You don't have to wait long for your football fix this week with the bonus of Round 19 of the Hyundai A-League starting this week on Wednesday night at Suncorp Stadium in a genuine Queensland derby.
Brisbane Roar will be looking to switch places with the Fury on the ladder in a match that pits 8 v 9 but with the North Queensland boys looking to continue their impressive attacking displays that saw a dominant first half performance against Perth Glory at the weekend, Brisbane will have their work cut out for them.
Round 20 kicks off on Friday night with Adelaide United back at Hindmarsh Stadium, following their 1 - 0 win over Brisbane Roar, facing Wellington Phoenix.
On Saturday, Central Coast Mariners take on Brisbane Roar at Bluetongue Stadium. Then it's down to Etihad Stadium and the blockbuster clash between top-of-the-table Melbourne Victory against 2nd placed Sydney FC. Melbourne and Sydney will continue their rivalry in the Hyundai A-League - to add even more fuel to the fire that burns deep between the Victory and Sky Blue fans is that this match will also mark the 500th national league appearance for Melbourne Victory captain Kevin Muscat.
On Sunday, Newcastle Jets host North Queensland Fury at EnergyAustralia Stadium before we head north to the Gold Coast where the boys from the glitter strip meet the lads from the west coast, Perth Glory. After dropping out of 5th spot for the first time in seven weeks Perth will be looking to assert their finals aspirations against Gold Coast and get within a point of the home side. Gold Coast will be tough to beat at home having won their past two matches at Skilled Park and with the addition of former Brisbane Roar playmaker Charlie Miller will be tough opponents for Burns and his Glory boys.
Stats, facts & milestones
Midweek Round 19Brisbane Roar (9) v North Queensland Fury (8) Wednesday, 16 December 2009, Suncorp Stadium, 7.30pm local (8.30pm AEDT)
Round 20Adelaide United (10) v Wellington Phoenix (7) Friday, 18 December 2009, Hindmarsh Stadium, 7.30pm local (8.00pm AEDT)
- Having scored 148 Hyundai A-League goals to date, Adelaide United are two goal goals away from scoring 150 goals in the Hyundai A-League
Central Coast Mariners (5) v Brisbane Roar (9) Saturday, 19 December 2009, Bluetongue Stadium, 6.00pm local
- Central Coast Mariners' defender Nigel Boogaard is set to make his 50th Australian national league appearance - Boogaard made one appearance in the old national league with Newcastle United and has so far made 48 Hyundai A-League appearances for the Mariners - Gates open at 3.00pm for the Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar National Youth League match
Melbourne Victory (1) v Sydney FC (2) Saturday, 19 December 2009, Etihad Stadium, 8.00pm local
- Melbourne Victory captain Kevin Muscat is set to make his 500th appearance at national league level. This would make Muscat just the second Australian to reach 500 games at the national league level. Leading in to Round 19 of the 2009/10 Hyundai A-League season, the top five league appearances for Australians stands at: 522 Alex Tobin, 499 Kevin Muscat, 497 Mark Schwarzer, 490 Aurelio Vidmar, 482 Carl Veart - Sydney FC striker Alex Brosque is set to make his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance
Newcastle Jets (4) v North Queensland Fury (8) Sunday, 20 December 2009, EnergyAustralia Stadium, 5.00pm local
- Newcastle Jets striker Sasho Petrovski is set to make his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance - North Queensland Fury striker Daniel McBreen is set to make his 200th national league appearance - Before joining Fury this year McBreen spent time at Newcastle United, Australia; Universitatea Craiova, Romania; Falkirk and St Johnstone in Scotland; and Scunthorpe and York City in England
Gold Coast United (3) v Perth Glory (6) Sunday, 20 December 2009, Skilled Park, 6.00pm local (7.00pm AEDT)
- Perth Glory coach David Mitchell is set to coach his 50th Hyundai A-League match - Mitchell commenced his head coaching career at the Perth Glory in November 2007
Birthday celebrations - Perth Glory and Qantas Socceroo defender Chris Coyne turns 31 on Sunday, 20 December - Also on Sunday, Leo Bertos, Wellington Phoenix maestro, turns 28 on Sunday, 20 December
