BRISBANE TRAVELS TO ADELAIDE IN A-LEAGUE FINALS

Luke Brattan up in arms for Brisbane Roar.

This Friday Brisbane Roar travels to Adelaide to take on the much vaunted, 'Gombau led' Reds. The Queensland team has managed to sneak into the finals courtesy of Perth Glory's inglorious demotion, and despite finishing sixth in the regular season, pose the biggest threat to Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC. 

Brisbane started A-League season 2014/15 in dreadful form. After seven matches the Roar had amassed a whole four points. Somehow, the club turned things around, and from February 2nd went five matches undefeated. Once their Asian Champions League commitments arrived Brisbane's new found domestic consistency took a blow, but nevertheless they're in the finals, and the roster available has enough class to do some damage. 

Their recent win against Beijing Guoan was something we didn't think possible. Heading to China with only the burning embers of their ACL campaign flickering, Brisbane defeated a Beijing outfit that hadn't tasted defeat in 21 matches. It was ugly, and un-Brisbane like, but sometimes you just have to forget the aesthetics and get the money. 

Serbian striker Andrija Kaluderovic got the goal in the 40th minute, and from that time on it was batten down the hatches and get gritty with it. Brisbane dug-in in defiance of the 35,000 plus fans, and it's that kind of character that should see them come away with a win against a similar opponent this Friday.

Adelaide, the favourites in many quarters are the pin up boys of the league. All season long their flowing football has caught the eye, and manager Josep Gombau believes his team are better prepared than last year when they fell at the first hurdle (CCM) in the finals. They'll have the services of Spaniard Isaias who was in doubt earlier this week.

Unfortunately the Reds will go into the match minus front man Bruce Djite. The man whose team mates say is underrated is out with a groin strain and Adelaide really don't have anyone who can provide the same physicality.

Additionally, Brisbane dealt Adelaide a psychological blow just three weeks ago when they beat them 3-2 at Hindmarsh Stadium. The Roar led 3-0 after 54 minutes before the home team picked up a 71st minute goal and another in the 95th.

Another factor against Adelaide is the venue change for the do or die fixture. The match has been switched to Adelaide Oval in a bid to maximise ticket sales. The Reds manager revealed his disappointment at the decision during a press conference, "The decision is not what we want but we need to respect it. We need to play and we need to win."

If you like a bet Brisbane are just too hard to ignore. One betting agency has them at $4 to win in the regulation 90 minutes. With the aforementioned factors taken into account, those odd are just too good to pass up. 

BEIJING SET TO BREAK BRISBANE IN ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Dejan Damjanovic warms up alongside Batalla for Beijing

Beijing Guoan go into their clash with Brisbane Roar as virtually qualified for the Asian Champions League Knockout Stage, but that won't stop them taking three points against the Aussie club. 

The home team will as always be cheered on by around 40,000 Beijing-ites, and though they are currently experiencing a mini funk (drawn last 3 matches), they're still undefeated in their last 21 matches. 

Meanwhile, Brisbane will be fighting for their Asian Champions League lives. Of most concern for the Australians is their casualty list. Influential centre back Luke Devere is out, Shane Stefanutto is out, and along with that, Jade North will be nursing a dodgy groin, if he makes the field. Had it not been for this, I would have said Brisbane were good value. 

The Roar have definitely placed some importance on this fixture, evidenced by their decision to rest a throng of players for last Saturday's Melbourne Victory clash. Those missing in action included: Broich, McKay, Brattan, Borello and 'the slippery fish' Henrique. 

Young defender Daniel Bowles who recently returned from injury described the dressing room, "All the boys are buzzing and we will be going out there and giving it our all." Brisbane certainly have plenty of motivation, as their previous appearances in the competition have yielded little, but no one wants to go into a big match with an understrength back four. 

A patched up Brisbane did a commendable job against Muscat's Melbourne on Saturday, but being tested against unfamiliar opponents should prove too much. Not only will Brisbane face some of China's best in Yu, Dabao and Song, Boxuan, they'll also face off against classy Montenegrin Dejan Damjanovic and midfielder Pablo Batalla.

On a freezing cold night in Saitama two weeks ago Beijing Guoan looked anything but champions, still they managed to grind out a draw against Urawa. On Tuesday night, at home, at the Workers Stadium, Beijing will be up for it.

The green team have been looking on jealously for the last four years as Chinese rivals, Guangzhou Evergrande have taken all before them. This year could be the year that Beijing stamps their mark on continental football.

Asian Champions League Quarter Finals Draw Completed

The Asian Football Confederation has finalised the draw for the remainder of it's burgeoning club competition, the Asian Champions League. The draw pitted east Asian clubs against west Asian clubs for the quarter finals, but beyond the last eight it's possible that east can meet east and west likewise. Hosts of the event also boasted about the 11% increase in overall ACL attendances.

Quarter final one sees 2012 finalists Al Ahli face FC Seoul. The west Asian team from Saudi Arabia boast a midfield dominated by South American midfielders, plus Brazilian striker Victor Simoes, with 12 goals from 19 matches this season. Quarter final two features Iranian super club Esteghlal, and underdogs Buriram United from Thailand. Interestingly for Australian soccer fans Buriram battled their way through Group E (the group this blogger labelled the weakest in the east side of the draw), after defeating Brisbane Roar in a play-off for their place in the ACL. Esteghlal won their group and defeated Al Shabab Al Arabi of UAE to make their way to the quarter finals. The Iranians have averaged crowds of over 24,000 for the ACL plus a phenomenal 80,000 for their clash with Saudis Al Hilal.

Nelsinho - manager of Kashiwa Reysol

Quarter final three has Japan's Kashiwa Reysol hosting Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia. Kashiwa manager Nelsinho had spent a year with Al Shabab's rivals the aforementioned Al Hilal (93/94), but Kashiwa captain Otani conceded most of the players knew nothing of Al Shabab. Typically conservative the captain said, "We have had good results in the group stage and the Round of 16 and we will fight all out for a place in the semi finals." Meanwhile quarter final four sees Guangzhou Evergrande hosting Qataris Lekhwiya. The Chinese will be favourites, but they fell to west Asian opposition last year, so Lippi and his men will no doubt be on their toes.

From this point on the tournament will be played with a two legged format, including the final. The first leg of the quarter finals kicks off on 21st August, while teams are forced to wait until 18th September, for the return leg. Important to know is that the winner of quarter final one faces the winner of quarter final two, and winner three will play four. This increases the likelihood of an east Asian showdown between Kashiwa and Guangzhou. The suit wearers at the AFC would be rubbing their hands and drooling at such a possibility.