The following are previews with betting tips for Round 27 of the 2017/18 A-League season.
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Friday, April 13
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Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory7:50 PM AEDT, Allianz Stadium |
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What’s Happened Most Recently: The Sky Blues claimed a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Adelaide. While Melbourne just scraped past Wellington in a controversial 2-1 win. For Sydney their goals came via Matt Simon on the stroke of half-time as he continued his recent run of form. While Bobo broke the record for most goals in a Hyundai A-League season scoring twice and now sitting on a very impressive 26 for the campaign!!! And that’s not even including the countless goals he bagged in the FFA Cup this season (of which there are many). Sydney all-round were very clinical as they shot 5 of their 14 shots on target to go along with their 53% of the ball. As well as giving away only 1 yellow and having an 82% passing accuracy rate. They also kept Adelaide to only 2 shots on target in a very well done defensive aspect from their game. As for Melbourne a late push in the back into a Wellington defender meant that the goal shouldn’t have counted, but it did anyway as the VAR screwed up, yet again. Kenny Athiu was responsible for that strike in the 87th minute while it was Leroy George that had leveled the scores only 4 minutes earlier. The Phoenix’s only goal was an OG from Broxham. While Rufer was sent of in the 93rd minute for the opposition side. The Victory’s shooting in this match was absolutely dreadful as only 3 of their 20 shots were on target.
What Should Happen: The history books continuing to go the way of Sydney FC. From their past 6 games against Melbourne, the Sky Blues have been victorious in all of them. These include last years GF, their opening game of the season and the last edition of the Big Blue which saw Sydney overcome a one goal deficit to win 3-1. With this in mind, you can make it 7/7. Sydney have won their past 4 on the trot (including ACL), while the Victory last time out were pumped 6-2 in Asia and in the league should be 1/3 if it weren’t for a blatant error of judgement by the referees being made. Expect a Sydney win and nothing less.
Betting tip: Pick Sydney to win at $2.05 (UniBet, William Hill)
Pick them to score first also at $1.65 (TopBetta)
Saturday, April 14
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Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City5:35 PM AEDT, QBE Stadium (Auckland) |
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What’s Happened Most Recently: Wellington were hard-done by as they went down 2-1 to the Victory. While City just got past the Central Coast with a tight 1-0 win. The Phoenix actually led Melbourne after 23 minutes when Leigh Broxham put the ball into the back of his own net. However 2 goals between the 83rd and 87th minutes of the match saw the Victory steal the game away. That being quite literally as in the lead-up to Melbourne’s winner, a Wellington defender was pushed in the back, thus impacting what he could do in trying to clear the ball. While Rufer was also sent of for the Yellow & Black in the 93rd minute. Wellington weren’t very good in front of goal either seeing only 2 of their shots go on target for the entire game. While also having only 42% possession. While City’s only goal-scorer in their 1-0 win was their inspirational and spiritual leader in Bruno Fornaroli. He bagged his in the 49th minute in what was an end-to-end affair. The win saw Melbourne move up to 3rd spot, while also having nearly 60% of the ball. A victory here (and given Newcastle’s poor form), it’s safe to say that they’ll head into the finals as the 2nd favourite to claim the ‘Toilet Seat’, behind only Sydney.
What Should Happen: In simple terms, a Melbourne City victory. They should be too good and too strong for a side, that barring a last round miracle, will end up with the Wooden Spoon. With Fornaroli (46 goals for City), wonder-kid Daniel Arzani, Dario Vidosic (9 goals this season) and the orchestrating Luke Brattan spearheading Melbourne’s attack means that this game shouldn’t even be close. Expect City to close out the season with a comprehensive performance and smash Chris Greenacre’s men to bits.
Betting tip: Pick City to win at $1.91 (PalmerBet)
Also pick them to score first at $1.72 (Bet365)
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Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets7:50 PM AEDT, Central Coast Stadium |
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What’s Happened Most Recently: The Mariners went down to City 1-0. While the Jets suffered another defeat as Perth put them to the sword 2-0. The Central Coast had their opportunities but couldn’t quite take them as it saw them taste defeat for yet another time this season. The Mariners had only 5 shots the entire game and 0 on target, while also having only 42% of the ball. They also won 12 less duels than their opponents and gave away 12 fouls. While of the field, rumours have been circulating that former Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey who won the double with his side, could be their newest coach. If that prove’s to be the case, then fair play to Mike Charlesworth. He’s a great mentor and someone who could lead the Mariners out of the finals wilderness. While Newcastle didn’t appear to be trying very hard in their disappointing loss to the Glory. They completed only 74% of their passes, as well as that, they gave away 16 fouls. Ernie Merrick wasn’t very happy with the efforts of his 2nd placed side and made a point that they would be ‘quickly’ knocked out of the finals if they continued to play like this. Adam Taggart was one of the goal-scorers for Perth as he haunted his former employers.
What Should Happen: A rebound win for the Jets. Not only will they be up for it because it’s the F3 Derby. But they’ll also have a point to show that they can play without Boogard, Nabbout, etc after their recent injuries/ departures. They also can’t go into the finals on the back of a loss to the worst Australian based side in the comp, while they need the victory to have some resemblance of form heading into the crunch end of the campaign. All of this points towards how desperately the Jets need a win, not even a big one, just a win period!!! Expect them to show up and do just that.
Betting tip: Pick Newcastle to win at $2.25 (TopBetta, UniBet)
Pick them to score first at $1.83 (Bet365)
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Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar10:00 PM AEDT, nib Stadium |
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What’s Happened Most Recently: The Glory kept their season alive with a huge victory, while Brisbane suffered a massive blow in theirs with an ugly defeat. Perth won against Newcastle 2-0 via goals from both Taggart vs his former side and Castro who highlighted his magic once again. While the Roar were down 2-0 inside the opening 15 minutes and if it weren’t for Jamie Young, the score could have been so much worse than it is currently. The Glory had only 4 shots on target, but made them count. While John Aloisi’s men saw a Maccarone goal un-fortunately ruled for offside. While they, just like Perth, had 4 shots on target. but unlike their opponents for this match, they couldn’t capitalize on them. Brisbane had only 44% of the ball and gave away 14 fouls. While Kenny Lowe’s side had less possession, yet still won!!! While their foul tally was at 12. If WSW fail to beat Adelaide then the result of this game means something. Given their goal difference, Perth would probably need a win to officially make the finals. While for Brisbane a win would get them pretty close to a finals spot, while if WSW were to lose vs Adelaide the day after, one point is all that is needed to be going to where they’ve gone so many times before.
What Should Happen: A tight, wire-to-wire, end-to-end, thrilling, cracker of an affair. Both sides will know that a win will get them incredibly close to a finals spot and barring another result, might be enough to get them in. Kenny Lowe wasn’t supposed to see through the season and his side were supposed to be done and dusted once the injuries started piling up. While the hospital ward for Brisbane wasn’t great either in a season that’s seen them deal with a potential jail-term to one of their players as well as their embarrassing ACL qualification performance, not to mention the shirts!!! They’ve both done incredibly well to be here but only one can go through. Expect a Glory win giving themselves the best chance of being in the finals. And at the end of it we should be saying, oh Diego Castro, you’ve done it again.
Betting tip: Pick Perth to be victorious at $2.10 (William Hill)
Sunday, April 15
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Western Sydney Wanderers v Adelaide United5:00 PM AEDT, ANZ Stadium |
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What’s Happened Most Recently: WSW won against Brisbane 3-0 in what was a near do-or-die game for both sides. While Adelaide were on the reverse of that score-line going down to Sydney 3-0. For the Wanderers, Riera had a double inside the opening 15 minutes while Ikonomidis also found gold. Oriol’s strikes gave him his 13th and 14th of the season while Chris has now got 4 for the Red & Black. Western Sydney dominated possession (56%), shots taken (a huge 28), while they also had an 83% passing accuracy. And a shot also came of the woodwork for Gombau’s men. As for Adelaide, they started of the better side against Sydney but it didn’t last as two Bobo goals and one to Matt Simon saw the home side take an impressive victory. Most disappointing for Adelaide is that they matched Sydney in most departments. However shooting wise, for the game they had only 2 shots go on target. While a real highlight for Paul Izzo was his impressive save on an Adrian free-kick. However a positive for Adelaide is some of the strong runs that they had with the ball.
What Should Happen: Gombau won’t be denied a finals berth by his former side. He just won’t be and he can’t be after their strong exploits to get here this season. That being especially the case after Tony Popovic bolted to Turkey just before the start of Round 1. Two names will be vital to a Wanderers win here, Oriol Reira and Chris Ikonomidis. They killed of Brisbane in their last game together and should do so against an Adelaide side that was fairly stagnant when it came to attacking Sydney’s goals last round. Pick the Wanderers to win and claim an unprecedented finals spot.
Betting Tip: Pick Western Sydney to be victorious at $2.12 (William Hill)
Best Bet of the Round
Pick WSW to strike first vs ADL at $1.57 (Bet365)
Pick PER to strike first vs BRI at $1.65 (TopBetta)