The following are previews with betting tips for Round 8 of the 2019/20 A-League season.
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Friday, November 29
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Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory7:30 PM AEDT, AAMI Park |
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Last Round- It was all doom and gloom for Melbourne as they went down 3-1 vs Adelaide. Their only goal of the game was via guess who? Yep that’s right, Toivonen, as he found the back of the net in the 61st minute of the defeat. The Victory owned 50% of the ball throughout the game and shot 2/5 on target. They also completed just 79% of their passes, 338/428. They won 66 duels and 12 aerial duels. They made 22 tackles and conceded 12 fouls, including one yellow. They are now 2nd last on the ladder.
Perth suffered the exact same score as Melbourne as they went down 3-1 to Sydney last round. Fornaroli equalized for Perth on the stroke of half-time. But two Sky Blue goals in the space of seven minutes in the 2nd half, 58th-65th minutes, saw the home-side suffer their 2nd loss of the season. Perth held 58% of the ball and shot 6/18 on target. They completed 87% of their passes, good for 412/575. They won 59 duels and 17 aerial duels. They made 11 tackles and leaked 14 fouls, including two yellows. Perth still have just the one solitary win to start their season of with so far.
Previous History Against Each Other- The Glory have a nice recent history against the Victory, having won three of their past five contested games against them. However, when they most recently played, the Victory prevailed in a 2-0 win for the Melbourne-based side. Both Toivonen and Honda scored as the Victory won, despite having just 38% possession of the ball. Melbourne shot 5/10 on target and Perth were just 6/23 in this affair. The match before that was 2-1 to Perth.
Betting tip: Pick Perth to win at $2.70 (Sportsbet)
Also pick them to score the games opening goal at $1.97 (BetEasy)
Saturday, November 30
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Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners5:00 PM AEDT, Suncorp Stadium |
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Last Round- Despite an 85th minute Mauk strike, Brisbane gave Wellington their first victory of the season, as they went down 2-1 in New Zealand. Brisbane had 60% possession throughout the game and shot 4/10 on target. They also completed 81% of their passes, good for 465/571. They won 70 duels and 23 aerial duels. They also leaked a high 17 fouls in this one, including two yellows. Things aren’t looking so prosperous for Fowler’s men as of yet. They currently sit in 8th on the table with a GD of -2. They have just one win this season also.
The Mariners won and boy oh boy wasn’t it a sweet one for the Central Coast lads as they kept a clean-sheet for the first time in forever. They beat Western United 1-0 as the games only goal came via Gallifuoco in the 49th minute of the match. The Mariners had 47% possession and shot 3/8 on target in the match. They also completed a strong 80% of their passes, good for 365/441. They won 54 duels and 13 aerial duels, They made a big 23 tackles and gave away just right fouls and two yellows.
Previous History Against Each Other- Six of the past seven games played between these sides have been decided by a goal or less. They love a tight one when versing one another. And when they last played, it was the Mariners who prevailed as they knocked the Roar of their perch and sent them crashing out of the FFA Cup with a 2-2 draw, winning 4-2 on penalties. Simon made his. Then O’Neil made his. Stensness made his. Gillesphey made his. Duric made his. O’Donovan fluffed his. Melling made his. And Aldred fluffing his meant the Roar were out and the Mariners were through. Before that it was a hectic 5-3 Brisbane victory, with seven different goal-scorers and two reds to O’Neil and then Simon.
Betting tip: Pick the Mariners to win at $4.50 (Sportsbet, UniBet, Bet365)
Pick them to score the matches first goal at $2.62 (BetEasy)
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Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney Wanderers7:30 PM AEDT, McDonald Jones Stadium |
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Last Round- Newcastle’s last match was a well-deserved 1-0 victory over Western United, as they had another bye last round. Angus Thurgate scored the match’s only goal in the 36th minute. Despite only having 36% of the ball during the game, the Jets still brought home all three decisive points in what could be their best effort of the season to date. They shot 5/15 on target and completed 75% of their passes. That was good for 244/325. They won 40 duels and 15 aerial duels. They also made 10 tackles and gave away a high 17 fouls, two yellows included. Newcastle are currently 9th on the ladder, but sit just two points, less than a win, of a finals spot.
Babbel let rip with several f-bombs whilst fuming to a reporter post-match after his sides 3-2 loss to City. He unleashed the tirade after the reporter tried to bait him with an antagonizing question. I personally believe he was well within his rights to do so. He was furious after a penalty-call ended up deciding the result. Maclaren pipped them for the three points with the 92nd minute winner. Yeboah scored a double for the Red & Black in the 2nd and 80th minutes of the game. Western Sydney had 40% possession, shot 6/9 on target and completed 74% of their passes, good for 264/356. The Wanderers are currently 4th on the table and sit just two points of 3rd. This was only their 2nd loss so far this season.
Previous History Against Each Other- The Jets have surprisingly dominated the Wanderers in recent times as they’ve won four of their past five clashes against them. The winning Newcastle scores have been 3-2, 5-1, 2-0 and 4-0. Some real big scores in their. In the entertaining and most recent 3-2 match, Thurgate scored the late 82nd minute winner. O’Donovan and Petratos also scored for Newcastle that day. The goal-scorers for Western Sydney were Baccus and Mahazi. Western Sydney had 51% possession and Newcastle were at 49%. The winners shot 4/8 on target. And the losers shot 6/15 on target. Will we see another closely contested affair like that in this one?
Betting tip: Pick Newcastle to claim the upset victory at $2.30 (Sportsbet)
Also pick both teams to score at $1.60 (BetFair)
Sunday, December 1
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Western United v Sydney FC4:00 PM AEDT, GMHBA Stadium |
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Last Round- Western United away from home suffered a questionable and shock defeat to the Central Coast. Mark Rudan called BS on the VAR as post-match he exclaimed that supposedly not one call has gone their way all year. And he strongly believed his side, the new boys should’ve received two spot-kicks. WU owned 53% of the ball and shot 6/22 on target. Their terrible shooting shot them in the foot this game and was a disappointing aspect of their overall performance against the Mariners. They completed 84% of their passes, 416/493. They won 44 duels and 17 aerial ones. They made 13 tackles and gave up 11 fouls. Among those 11 were three yellows. WU sit 5th on the table at the moment and have dropped down after their loss last round. However, they are still currently only one win of 3rd spot.
In a rematch of last seasons Grand Final, Sydney made light work of Perth in their 3-1 victory. Le Fondre, Barbarouses and Ninkovic all put the ball into the back of the net in the utter rout of last seasons Minor Premiers. Controversy surrounded this one as a slight tug to the shit of Ninkovic, resulted in Le Fondre converting the resulting spot-kick. Suffice to say the home-crowd were not happy about that contentious call. Sydney had 42% possession and shot 4/7 on target. They completed 77% of their passes, good for 266/347. They won 49 duels and 13 aerial ones. They also leaked 14 fouls and two yellows to their name. Sydney are 2nd at the moment and only a point of City with a game in hand over them. They’re flying high to start the season of with.
Previous History Against Each Other- Exciting that this will be the first game ever contested between these two sides isn’t it? Sydney vs Victory is a big one! As is Sydney vs City! Perhaps Sydney vs Western United could become big too? Both sides are performing well this season and will be hard to beat throughout the year. Both sides have star players in the likes of Le Fondre and Berisha. And both sides have achieved some superb results so far this season. Strap yourselves into your seat, we’re in for a good one.
Betting tip: Pick Sydney to be victorious at $2.40 (Sportsbet, UniBet)
Pick them to win the race to three goals first at $5.00 (BetEasy)
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Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix6:00 PM AEDT, Coopers Stadium |
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Last Round- Adelaide dominated one of the A-League’s most original rivalries as they easily disposed of the Victory three goals to one. McGree scored a nice double and put his recent international young Football ban behind him with ease, as he found the back of the net in the 23rd and 68th minutes of the game. Maria also scored in the 63rd minute of the match. Adelaide had 50% possession and shot 6/23 on target. They also had a shot bounce of the woodwork. They completed 79% of their passes, 342/431. They won 40 duels and 11 aerial duels. They made 14 tackles and gave away a big 16 fouls, one yellow included. Adelaide have had an awesome start to the season and deservedly so are currently in 3rd place. They are just a win of 2nd and only four points of 1st. Keep doing ya thing Reds!
Wellington posted their 1st win of the season and did it in style at home against the Roar as they were victorious to the tune of a 2-1 score-line. Taylor opened the scoring for the Nix in the 10th minute of the match and Davila put the icing on the cake with yet another goal in the 49th minute. Wellington had 40% possession and shot a respectable 6/14 on target. They did however complete only 75% of their passes, 291/389. Outside of that they won 50 duels and 12 aerial duels. They made 15 tackles and gave away a huge 19 fouls, in which two yellows were included. They’re still last, but slowly and slowly they’re getting better and now they’re only a single win or only three points of a finals spot.
Previous History Against Each Other- Adelaide have beaten the Nix in seven of the past 11 games in which they’ve been pitted against one another. Not all that shabby of a record. The last one was a convincing 3-1 victory to Adelaide. Stamatelopoulos bagged a oduble with goals in the 17th and 44th minutes of the game, while Marrone also scored in the 10th minute for Adelaide. Stamateelopoulos received a red card just three minutes after his second goal, which ended his quite eventful match performance. Sheridan scored Wellington’s only goal in the 73rd minute as he got them some sort of a consolation prize. Adelaide won despite owning only 37% if the ball and shooting just 3/6 on target. The Nix in comparison shot 6/19 on target and had 63% possession of the ball throughout the game. What a win for the Reds!
Betting tip: Pick Wellington to be victorious at $5.80 (UniBet)
Also pick both teams to find the back of the net at $1.66 (Bet365)
Best Bet of the Round
Pick Sydney to be victorious at $2.40 (Sportsbet, UniBet)
Pick them to win the race to three goals first at $5.00 (BetEasy)