Roar skipper claims underdog tag
Queensland Roar captain Craig Moore is confident but not cocky heading into this Saturday’s showdown against Adelaide United, declaring the Reds favourites for the clash.
The bookies have the teams split down the middle, with Adelaide-s home ground advantage giving them every chance of turning around their poor form and off-field issues to book a place in next week-s Hyundai A-League 2009 Grand Final.
Moore said that if the Roar played their best, they would have what it takes to progress past Adelaide even if the Reds bounced back strongly, as he expected they would.
“We've finished the season off extremely well and we-ll just look to continue to do that,” the Socceroos defender said.
“If we play the way we have been and they reach their top levels I-m still extremely confident going into the game.”
But he stressed the danger of the wounded Reds, who have already proven their quality over the course of the season with their run to the Asian Champions League Final.
“We-re not cocky, not arrogant,” he said. “You need to respect Adelaide, they-ve been great this season for Australian football.
“I still think Adelaide are favourites. It-s their home game, we-ve not had a fantastic record against them this season but hopefully we can prove the bookies wrong and go there and get a win.”
The Roar have not beaten Adelaide since November 2007, but a draw in the last meeting coupled with last season-s Preliminary Final loss to Newcastle Jets will provide plenty of motivation for Moore-s troops.
“The last game (against Adelaide), the 0-0 game, we had a great chance late on to win the game and we gave ourselves a chance to win the game with the clean sheet,” he said.
“I do think as a team we-ve improved since last season but if we get knocked out at the same stage people will say there hasn-t been any improvement, so it-s important that we really do push on from here.
“I was in the dressing room after that game last season and it wasn-t a nice place to be.
“I remember saying to the boys after the game, ‘remember what it feels like-, because it-s not nice and you don-t want to go through feeling that too many times in your career.”
Winger Tahj Minniecon has been ruled out of the match after failing to overcome a hip complaint and is likely to be replaced in the starting line-up by Isaka Cernak.
The Hyundai A-League 2009 Preliminary Final between Adelaide United and Queensland Roar will kick off at 6pm AEST and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 3.
The match will also be broadcast live into Brisbane on ABC radio on 612am. Roger Wills, Joe Mullen and Ben Hook will call the game from with the broadcast getting under way at 5.30pm (AEST).