Perth Glory travel to the Sunshine State to take on a Brisbane Roar side high on confidence and hot on the trail of Western Sydney at the top of the A-League.
Key Battle – Jack Hingert vs Diego Castro
Brisbane’s right-back has been one of the club’s standout performers this season, finally asserting himself in the defence and staying injury-free. The 25-year-old has managed to out-perform Jerome Polenz for the position, leaving the German out of a favour and on the outskirts of the club. Jack Hingert has created a solid foundation with fellow defenders Daniel Bowles and Jade North, making a back line that has helped the club to second on the A-League ladder.
Last week, Hingert managed to keep Harry Novillo, the flying Melbourne City winger, in check. By doing so, he contained one of the most in-form and dangerous attackers in the league and proved many doubters wrong. This week, he will be tasked with stopping Diego Castro, Perth Glory’s most dangerous player. Castro currently has four goals for the season, two more than the next best at the Glory.
The battle between these two players may prove to be the difference in the game, as Hingert’s tendency to push high up the field may either push Castro back, nullifying his attacking prowess, or go the other way and leave a hole in the defence for the Spaniard to exploit. Should Hingert win this battle and outplay yet another opposition forward, then people will continue to take note all the more seriously, with a bright future ahead should he continue to head on an upwards and injury-free trajectory.
Team News
Former Brisbane Roar player Diogo Ferreira went off injured during the Glory’s 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory last weekend, leaving him in doubt for this fixture. Kenny Lowe is back to full fitness after being struck by illness before last week’s game, meaning that Perth’s manager will be back in fine form on the sidelines.
For Brisbane this will be one of the final games before Daniel Bowles, Jamie Maclaren and Corey Brown all leave on Olyroos duty, leaving the Roar with quite a hole to fill. However, they do not have to worry about this issue for the Glory clash, instead injured players are slowing regaining match fitness. Michael Theo is almost ready to return to the first team, making a selection issue for coach John Aloisi as Jamie Young has improved dramatically this season.
Steven Lustica will also be back for the Roar, but may find himself on the bench again as Dimitri Petratos has taken his game to a new level after scoring the winner against the Central Coast Mariners.
Head-to-Head
In the 32 games these two teams have contested, Brisbane have won 18 to the Glory’s six. The 2012 grand final still stands as one of the most controversial games between these two teams thanks to the late penalty awarded to Besart Berisha.
Previous Meeting
The last game between these two teams was a 1-0 win to Brisbane thanks to a goal from Henrique, a player hitting goalscoring form after returning from a devastating injury.
Prediction
The Glory have hit form recently, managing draws against league leaders Western Sydney and champions Melbourne Victory. Their ability to hold out a team with their deep-lying defence means that Brisbane will need an early goal in order to open up the game. However this should not be a problem for a Roar team high on confidence and only one win away from the top of the ladder.
Brisbane Roar 3 Perth Glory 1
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