Roar and Newcastle to win?

Can the Roar win a big game at home. Apart from the opening day of Season 1, I can't think of a game when the Roar have won in front of a big expectant crowd.

And the Jets, surely they are home, surely. But if the Mariners score first, won't it be fun for the neutrals?

Previews

Queensland Roar v Sydney FC

The Roar need to score, probably twice with away goals counting double. Expect Sydney to defend, and suck the Roar in.

Sydney will miss Juninho and so will Alex Brosque. And the tie now is a tacticians dream. Balanced.

Ruben Zadkovich will come in, and his mobility will help negate the Roar's main weapon. Pace and youth in the front six.

How will Craig Moore back up from Socceroos duty? Brosque should test him often. Can Sydney FC hold out? Will the ref give early cards to anyone? Any Sydney player chopping the like of Robbie Kruse and Michael Zullo early, This should be crucial.

An early card could assist the Roar in their quest to go forward. Watch out Iain Fyfe, Brendan Renaud and Ruben Zadkovich, not to mention Steve Corica and Alex Brosque. Remember Brosques in last years Semi-Final. Sent-off!

I bet Terry Butcher remembers it.

The big crowd will expect the Roar to attack and Sydney's experienced players will use this to their advantage.

Last year Sydney held on in similar circumstances. If the Roar can break through early I expect the Roar to win. But the longer the game goes without the Roar scoring the more likely Sydney will march on to next week.

Prediction: Sydney to go through....but expect fireworks, the team that loses is gone and neither side, or Coach, will take this very well. Can't wait.

Key players:
Reinaldo and Alex Brosque

But for me the key to a Roar win in Robbie Kruse. He's been quiet over the last seven weeks or so, if he can find his form then the Roar will win.

Mariners v The Newcastle United Jets.

Did you know the Jets snuck the United name onto their badge? Rebels!

Anyway the first goal is crucial. Of course with Joel Griffiths playing the Jets would surely one at some point, meaning the Mariners would have to score four.

That can't happen.

But Griffiths is expected to be out. Injured from his Socceroos experience.

So it's nicely poised.

Mariners will attack, they have to.

But can they score. What a time for Matt Simon to get his first goal?

So this will be tense, exciting with only an early Jets goal destroying the occasion.

Key Players

For the Mariners. John Aloisi needs to score, he's sure to get the chance(s)

John Hutchison and Tom Pondlejak need to perform to their best to create opportunities for the Mariners.

The Jets need to remain tight, keep the ball, survive the first twenty minutes and they should be okay.

Can they score without Joel Griffiths, possibly not. But they may not need to if their defence holds firm.

Very nicely poised. Enjoy the drama

Predictions: Jets to got through