM SHEET: Melbourne named a full squad and will cut it closer tokick-off time. Robbie Kruse and Evan Berger, who have been missingthrough injury, are on the list, as is Surat Sukha, who missed last week€™swin in Perth. Mariners bring back Dylan Macallister and Andrew Clark.VERDICT: Melbourne is in hot form and can exact revenge for lastAugust€™s 2-0 home loss.ADELAIDE UNITED V BRISBANE ROARTonight, Hindmarsh StadiumTV: 8pm, Fox Sports 2WHAT€™S AT STAKE: Both these teams need the points to keep theirseasons on track. A loss would leave Brisbane chasing for the remainderof the campaign, while the Reds need to show consistency.TEAM SHEET: Adelaide will be missing dangerous forward MathewLeckie but regains Daniel Mullen and Cassio. Brisbane gets Reinaldoback from injury and brings in defender Bob Malcolm.VERDICT: Adelaide might be able to grind out a narrow win.GOLD COAST UNITED V SYDNEY FCTomorrow, Skilled ParkTV: 9pm, Fox Sports 2WHAT€™S AT STAKE: Respect and credibility for Gold Coast. Sydney hasplenty of both, but wants the points to stay top of the table.TEAM SHEET: Teenager Golgol Mebrahtu has been left out by the GoldCoast, while Brazilian Milson is promoted. Sydney gets Stephan Kellerback from injury, but loses Kofi Danning and Rhyan Grant to juniorinternational duty.VERDICT: Sydney will do its host no favours, but might have to settle fora draw.WELLINGTON PHOENIX V PERTH GLORYSunday, Westpac StadiumTV: 3pm, Fox Sports 2WHAT€™S AT STAKE: Troubling times for the Glory, which has lost threeon the trot and now has the second-longest road trip in world sport.Phoenix will want to win ahead of the international break, if only to givetheir All Whites confi dence.TEAM SHEET: First-choice goalkeeper Mark Paston returns from injurywhile Diego is also off the treatment table for the Phoenix. Striker BrankoJelic is back from illness to bolster the Glory attack, while Scott Bullochis promoted by David Mitchell.VERDICT: Glory€™s woes might continue as the Phoenix look to get on aroll after their midweek win over the Jets.NEWCASTLE JETS V NORTH QUEENSLAND FURYSunday, EnergyAustralia StadiumTV: 5pm, Fox Sports 2WHAT€™S AT STAKE: Jets need to steady to get off the bottom of thetable, while Fury need the points to continue their renaissance.TEAM SHEET: Adam D€™Apuzzo is back for the Jets from injury as is FabioVignaroli and Sean Rooney. Fury retain the same squad that defeatedGold Coast last week.VERDICT: It€™s now or never for the Jets, who might get over the line.
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