Preview: Melbourne Vs. Brisbane

By: Marcus | August 14th, 2009

Date: Saturday August 15
Kick-off: 7:30pm AEST
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne

This match promises to be great as both Melbourne and Brisbane are coming off losses in the first round of the season, both teams will come out firing and do everything in there power to obtain all three points.
Melbourne lost captain Kevin Muscat in last weeks 2-0 loss to Central Coast, after he injured his hammy which will see him miss 4-6 weeks. Kemp will replace Kev in the centre of defence and it looks like Surat Sukha could get his first game for The Big V this weekend as he could take Kemp’s right back position. Muscat’s injury as seen Roddy Vargas appointed as the stand in captain, which in my opinion is a very wise move by Merrick as last season whenever Muscat missed a match last season, the team looked like there was no leadership at the back, which made the defence very weak. I believe that Vargas will take the opportunity by the scruff of the neck and marshal the team to the best of his abilities…hope so anyways.

Captain Vargas

Stats
Head-to-head:
12 Hyundai A-League meetings: Wins: Melbourne 7, Brisbane 4, Draws – 1

Previous meeting:
Melbourne Victory 2, Queensland Roar 1, Etihad Stadium, Round 17, January 2009

So far this season:
Melbourne Victory:
Round 1: Melbourne Victory 0, Central Coast Mariners 2, Etihad Stadium

Brisbane Roar:
Round 1: Brisbane Roar 1, Gold Coast United 3, Suncorp Stadium

Teams:

Melbourne Victory: 1.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk), 5.Surat SUHKA, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Matthew KEMP, 8.Grant BREBNER, 9.Danny ALLSOPP, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 11.NEY FABIANO, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS (c), 14.Billy CELESKI, 15.Tom PONDELJAK, 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 19.Evan BERGER, 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 22.Nick WARD
In: 5. Surat SUHKA (promoted)
Out: 2. Kevin MUSCAT (hamstring – 4-6 weeks)
Unavailable: Nil

Brisbane Roar: 1. Liam REDDY (gk), 3. Luke DEVERE, 4. Craig MOORE (c), 5. Josh McCLOUGHAN, 6. David DODD, 7. Michael ZULLO, 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Charlie MILLER, 12. Matt MUNDY, 13. HENRIQUE, 15. Matt McKAY, 16. Bob MALCOLM, 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 18. Danny TIATTO, 20. Griffin McMASTER (rgk), 24. Robbie KRUSE.
*one to be omitted

In: 6. David DODD (promoted), 12. Matt MUNDY (promoted)
Out: 2. Andrew PACKER (torn adductor 2-3 months)
Unavailable: Massimo Murdocca (fractured leg – 3-4 months)

Prediction
Melbourne 3-2
I think both teams will have heaps of chances but Melbourne will make the most of theirs. We will be boosted by the creativity of Ward and Celeski starting so we are a good chance. Brisbane are a very hard team to overcome and they will be hard to stop after last weeks lost to Gold Rush United, but Melbourne will do it for there supporters.

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In brief other news former Melbourne legend Michael Theoklitos has got a horrific start for his new club Norwich, as the Canneries conceded 4 goals in the first 20 minutes and ended the match getting belted 7-1…there heaviest ever home defeat in there 107 year history. Poor Theo no keeper would want to have that achievement next to his name. In the next match Theo was benched and the Canneries won 4-0, better luck for your next match Theo, show them what your really made of.
And IN BREAKING NEWS: Tom Pondeljak has signed for Benfica! No really it happened it was on there website…
If you missed it some hackers had hacked the Benfica official page and announced the signing of the 33 year old grand final winner, it was a joke but still very funny.