The following are previews with betting tips for Round 9 of the 2019/20 A-League season.
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Friday, December 6
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Melbourne City v Perth Glory7:30 PM AEDT, AAMI Park |
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Last Round- City’s last game was played in the round before last as they beat the Wanderers, 3-2. Brillante scored in the 73rd minute, whilst Maclaren scored in the 56th minute and also scored the late, crazy, 93rd minute winner as he came up BIG, BIG ,BIG in the clutch for Melbourne. They had 60% possession and shot 7/15 on target. They also completed 81% of their passes, good for 444/546.
For Perth they went down 1-0 to the Victory, away from home. In what was a shocking effort from last seasons Grand Finalists, they had 64% possession. Yet they shot an appalling 4/22 on target. They had two shots hit the woodwork, but 10 of them were blocked. They completed 86% of their passes, good for 511/596.
Previous History- Perth have won 6/10 past meetings between these two sides. However, the past two matches have both been draws. The latest game ended at two-goals all. For City that day, Maclaren scored a double. And for Perth their goals came via Chianese and then Castro. That match, City held 34% of the ball and Perth 66%. And there was just a combined six shots on target the entire game.
Key Player- Fornaroli. For Perth this season he’s scored just the two goals, a far cry from his hay days at City where he used to bang them in for fun. Speaking of City, if big Bruno is going to get riled up for one game at all this season, it’ll be against his former-side at his old stomping-ground. He helped deliver City a maiden trophy during his time there and what better way to play yourself back into form and have a banger of a game then against your old employers ay? I fully expect him to have a massive say on the outcome of this one.
Betting tip: Pick Perth to win at $3.60 (SportsBet)
Also pick Perth to score first at $2.26 (BetEasy)
Saturday, December 7
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Wellington Phoenix v Western Sydney Wanderers5:00 PM AEDT, Eden Park |
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Last Round- Wellington posted another win as they continued their rise up the ladder last round via their 2-1 win over Adelaide. Ball struck first for the Phoenix in the 67th minute and Davila topped things up just four minutes later with another goal of his own. The Nix held 52% of the ball throughout the game and absolutely shot away at Adelaide’s goals as they took 26 shots, nine of which landed on target. They completed 83% of their passes, good for 380/456.
Babbel is reportedly on the verge of being sacked after his side suffered a sorry 2-0 loss to Newcastle last round. Despite having 52% possession, the Red & black shot a horrible 4/22 on target, as most of their shots were awry. They did however, have two shots come of the woodwork. They also completed just 75% of their passes, good for, 309/414. This match is reportedly huge with regards to Babbel’s future at the club.
Previous History- Wellington have won the past two matches played between these two sides. The recent scores have ended 3-1 and 3-2 in the Nix’s favor. In the last match Krishna, Mandi and Williams all found the back of the net for the Yellow & Black. That was all before Duke scored a late 86th minute consolation goal for his side. Baumjohann missed a 72nd minute penalty attempt for his side, which would’ve pulled the game back a bit and Krishna saw red in the 93rd minute for a bad foul (his second yellow).
Key Player- Lopar. He might well prove to be the difference between Babbel either staying or going from his beloved Wanderers side. In an inconsistent Wanderers side this season, he can for the most part hold his head up high. Despite conceding two vs the Jets last round, he still made a total of eight saves. Four were from inside the box and four were from outside it. He’s the last man of defence and given the Nix have scored two goals in each of their last two matches, he’ll suffice to say, certainly have his hands full. He might need to make some critical saves to keep the Wanderers in this one.
Betting tip: Pick Wellington to be victorious at $2.37 (SportsBet)
Also pick them to score the games first goal at $1.85 (BetEasy)
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Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar7:30 PM AEDT, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium |
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Last Round- It was all too easy and all too familiar for the Sky Blues last round as they posted an easy two-nil win over Western United. Le Fondre scored a double for Sydney in the relaxing victory. He scored in the 27th and 49th minutes of the game. Sydney only owned 39% of the ball and shot 6/8 on target. They also kept WU to just 2/22 on target! Sydney also completed 80% of their passes, good for 313/393.
Brisbane last round posted a nice 2-0 win over the Mariners. O’Donovan scored first against his old-side in the 61st minute, before Neville scored again just five minutes later to seal the result. Brisbane had 52% possession and shot 6/15 on target. They completed 77% of their passes, good for 357/463.
Previous History- The past six matches played between these two sides have been split at three victories each. The latest match between the two was when Brisbane knocked Sydney out of this years FFA Cup with a shock 2-0 victory. Even worse for Sydney was the fact that the Roar beat them at home. Mauk score first for the Roar in the 41st minute and O’Shea scored moments later in the 47th minute. Before that Sydney won 3-1. Calver, Le Fondre and De Jong all scored for Sydney. And Bautheac scored for Brisbane.
Key Player- Le Fondre. He scored two last round vs Western United and week in week out has been one of the Sky Blues best this season. The highest ever ever goal-scoring Englishman in the A-League already has seven this season and is just two of Maclaren for the A-League’s Top Goal-scorer this season. He also has 11 shot assists and is very, very durable, as he averages 90mins per game. He’s won 2/4 tackles also and 39 total duels. He’s the complete package and against a defensively-weak Brisbane side, expect him to have a feast.
Betting tip: Pick Sydney to win at $1.46 (BetFair)
Also pick them to reach three goals first at $2.60 (BetEasy)
Sunday, December 8
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Western United v Melbourne Victory4:00 PM AEDT, GMHBA Stadium |
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Last Round- Western United lost 2-0 to Sydney. Despite having 61% possession, they went just 2/22 on target. Yep, you read that right, 2/22! They did on a more positive note however complete 88% of their passes, good for 540/612.
Melbourne finally posted another win last round as Kruse’s first goal in the A-League since 2014 saw them, beat Perth, 1-0. The Victory, despite having just 36% possession, shot 3/11 on target in the much, much, much-needed victory. They completed just 75% of their passes, good for 245/325.
Previous History- When these sides last played for the first time ever, Western United turned what was a 2-0 deficit into an eventual 3-2 win. Toivonen scored first in the 6th minute and then Dobras scored one minute later in the 7th. And it looked like it was going to be a resounding Derby Day win. But United fought back and fought back hard as Diamanti scored in the 16th minute. Then Berisha leveled the score against his old side as he found the back of the net in the 29th minute. And then came McDonald, who etched himself into Western United’s history books with the winning goal in the 51st minute. It was a high-attacking affair as there was a combined 27 shots taken throughout the game and five different goal-scorers.
Key Player- Kruse, Kruse, Kruse! He brought back memories of his golden days at the Victory as he wound back the clock a while with his goal vs Perth. interestingly enough it was the strike that won it for the Victory, as it was the only goal scored in the entire match. That will be a massive confidence booster for him, especially after some of the hateful/hurtful and BS comments he’s received online from social media trolls. He’s returning to form and from just three games this season, he already has a goal and assist to his name. Expect him to be constantly contending against WU this round.
Betting tip: Pick WU to claim the rebound win at $2.28 (UniBet)
Also pick the 2nd half to be the highest scoring one at $2.03 (BetEasy)
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Adelaide United v Newcastle Jets6:00 PM AEDT, Coopers Stadium |
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Last Round- Adelaide suffered a shock 2-1 upset defeat at the hands of the Nix last round. Their solitary goal of the game came through Mileusnic in the 57th minute. The Reds had just 48% possession and shot only 3/9 on target as they were dominated by a suddenly resurgent Wellington side. They also completed 76% of their passes, good for 318/419.
Newcastle continued their recent rise up the ladder as the killed the Wanderers 2-0 in their most recently played match. Thurgate struck first in the 78th minute and Petratos sealed it just eight minutes later as the Jets claimed the upset win. Newcastle, despite only having 48% of the ball, shot a strong 10/14 on target. Outside of that, they did only complete 73% of their passes, good for 290/396. But that’s not to take away from their strong victory even one bit.
Previous History- Adelaide have won 6/10 past matches played between these two sides. Their most recent two consecutive victories over the Jets have been 2-1 and 1-0. In the 2-1 win, McGree scored a double, as he found the back of the net in both the 49th and 61st minutes of the match. Arroyo also scored a maiden goal for Newcastle in the 37th minute of the match. Both sides shot the ball freely in that one as Adelaide went 4/12 on target and Newcastle went 8/18 on target. The Reds had 45% possession and the Jets, 45%. Adelaide completed 71% of their passes, good for 263/369 and Newcastle were at 78%, good for 338/431.
Key Player- Toure. The 19 year old could be the x-factor and the difference between either a win or a loss for the Reds. He already has one goal and five shot assists this season and could very well be a star of the future. He commands the ball and whenever he has it, he is constantly looking threatening. Adelaide have a real gem here and could expos some of the Jets older, less faster players. He’s won 2/4 takeons and has conceded just the one foul. Look for him to play strongly in his time against Newcastle.
Betting tip: Pick Newcastle to be victorious at $4.33 (SportsBet)
Pick the 1st half to be the highest scoring one at $3.05 (BetEasy)
Best Bet of the Round
Pick WU to claim the rebound win at $2.28 (UniBet)
Also pick the 2nd half to be the highest scoring one at $2.03 (BetEasy)