United scored a late winner through a header from Dino Djulbic to overcome Melbourne Victory in their elimination final last weekend.

The 28-year-old defender was pleased the work put in at set pieces in the lead up to the game paid off.

But the Reds away from home will be another tough proposition for Miron Bleiberg’s team, who have lost midfield dynamo Jason Culina from their playing list for next season.

The Reds struggled to overcome Phoenix in tough conditions but managed to find a classy winner scored by captain Travis Dodd.

Midfielder Paul Reid returns to the line-up after a tumultuous omission from the clash with Phoenix.

If the Reds can find their cohesion in the attacking third with Marcos Flores, Sergio van Dijk, Dodd and possibly Mathew Leckie, they will be difficult to hold off.

The winner progresses to an away preliminary final against the loser of Roar and the Mariners, who play their second leg on Saturday night.

Roar scored a 2-0 win at Bluetongue Stadium in the first leg, giving them a huge advantage going into the second game at home.

The Mariners were far from embarrassed, hitting the woodwork on three separate occasions in the loss.

But Roar, now unbeaten in 26, hold a huge advantage when it comes to their head-to-head record against the Mariners with Central Coast beating them only three times in 21 meetings.

Concentration lapses against Roar prove very costly and a clean sheet is a must if the Mariners are to go straight into the grand final.

Striker Adam Kwasnik said there was belief the visitors could get a result up north, but it will surely take something special.

 

Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners
Major Semi-Final (2nd Leg)
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Local kick-off: 7.00pm (8.00pm AEDT)
Referee:Peter Green
Assistant referee:Denis Silk and Luke Brennan
Fourth official:Jarred Gillett

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 2, FS2 HD and Sky Sports 3 (NZ). Hyundai A-League partner is 4BC 1116 and 96.3 Coast FM (Gosford). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

Brisbane Roar:1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matt SMITH, 4. Shane STEFANUTTO, 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 9. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 10. HENRIQUE, 12. Matt MUNDY, 14. Rocky VISCONTE, 15. Matt McKAY (c), 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 20. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Milan SUSAK
In:Nil
Out:Nil
Unavailable:James MEYER (toe injury 4-6 weeks)

Central Coast Mariners: 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 2. Daniel McBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 17. Chris DOIG, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 22. Mustafa AMINI, 23. Adam KWASNIK. 24. Bernie IBINI ISEI, 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk). *three to be omitted*
In: Matthew LEWIS, Trent SAINSBURY, Bernie IBINI ISEI (all promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Jess VANSTRATTAN (knee – season), Brad PORTER (knee – 4 weeks), Nik MRDJA (knee – 4 weeks),  Michael BAIRD (knee – 2 weeks)

Head-to-Head:All matches (played 21): Central Coast Mariners wins 3, Brisbane Roar wins 11 (7 draws)

  • This match sees the Hyundai A-League’s two most successful coaches – in terms of win/loss ratios – come up against each other again, GRAHAM ARNOLD (Mariners) v ANGE POSTECOGLOU (Roar). 

Coaches With Highest Win/Loss Ratios(at least 20 matches coached) as at 21 February 2011
2.67 – Graham Arnold (Central Coast Mariners 2010/11) – 31 matches 16 wins/6 losses (9 draws)
2.40 – Ange Postecoglou (Brisbane Roar 2009/10-2010/11) – 48 matches 24 wins/10 losses (14 draws)
2.40 – Pierre Littbarski (Sydney FC 2005/06) – 24 matches 12 wins/5 losses (7 draws)
1.60 – Rini Coolen (Adelaide United 2010/11) – 31 matches 16 wins/10 losses (5 draws)
1.50 – Ernie Merrick (Melbourne Victory 2005/06-2010/11) – 151 matches 70 wins/44 losses (37 draws)

  • A win by Ange Postecoglou’s Brisbane Roar this weekend would put Postecoglou on top of the coaches win/loss ratio ladder and set him up to coach his 50th Hyundai A-League match in the 2011 Grand Final.
  • Leading into this match, both main goalkeepers MICHAEL THEOKLITOS (Brisbane Roar) and MATTHEW RYAN (Central Coast Mariners) are tied up at 12 CLEAN SHEETS each for the season, which stands as a Hyundai A-League record for most clean sheets for a season. Joining Theoklitos and Ryan is Glen Moss (Gold Coast United) who kept his 12th clean sheet for the season last weekend. A clean sheet is attained when a goalkeeper plays a whole match without conceding a goal.
     

Adelaide United v Gold Coast United
Elimination Final
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Local kick-off: 5.00pm (5.30pm AEDT)
Referee:Chris Beath
Assistant referee:Brad Hobson and Nathan Macdonald
Fourth official:Ryan Shepheard

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 3, FS3 HD and Sky Sports 2 (NZ). Hyundai A-League partner is ABC Digital Adelaide. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

Adelaide United:1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 8.Adam HUGHES, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Marcos FLORES, 11.Andy SLORY, 12.Paul REID, 13.Travis DODD (c), 14.Cameron WATSON, 16.Dario BODRUSIC, 17.Iain RAMSAY, 19.Mathew LECKIE, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 21.Francisco USUCAR, 22.Osama MALIK *two to be omitted*
In:Paul REID (promoted), Osama MALIK (promoted)
Out:Nil
Unavailable: Daniel MULLEN (knee – season), Joe COSTA (knee – season), Joe KEENAN (leg – season), Fabian BARBIERO (ankle – season)

Gold Coast United: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE (c), 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 8.ANDERSON, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 11.Bruce DJITE, 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 14.Joel PORTER, 15.Tahj MINNIECON, 16.Kristian REES, 19.Andrew BARISIC, 20.Scott HIGGINS (gk), 22.Adama TRAORE, 23.Steve FITZSIMMONS, 24.John CURTIS, 27.Chris HAROLD, 33.Peter PERCHTOLD. *three to be omitted*
In: 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK (return from ankle injury), 19.Andrew BARISIC (promoted), 24.John CURTIS (return from shoulder injury).
Out: Nil.
Unavailable:10.Jason CULINA (knee injury – season), ROBSON (hamstring injury – 1 week), Daniel PIORKOWSKI (ankle injury – indefinite), Matt OSMAN (knee injury – season).

Head-to-Head:All matches (played 6): Gold Coast United wins 1, Adelaide United wins 1 (4 draws)

  • This match sees the Hyundai A-League’s two most successful goalscorers – in terms of goals scored per game (at least 20 games played) – come up against each other again, SHANE SMELTZ (Gold Coast) v SERGIO VAN DIJK (Adelaide).

Goalscoers With Highest Goals/Game Ratios(at least 20 matches played) as at 21 February 2011
0.63 goals per game – Shane Smeltz – 47 goals in 75 matches
0.52 goals per game – Sergio Van Dijk – 41 goals in 79 matches
0.48 goals per game – Archie Thompson – 53 goals in 111 matches
0.47 goals per game – Joel Griffiths – 28 goals in 60 matches
0.42 goals per game – Danny Allsopp – 41 goals in 98 matches

  • Smeltz and Van Dijk also lead the way in terms of MOST GOALS SCORED IN A SEASON in the Hyundai A-League. Currently Smeltz holds the most goals in a season record with 19 goals scored in the 2009/10 season, while Van Dijk is second-highest with 16 goals in the 2010/11 season so far, meaning Van Dijk needs three more goals this season to reach Smeltz’s most goals in a season record.