Queensland are making a worrying habit of this.

A game in which the Roar created the best chances, had most of the possession and played the better football ends up in another loss. Combined with the fact that Sydney was missing Dwight Yorke, away on International duty and this is definitely 3 points lost.

The result leaves Queensland sat in 6^th place, one down from last week, but thanks to wins for the top 3 leaves the Roar 7 points adrift from the top position although only two points adrift of the play-offs.

The game started at a good pace but with few chances to either side. Carro was first to find his range from a free kick in the tenth minute but it was easy for the keeper. Five minutes later came a superb chance.  A corner from Carro was met by McLaren but unfortunately he put his header wide.

It was all Queensland for most of the first half. Brosque was denied by an excellent tackle on the edge of the box after an excellent 1-2 with Carro.

Sydney closed the first half in the ascendancy with chances for Petrovski and Fyfe but neither hit the target.

Queensland started the second half brightly with the half time change of Dilveski for Gava proving early dividends as Dilveski got free on the right. His cross was cleared only as far as Seo whose shot was just wide.

The breakthrough for Sydney came on 54 minutes when Carney found more space on the right and lofted a good ball into the box which was well brought down by Corica. Corica was a touch fortunate as he miscontrolled it but it fell into his path to strike a low shot which was well saved down to his left by Tom Willis. Zdrilic picked up the ball and from a tight angle managed to get the ball on target. Gibson had covered back well to be on the line but as he swung his foot at it, it struck the inside of his boot, deflecting it into the net. The look on Gibson’s face said it all.

In the 75^th minutes Pierre Littbarksi introduced Kazuyoshi Miura who apparently is a Japanese great. Miura has signed a short term deal with Sydney to cover injuries. A quick internet search revealed very little. Scarily a fan site even lists his blood type (A if you really want to know but seriously it looks like stalking to me). Apparently he had spells with Juventus and Genoa (he was “on rental” there) but has been playing for Tokyo Verdy since 1995.

On the field Miura showed a few good touches and struck a freekick just wide although Willis had it well covered.

Match Ratings

Atmosphere:   7            Seemed a good atmosphere

Crowd:             6          Sydney’s crowds seem to be getting slowly smaller – a worrying trend given they are playing good football

Result:              0          Queensland are going to be one of those frustrating teams to follow who lose games they should have won.

Referee:            5          Ben Williams never impresses me when he referees our games. Too whistle happy and no consistency.

Team Ratings

Willis                7          Not at fault for the goal and made some impressive saves. He has been growing in stature throughout the season and is making the no. 1 jersey his own.

McLaren          7          Good performance given how long it has been since he last played although we did miss McCloughan’s aerial presence

Gibson             7          A very uncharacteristic error for the goal and wasn’t as influential as he can be

Buess               6          Often exposed by Carney and McFlynn he is also developing a worrying tendency to throw himself to the floor when he is breathed upon

Dodd               6          Whilst obviously frustrated his discipline was a worry and there were a few wayward passes

Gava                6          Only given a half to impress and didn’t do much wrong

McKay            6          Yet again asked to play a wide role which he isn’t accustomed to. Looked more effective once Dilevski came on and was moved infield

Carro              7          When Queensland being to start scoring it will be thanks to Carro. Created a lot of the good chances and you feel that it won’t be long before he is off the mark himself. MAN OF THE MATCH

Hyuk-Su Seo   7          Just wide with a few chances and had another impressive game. Covered the ground well although he passes backwards too much

Brownlie           7          A good work rate combined with a good strikers instinct. Too many fancy flicks tried whereas the simpler ball would have been better

Brosque           7          It is frustrating to think that Alex is still without a goal since Round 1 because his effort cannot be faulted. A wonderful player to watch irregardless

Substitutes

Baird                6          Caused the Sydney defence some problems with his fresh legs when he came on but his head drops too easily and rarely tracks back after losing the ball.

Dilevski            7          As always when he comes on he provides good width belying Bleiberg’s decision not to start him

Match Preview

Vs Sydney

Queensland, for the first time in their history face the current league leaders. Sydney’s hammering of the Mariners put them top at the end of Round 11 for only the second time this season (the first being in Round 2).

Sydney’s season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Cove fans – highlights being their 3-1 win over the Roar in Round 5 at Suncorp and the recent win over the Mariners; low points being the 5-0 hammering from Melbourne.

Sydney’s home record is poor with only two wins (one being the obligatory win against the Knights) although they have only been beaten there once – by the Mariners in Round 4.

Sydney can also lay claim to being the entertainers of the A-League. They are the league’s leading scorers with 22 goals – double the Roar’s tally but conversely their defence is also weak having conceded 17 goals. Only the much maligned Knights have conceded more.

However, the goals mainly seem to flow in their away games. They have only scored more than one goal twice at home this season contrasting to two 3-1 wins and a 5-1 win away from home.

In Dwight Yorke Sydney boast the marquee player of the whole A-League and the capture of his signature was certainly a big boost to the League in the build up to the start of the season.  It hasn’t all been easy for Yorke though. Three goals in his first three games (he missed Round 3 on International Duty), he has only hit the net twice since then and has been guilty of some glaring misses.

Whilst Yorke struggled Sasho Petrovski stepped up and has netted 6 times in the last 6 games and, as a result of his hat-trick against the Mariners is now Sydney’s leading scorer and joint leading scorer in the A-League.

Sydney’s other big name striker, David Zdrilic, has endured a terrible season so far without a goal to his name despite appearing in every game of the season albeit only starting 5.

One of Sydney’s strengths is their ability to get goals from midfield with Carney (3), Corica (2), McFlynn, Talay, Rudan, Bingley, Middleby and Packer all getting their name on the scoresheet.

Ufuk Talay is the key man in midfield as he plays the vital anchor role. Talay has spent most of his career in Turkey with Galatasaray and Buraspor amongst his many teams. He has been a virtual ever present for Sydney missing only one game through suspension.

The attacking influence comes from Steve Corica whose career has been mostly based in England with Leicester, Wolves and Walsall. His two goals this season both came against Queensland in Round 5.

David Carney is the leading goal scorer from the midfield and provides a lot of width to the Sydney midfield out on the right. He was part of the same youth team as Wayne Rooney at Everton before spells in the lower leagues with Oldham and Halifax.

Terry McFlynn completes the likely starting midfield. McFlynn has a terrific work rate and his battle with Seo will be a key contest.

Iain Fyfe has been an ever present in the Sydney defence – one of only two players to have played every game. Whilst not tall for a centre back, at only 185cm, his aerial ability is impressive.

The other ever present is left back Alvin Ceccoli, a very experienced player with two NSL titles to his name with Wollongong Wolves and was also part of the Parramatta side that lost the 2003-04 Grand Final.

The remainder of the defence has been chopped and changed by coach Pierre Litbarski with Mark Rudan, Jacob Timpano and Mathew Bingley all playing. Timpano is an exciting talent and has already represented Australia at U17 and U 20 levels. Rudan and Bingley are both at the other end of their careers. Rudan has plenty of NSL experience as well as spells overseas with Aachen in Germany and Nanjing in China. He played for Sydney from 1993 to 1998. Matthew Bingley’s career began back in 1988 with St George and took in spells in Japan and Malaysia as well as several NSL clubs.

Season To Date

Leading Scorer: Petrovski 6

Average Attendance: 13,334 (3^rd)

TUQRS prediction: 1-0 win to Queensland