The following are previews with betting tips for Round 12 of the 2019/20 A-League season.
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Friday, December 27
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Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers7:30 PM AEDT, Coopers Stadium |
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Last Round- Adelaide are currently 5th on the ladder and are in danger of slipping out of the Top Six altogether after their damaging 2-1 defeat to the Central Coast last round. They conceded the games opening goal in just the 4th minute and from that major setback, it was difficult for them the rest of the game. Their goal came via Halloran in the 46th minute of the match. They had 44% possession and shot just 5/17 on target. They also completed only 73% of their passes. That was good for 255/351.
The Wanderers vitally snapped their losing streak last round, but they still are outside of a finals spot, after their 1-1 draw with Western United. It was their 2nd draw of the season and their goal came via Ziegler in the 79th minute of the game. Unfortunately for them they conceded an 87th minute equaliser. They owned 54% of the ball, yet shot just 4/19 on target. They also completed 84% of their passes, good for 383/454.
Past History- Adelaide have won four of their last seven clashes against the Wanderers. However the last game between the two sides was a 3-1 victory to Western Sydney.
Key Factor- Adelaide playing their way back into form. Despite currently being in 5th spot, they have lost two of their past three matches. And the other game they just escaped vs the lowly Jets, because Troisi scored a late, late winner. A win here gives Adelaide some more breathing room within the Top Six, but a loss could be potentially costly to them. Expect the reigning FFA Cup champions to put in a good shift against a struggling Wanderers side.
Betting tip: Pick Adelaide to win at $2.18 (UniBet, BetEasy)
Also pick them to score the games first goal at $1.82 (BetEasy)
Saturday, December 28
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Western United v Wellington Phoenix5:00 PM AEDT, Mars Stadium |
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Last Round- Calver scored the late 87th minute equaliser after an assist from Pain in his sides gripping 1-1 draw with WSW last round. It was a result that leaves them 3rd on the ladder and just two points of 2nd place. It was also their 2nd draw of the year. They had 46% possession and shot 2/4 on target. They also completed 80% of their passes, good for 316/395.
Wellington are 6th, only a win of 4th and are flying high after their extremely entertaining 2-2 draw vs Sydney last round. Piscopo scored for them in the 25th minute and then Davila had one for them again in the 37th. They shot 4/12 on target, while having 54% possession of the ball. They also completed an impressive 91% of their passes, good for 526/580.
Past History- When these sides last met it was a 1-0 win to Western United. Berisha scored the games only goal in the 34th minute as his side shot 6/16 on target. The Nix were kept to just 1/14 on target throughout the entire match!
Key Factor- The absolute high-flying, stunning, brave form Wellington are displaying at the moment should have a huge bearing on the outcome of this game. Over their recent run, they have lost to City because of a very, very controversial spot-kick decision, drawn 1-1 vs Melbourne, beaten Brisbane, beaten Adelaide, beaten WSW, drawn against MEL again and drawn vs Sydney. Their attacking, fast-paced brand of Football should be just to much for an old and slow Western United side to handle.
Betting tip: Pick Wellington to win at $3.20 (Bet365)
Also pick them to score first at $2.12 (BetEasy)
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Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar7:30 PM AEDT, McDonald Jones Stadium |
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Last Round- The Jets were poor last round, they were in shambles, they played horrible. All of this came about via their 6-2! Yes that’s right, 6-2 defeat at the hands of Perth. They conceded goals in the 15th, 33rd, 46th, 58th, 70th and 83rd minutes of the game. Their goals were through Topor-Stanley and Ugarkovic. They shot 5/12 on target, while owning 55% of the ball. They also completed 81% of their passes, good for 396/487.
Brisbane had a bye last round, as a result their last match was their 2-0 defeat to Western United the previous round. They are in 10th, with just eight points and a GD of -6. Surely Fowler would have to be on the hot seat now? They had 71% possession, yet shot a crap 1/20 on target!!! They did however complete 89% of their passes, that was good for 614/690.
Past History- When these two sides last played each other, the Jets romped them to the tune of a six goals to one score-line. O’Donovan had two, Champness had two, Petratos had one as did Appiah. They shot 11/19 on target with 55% possession.
Key Factor- It’s the battle of the cellar-dwellers. One one hand you have a side that is constantly conceding large amounts of goals per game. And on the other you have a side with one of the best strikers in the league, a former Liverpool player as manager and they’re still utter crap. The experience of Ernie Merrick over his opposing manager should be critical here. But honestly whichever side shoots better and goes for it more, is more ballsy, should be the winners here.
Betting tip: Pick Brisbane to somehow win at $3.40 (UniBet, Bet365)
Pick Roy O’Donovan to score any-time vs his former side at $2.50 (Bet365)
Sunday, December 29
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Sydney FC v Melbourne City6:30 PM AEDT, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium |
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Last Round- Sydney were held to a highly entertaining 2-all draw vs Wellington last round. Their goals came via Le Fondre in the 14th min and a Taylor OG in the 56th. Sydney are still very comfortable in 1st and are two wins clear of 2nd. They had 46% possession and shot 2/5 on target. They also completed 85% of their passes, good for 412/483.
City currently sit nicely in 2nd place with six wins, a draw and three losses from 10 matches played this campaign. However last round was a stark reminder that there’s still a lot of the season to go and that anything can happen after they lost 2-1 in the Melbourne Derby. They conceded a double to Toivonen as their only goal came via Delbridge in the 56th minute. They shot 3/11 on target with 51% possession. They completed 77% of their passes, good for 359/464.
Past History- Sydney have won eight of their past nine games vs City. However the last clash saw Melbourne win 2-0 as they had goals through Harrison (62nd min) and Retre OG (79th min). Sydney shot 0/8 on target that day.
Key Factor- High-octane attacking Football. Just as a small sample size, Sydney have scored 2, 1 and 5 goals over their last three games respectively. City have scored one, four and zero over that same span. Their zero was an outlier given that they had 13 shots and the game before that they scored 3. Le Fondre, Barbarouses and Co rep SYD strongly in that department. For City Maclaren, Luna & Co are their representatives. This should be a high-scoring game. And those superstar attacking players will be the ones who have the biggest say on the outcome of the game.
Betting tip: Pick the Sky Blues to be victorious at $1.95 (BetFair)
Pick Adam Le Fondre to score any-time at $1.99 (BetEasy)
Tuesday, December 31
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Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory7:00 PM AEDT, Central Coast Stadium |
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Last Round- The Mariners caused a huge upset last round as they beat the highly placed Reds 2-1 at home. Rowles scored his 2nd goal of his Mariners tenure in just the 4th minute. And then Duric ably backed him up with another one of his own in the 42nd minute. This was just their 3rd win of the season and as it stands they are now only two points of an improbable finals berth. Their shot 4/9 on target with 56% of the ball. They also completed 78% of their passes, good for 353/453.
Perth killed the Jets last round 6-2!!! What a win for last seasons runner ups. Their goals came via a double to Castro, a double to Fornaroli, one to Kilkenny and one to Chianese. This game was pure, utter murder. As a result the Glory are 4th and it was their 4th win of the season. They shot 8/12 on target, with 45% possession of the ball. They also completed 77% of their passes, good for 297/386.
Past History- The Glory have won seven of their last 12 clashes against the Mariners. The last game however saw the Central Coast one up them to the tune of a 2-1 score-line. Franjic scored for Perth. While both De Silva and Silvera scored for the Central Coast. 3/9 Was shot on target by the winners and 5/18 by the losers.
Key Factor- For the Mariners, their win last weekend was only their 3rd of the campaign. They need to come out strong and not afraid in order to back it up. For Perth, it’s all about continuing their fine goal-scoring run and backing up their 6-2 thrashing of the Jets. Even in their loss, the Glory conceded two. And while the Mariners have been better defensively as of late, it wasn’t that long ago that they conceded two to Brisbane of all teams. Watch for both sides defences, whether good or bad, to be critical in whoever wins this game.
Betting tip: Pick Perth to be victorious at $1.91 (SportsBet)
Also pick them to reach three goals first at $3.55 (BetEasy)
Best Bet of the Round
Pick Brisbane to somehow win at $3.40 (UniBet, Bet365)
Pick Roy O’Donovan to score any-time vs his former side at $2.50 (Bet365)