Head-to-head

N/A

History
These two teams have never met but the battle between the two brave new faces of the A-League will be intriguing. Both have assembled impressive lists, while Gold Coast's only previous trip to Melbourne in their history saw them trounced 4-0 by Victory last season.

Past five matches:
Melbourne Heart: DWLWL
Gold Coast United: DWDWD

Match Committee
Melbourne Heart's stocks are looking quite good with only two players, Dutchman Gerald Sibon, through suspension and Kristina Sarkies, who is getting close to a return from his broken leg, unavailable. John van 't Schip has called in three youngsters, Eli Babalj, Kliment Taseski and Aziz Behich into an extended squad.

Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg has also called three players into an extended squad with Tahj Minniecon recovered from a foot injury while Kristian Rees and Chris Broadfoot are there as back-up options.

Danger men
John Aloisi - So much for Aloisi being a bit part player for Heart this year. The veteran striker has scored three goals in six games and is proving the man opposition defences are starting to worry about when playing Heart. Clearly he is relishing the service he is getting from his team-mates and his class is showing through.

Bruce Djite - After taking a couple of games to find his feet back in the A-League, Big Bruce is back after scoring three goals in his past three games. His strength and athleticism are enough to trouble any defence and he has a knack of scoring at important times. His form will be crucial to how GCU perform in the post-Smeltz era.

At the end of the day….
Melbourne Heart are finally starting to find their rhythm having collected four points in the past two games. Those matches have been against quality opposition. The derby win against Victory got things back on track, while any team in the league would be happy to come away with a point in Wellington.

The key has been getting their best team on the park. Injuries have interrupted the preparation of the majority of their best players, including Aloisi, Sibon, Matt Thompson, Alex Terra, Josip Skoko and Simon Colosimo. But things are starting to gel for van 't Schip and he is able to put faith in their expansive style of play.

Their recent home record is impressive with just one loss at AAMI Park this season, in the opener against Central Coast and from 15 possible points at home, they have garnered ten.

Gold Coast come into this match off the back of six games without a defeat and they have not lost on the road in their three trips so far this season. There is a real sense of stability about Bleiberg's team this campaign, something that was missing in their first campaign.

Through a combination of good recruiting and a better game plan, the gap between GCU's best and worst has been significantly closed and they look set to be a challenger again this season. Their defence is a lot tighter as well, having conceded just six goals in nine games and they are certain to be ready to thwart Heart's typical route of attack down the flanks.

There should be a few goals in this one, but it looks an even contest where we may struggle to get a winner.

Melbourne Heart squad: 1. Clint BOLTON, 2. Michael MARRONE, 4 Simon COLOSIMO (c), 5. Michael BEAUCHAMP, 6. Matt THOMPSON, 7. Rutger WORM, 10. Wayne SRHOJ, 11. ALEX TERRA, 12. Peter ZOIS, 15. John ALOISI, 17. Jason HOFFMAN, 19. Eli BABALJ, 20. Josip SKOKO, 21. Kliment TASESKI, 22. Nick KALMAR, 23. Dean HEFFERNAN, 24. Aziz BEHICH, 25. Adrian ZAHRA
*three to be omitted*

In: Eli BABALJ (promoted), Kliment TASESKI (promoted), Aziz BEHICH (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Kristian SARKIES (broken leg - indefinite)

 

Gold Coast United Squad: 1.Glen MOSS [gk], 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE, 5.ROBSON, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 10.Jason CULINA (c), 11.Bruce DJITE, 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 14.Joel PORTER, 15.Tahj MINNIECON, 16.Kristian REES, 18.James BROWN, 20.Scott HIGGINS [gk], 22.Adama TRAORE, 23.Steve FITZSIMMONS, 24.John CURTIS, 25.Chris BROADFOOT.
*three to be omitted*

In: Tahj MINNIECON (return from foot injury), Kristian REES (promoted), Chris BROADFOOT (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Daniel PIORKOWSKI (ankle injury – 4 weeks), Matt OSMAN (knee injury – indefinite).