Victory Faces Juninho's Comeback

The Sunday Age

Sunday January 20, 2008

Michael Lynch

SYDNEY FC will be aiming to make sure of an Asian Champions League place for the second time in three seasons when it hosts fallen champion Melbourne Victory in today's clash at Sydney Football Stadium.

While Melbourne may only have pride to play for, having missed the finals, the stakes could hardly be higher for Sydney, and coach John Kosmina will turn to a man who has played on the biggest stage of all to make the difference in what neutrals hope will be a classic.

Before last night's Central Coast-Wellington match, Newcastle had climbed to clear first place with 34 points after its 2-1 win over Perth on Friday. Queensland, Sydney FC and Central Coast were left tied on 31 points. The Jets' result improved their goal difference to plus 4, one ahead of Central Coast (+3) and equal with Sydney FC (+4) but two shy of Queensland (+6).

After nearly two months absent, Brazilian World Cup winner Juninho will return to the starting line-up determined to pay a dividend on Sydney's investment in him, which has been disappointing given the series of injuries which have prevented him from becoming a regular.

He will start for the first time since he chipped bone in his leg during the Sydney versus LA Galaxy match on November 27. After sitting on the bench for three weeks the diminutive midfielder is champing at the bit to show what he can do.

"It has been frustrating being on the bench but I understand the manager's thinking because the team has been winning," Juninho said. "I feel no pressure just because it is a big game. The big games are the ones I like to play (in)."

Melbourne will debut teenage goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak, with coach Ernie Merrick declaring his full confidence in the youngster. Merrick says it is vital that Langerak gets the chance to gain experience in a big-match atmosphere ahead of Victory's Asian Champions League campaign.

Certainly captain Kevin Muscat expressed plenty of confidence in Langerak when asked whether he had any concerns about playing in front of such an inexperienced goalkeeper in such a highly charged match.

"The kid hasn't played a game, but I think the fact that the boss has thrown him in, if he didn't have ability or wasn't a good keeper the boss wouldn't have thrown him in," Muscat said.

"He's been very good in training over the past six months...it just sends a message right across the board, if you do work hard enough you get an opportunity. He's a big imposing boy, there's not many around his size. He stays up long, he's a good shot-stopper. He's very vocal as well for a young kid."

Daniel Vasilevski, one of the most improved Victory players in recent months, was the unlucky man left out when one player was omitted from the travelling squad.

Queensland Roar will face an emotional Adelaide United in the final match of the A-League season knowing that they have to win to have a chance of taking the premiership. The South Australians are determined to give retiring defender Richie Alagich a memorable send-off as this will be his last A-League match. He will hang up his boots for good after the Reds' Asian Champions League campaign.

Adelaide has also signed veteran left-back Alvin Ceccoli for the Asian Champions League assault. The 33-year-old ex-Sydney player is currently on a short-term deal with the Central Coast Mariners and will join Adelaide when the Mariners' finals campaign is over.

DETAILS

FRIDAY NIGHT

NEWCASTLE JETS 2

J. Griffiths 22, M. Bridge 64

PERTH GLORY 1

J. Harnwell 45+

Referee: M. Hester

Crowd: 16,212 at Energy Australia Stadium

LAST NIGHT

Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix

TONIGHT

Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory

Adelaide United v Queensland Roar

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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