A-LEAGUE PREVIEW ROUND SEVEN
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday September 18, 2009
Adelaide United v Melbourne VictoryTonight 8pm, Hindmarsh Stadium, AdelaideSebastian Hassett's preview: Kevin Muscat has been absent for all but the opening match of this season but, if there's one thing to ignite the skipper, it's the sight of an Adelaide United jumper. Muscat loves taking the Reds down a peg and has committed to overcoming a hamstring injury in time for this match. But his inclusion is not so much a luxury as a necessity with Melbourne languishing in eighth, having won just once all year and looking a shadow of last year's team. The Reds themselves have two cheap wins but they'll fancy their chances of extending Melbourne's misery. Robert Cornthwaite is a welcome inclusion while Kristian Sarkies will replace the injured Paul Reid.Referee: Strebre DelovskiTV: Live on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports HDHead to head: Adelaide 5, Melbourne 10, drawn 3Betting: United $2.35, Victory $2.80, draw $3.30Central Coast Mariners v Gold Coast UnitedSaturday 7.30pm, Bluetongue Stadium, Central CoastSebastian Hassett€™s preview: Talk about a clash ofstyles. This match pits Lawrie McKinna€™s unfanciedbattlers against MironBleiberg€™s ball-playing artisans,with the ideological battle perhaps shadowing the threepoints. If the Mariners can grind down Gold Coast, usinga mix of physicality and hunger, it will be seen as theblueprint for the newcomers€™ demise. Conversely, if GoldCoast can slice open the host€™s back four, pressure willbe heaped on Central Coast€™s methods. MatthewOsmanreplaces Daniel Piorkowski for United, while Chris Doigand Michael McGlinchey should add steel and classrespectively to the home side. Central Coast need tostart racking up the points at home and snatchingsomething herewould add some respectability.Referee: MatthewBreezeTV: Live on Fox Sports 3Betting: Mariners $3.20, United $2.10, draw$3.35Wellington Phoenix v North Queensland FurySunday 1pm,Westpac Stadium,WellingtonSebastian Hassett€™s preview:After performing a miraclefor his followers in Sydney, god heads to god€™s owncountry with the promise of spreading theword aboutNorth Queensland Fury.Robbie Fowler€™s sixgames haveyielded four goals, three of which have been judged goalof theweek, and it will take sometop-shelf defending tokeep him quiet. If theWellington defenders, led by skipperAndrewDurante, can get on top, then it should open upopportunities for the likes of Paul Ifill and Chris Greenacre.The Phoenix will need to keep an eye on Ufuk Talay aswell, with the former Galatasaray midfielder in superbform. Still, Ricki Herbert€™s side will knowthe importanceof winning at home and will be primed to take the points.Referee: PeterGreenTV: Live on Fox Sports 1Betting: Phoenix $1.93, Fury $3.75, draw$3.35Sydney FC v Newcastle JetsSunday 3pm, Sydney Football StadiumSebastian Hassett€™s preview: Sydney burst out of theblocks last year before suffering a crisis of confidencethat ultimately shattered their season €“ could 2009 bea case of deja vu? Surely not, but Sydneywere listlessagainst North Queensland Fury lastweek and devoid ofinspiration. Thankfully for coachVitezslav Lavicka,Sydney face a side that offered even less in theirhumiliation against BrisbaneRoar. The Jets reverted tolast year€™s form by rolling over at home.Both teams havelost key players to theYoung Socceroos but the SkyBlues have superior depth and should be in a winningposition at somepoint on Sunday.Whether they canclose the deal is another matter.Referee: BenWilliamsTV: Live on Fox Sports 1Head to head: Sydney 7, Newcastle 2, drawn 5Betting: Sydney $1.75, Jets $4.55, draw$3.40Brisbane Roar v Perth GlorySunday 5pm, Suncorp Stadium, BrisbaneSebastian Hassett€™s preview: In form and breathing downthe neck of the top two, fewcould argue that theRoarwere back to their best in dismantlingNewcastle lastweek. Itwas the type of performance that madeworriedpundits breathe a sigh of relief for Queensland€™s originalA-League presence. Injuries to MattMcKay and MassimoMurdocca make for ongoingworries but itwon€™t be sucha concern if Charlie Miller and Mitch Nichols can providethe type of cover they supplied lastweek. Perthdominated at homelastweek over GoldCoast United butcouldn€™t scoop a reward as questions about the Glory€™sfitness continued to bubble.Afull-blooded, 90-minuteeffortwould silence the critics for now.Referee: Chris BeathTV: Live on Fox Sports 1Head to head: Brisbane 9, Perth 1, drawn 2Betting: Roar $1.78, Glory $4.50, draw$3.35
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald