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Queensland's Murdocca looking for birthday win [Thu Sep 1st, 2005]
Following a 2-0 opening day win against the New Zealand Knights, Queensland Roar coach Miron Bleiberg has again promised an attacking approach for the trip south to Adelaide United.
The 15-man squad, which includes four strikers, fly out today to prepare for Friday night’s (Friday 2nd September) clash at Hindmarsh Stadium against John Kosmina’s side.
Tae-Yong Shin has succumbed to an ankle injury with his place in the travelling party being taken by Australian Under 20 player, Ben Griffin.
After a series of strong performances in training, striker Reece Tollenaere is preferred to Royce Brownlie and livewire wing-back Spase Dilevski returns after missing last week’s game with a hamstring strain.
Match-winner Alex Brosque will join the squad direct from his stint with the Australian international training camp in Sydney and will again provide Roar’s most potent goal threat.
Bleiberg will aim for pace once again against Adelaide United, highlighted by his decision to take the fleet-footed Tollenaere to Hindmarsh.
“Reece has trained particularly well and with this being our first away game we will be looking to contain and break quickly. The pace we have in the team is one of our strengths and we want to maximise our opportunities by using our speed,†Bleiberg said.
Midfield dynamo Massimo Murdocca, who turns 21 on Friday, is hoping to celebrate his birthday with another win but knows the task in Adelaide will be a tough one.
“After last week we are all on a high but we know that we have to perform consistently to be taken seriously,†Murdocca admitted.
“We are confident that we can go to Adelaide and get a result. No game is going to be easy in this league, but we have faith in our ability to match it with all the other teams.â€
Murdocca will be looking to reproduce his opening day form and hopefully chime in with a goal to celebrate his 21st birthday.
“For the team to win would be a great birthday present, but if I managed to get on the scoresheet then that would be the icing on the cake,†he grinned.
The squad: Willis, Dodd, Buess, Gibson, McCloughan, Murdocca, Baird, Richter, Griffin, McKay, Seo, Tollenaere, Brosque, Dilevski, Higgins.
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