A-League: Lockdown leads to postponement of match between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory

A three-day COVID-19 lockdown in the Greater Brisbane area has forced the A-League to postpone Brisbane Roar’s home match this weekend.

The Victory’s Jake Brimmer (left) and the Roar’s Dylan Wenzel-Halls battle for the ball. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The A-League continues to be affected by COVID-19-enforced restrictions, with Brisbane Roar’s scheduled clash on Sunday at Dolphin Stadium against Melbourne Victory postponed.

The postponement came after the Queensland government on Friday announced a three-day lockdown in the Greater Brisbane area in a bid to contain the spread of the mutant UK COVID-19 strain after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive.

A new date for the match is yet to be announced. although next Friday night has been mooted.

The sides met last Saturday at AAMI Park, with the Roar defeating the Victory 3-1.

Victory coach Grant Brebner said the postponement was a “glass half full, glass half empty” situation.

“We can try to make the best of the situation,” Brebner said.

“From a footballing perspective we get the opportunity to bring players a little bit closer to match fitness with that extended break, and who knows, it might work in our favour.”

Those players include new imports Rudy Gestede and Ryan Shotton, as well as New Zealand international Marco Rojas, who injured his hamstring last weekend.

Elsewhere, Perth Glory’s January 16 match against Adelaide United at HBF Park has been pushed back to January 20.

The match between Newcastle Jets and the Roar at McDonald Jones Stadium that had been scheduled for February 6 will now also be played on January 20.

The derby at AAMI Park between Melbourne City and Western United that was scheduled for January 17 has been brought forward to January 16, with the match to kick off at 7.10pm (AEDT).

We got this, Brisbane 👍

Abide by the guidelines, follow the advice of health officials & most importantly, stay safe 🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/RgST1nil0S

— Brisbane Roar FC (@brisbaneroar) January 8, 2021

Meanwhile, the Glory have signed German defender Sebastian Langkamp on a two-year deal.

Langkamp, 32, made almost 200 Bundesliga appearances during stints with Karlsruher, FC Augsburg, Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen.

“After such a long time playing in Germany, I had to ask myself the question would it be great to have a new experience in another country for me professionally and us as a family,” Langkamp said.

“There were two or three options to stay in Germany, but we decided to try the new experience and it was an easy decision for us.”