Sydney FC vs. Brisbane Roar punting preview and free tips

Friday, March 25 from 7.40pm at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – watch on Fox Sports

IT’S last chance saloon for Sydney FC as the Sky Blues travel to Brisbane to face the Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Graham Arnold’s men are four points adrift of sixth placed Melbourne Victory and only have themselves to blame after blowing a 2-0 lead against the Central Coast Mariners last week.

The Sky Blues had a two goal lead with four minutes to go in regulation time, but once again failed to defend with any urgency, letting the bottom-placed Mariners put two goals past them in as many minutes.

The draw was the 10th match in a row that Sydney has failed to keep a clean sheet.

Luckily for the Sky Blues, the Victory could only manage a draw against the Newcastle Jets despite having a one-man advantage for the majority of the match.

Sydney FC manager Graham Arnold was at a loss for words when asked to articulate what happened in the aftermath of the draw.

“If you can find out, can you please tell me – because it’s something I’m dumbfounded with,” Arnold said.

“Because, at the end of the day, we don’t practice that, and we know that Wellington try to get the ball in between the lines, in the back of the midfield, and you have to try and stop that.

“There was two warning signs before [the first goal] that, which [Vedran] Janjetovic saved. But we didn’t heed the warning.”

In positive news, the ankle injury that threatened to derail Milos Ninkovic’s season is not as bad as once thought, and the Sky Blues are confident the key playmaker will be available for Saturday’s crunch match.

The Brisbane Roar had the match from hell last week against Melbourne City.

The Roar scored the opening goal of the match against the prolific City, but John Aloisi’s team was reduced to ten men early in the second half.

City were then able to find the back of the net three times to snatch the win away from the Roar, who blew their opportunity to go clear at the top of the table.

Nothing short of a win will do for the Sky Blues and if the Roar have any ambitions to hoist the Premiers Plate they will need to register another home win.

Despite the ominous task ahead of them the Sky Blues will take a great deal of confidence into the match up given their recent record against Brisbane.

Sydney has not lost to the Roar since 2013.

Match preview

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Winner: Brisbane Roar – $1.80

First goal scorer: Jamie Maclaren- $5.00

Correct score: Brisbane Roar 3 Sydney FC – $17.00

The pivotal match up this week is between the Roar and the Sky Blues in the Northern state of Australia with so much on the line for both sides.

Brisbane need a win to keep in touch with an ultra-competitive top three while Sydney’s finals chances are effectively over with a loss.

The man that must be stopped for is Jamie Maclaren.

The Brisbane striker has been in rare form this season, scoring 17 goals.

Former Glory teammate Brandon O’Neill believes the key to shutting down one of the league’s best scorers is to outwork him on the pitch..

He’ll always work hard and be on the move and you just have to match up to everything, whatever he brings to the table you have to bring more,” O’Neill said.

Shutting down Maclaren is easier said than done though and we believe that he will not only score the opening goal of the match, but the former Olyroo should go on to find the back of the net at least once more in the 90 minutes of play.

Jamie Maclaren is at $5.50 with Sportsbet to score two or more goals against Sydney FC on Saturday night.

This should be a walk in the park for the Roar, who will keep their Premier’s Plate chances well and truly alive with a win.

For Sydney FC – it is better luck next year.