The first match of A-League Week 8 sees North Queensland Fury travel to New Zealand to take on the Wellington Phoenix. The Phoenix will be determined to keep their 22-game unbeaten streak at Westpac Stadium rolling along and have everything going in their favour to do so.
North Queensland have not scored in their past two outings and the news that Eugene Sseppuya cannot travel due to visa issues has coach Franz Straka with a few problems in the attacking third with Dyron Daal and Chris Payne still absent with injury and international duty respectively.
Wellington have won their last two matches at home and should really have enough firepower to overcome a Fury outfit lacking an out and out goalscorer.
Verdict: Phoenix 2-0
Wellington Phoenix vs. North Queensland FuryDate: Friday, 24 September 2010 Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington Local Kick-off: 7:30pm (5:30pm AEST) Head-to-Head: All matches (played 3): Wellington Phoenix wins 1, North Queensland Fury wins 0 (2 draws) Referee: Peter O'Leary
Live and exclusive broadcast on Fox Sports 2, FS2 HD & on Sky Sport 3 (NZ). Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is The Radio Network (Wellington) 1035AM. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.co.nz
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Mark PASTON (gk), 2.Manny MUSCAT, 3.Tony LOCHHEAD, 4.Nick WARD, 6.Tim BROWN, 7.Leo BERTOS, 8.Paul IFILL, 9.Chris GREENACRE, 10. Oscar Roberto CORNEJO, 11.DANIEL, 13.Troy HEARFIELD, 15.Jade NORTH, 17.Vince LIA, 18.Ben SIGMUND, 19.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Dylan MACALLISTER *two to be omitted* In: Vince LIA (return from injury), Oscar Roberto CORNEJO (promoted) Out: Nil Unavailable: Reece CROWTHER (gk, ribs - 3 weeks), Mirjan PAVLOVIC (International Duty - 1 week)
North Queensland Fury squad: 1.Justin PASFIELD (gk), 2.Jack HINGERT, 3.Brad McDONALD, 4.Eric AKOTO, 5.Mark HUGHES, 6.Ufuk TALAY (c), 7.Gareth EDDS, 11.David WILLIAMS, 12.Panagiotis NIKAS, 14.Chris GROSSMAN, 16.Simon STOREY, 17.Osama MALIK, 18.Brett STUDMAN, 21.Jason SPAGNUOLO, 28.Sebastian USAI (gk) In: 18.Brett STUDMAN (promoted) Out: 9.Eugene SSEPPUYA (visa issue) Unavailable: Adam CASEY (calf - 1 week), Dyron DAAL (hamstring - 1 week), Andre KILIAN (foot injury), Chris PAYNE (international duty - 1 match), Isaka CERNAK (international duty - 1 match), Matthew HAM (knee - 3 weeks)
