The following are previews with betting tips for Week 19 of the 2021/22 A-League Men season.
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Wednesday, March 16
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Adelaide United vs Western Sydney Wanderers7:35PM AEDT, Coopers Stadium |
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Adelaide head into their all-important home clash against Western Sydney have previously triumphed in three of their last four matches. A win here (albeit perhaps temporarily depending on other results within the round) will boost them all the way to just three-points off both 1st and 2nd on the ladder. Their latest result also witnessing a Coopers Stadium victory as Mohamed Toure’s 88th-minute right-footed banger provided them the nervy yet thrilling finish. Whilst George Blackwood also produced their other strike in just the games 3rd-minute. Meanwhile the Wanderers are languishing in 10th on the ladder after their disappointing 3-1 Campbelltown Derby defeat to the ‘Bulls’. Despite their strong contingent of away supporters, they were only able to fashion a brief period of life into the game via Terry Antonis’s strong 80th-minute headed ball. The game proceeded to be dead and buried when Ulises Davila buried the 98th-minute penalty into the back of the net. Thus, leaving the ‘Reds’ strong favourites to claim all three-points in this affair.
Did you know four + strikes have been scored per match in five of the last six H2Hs contested between Adelaide and Western Sydney. While the lone match that wasn’t a goal bonanza saw a combined twenty-eight attempts shot by the two sides in what was a 1-1 draw, while Western Sydney saw red late on in the 77th-minute through Mark Natta.
Betting tips: Look for Adelaide to win at $2.00 (Sportsbet)
Also look for there to be over 1.5 goals within the game at $1.20 (Sportsbet)
Friday, March 18
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Newcastle Jets vs Wellington Phoenix7:45PM AEDT, McDonald Jones Stadium |
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As Newcastle prepare to host Wellington, they do so sitting just six-points outside of a Top Six berth, however, luckily for them they also own two games in hand over 6th-placed Sydney FC. While the Phoenix have three matches in hand yet are on the same number of points as the ‘Sky Blues,’ 21. Besides the commanding attacking pedigree deployed on both sides, this encounter should also prove to be a fairly feisty one given both sides suffered disappointing results last round. For the Jets they went down 2-1 to Adelaide in Adelaide after Mohamed Toure’s audacious 88th-minute winner curtailed their hopes of collecting a valuable away point. Meanwhile for the ‘Nix’ in Brisbane against Brisbane they suffered a hearty 2-1 defeat also, as 22-year-old rival Midfielder Henry Hore broke their spirits with a commanding 76th-minute winner from long-range. This matchup is quite literally anybody’s for the taking!
Did you know that six of the last seven matchups between the Jets and the ‘Nix’ have fashioned up 3+ goals apiece. Not only that but of their last six games played overall, they have split them right down the middle with three victories each.
Betting tips: Look for there to be over 2.5 goals scored at $1.66 (Bet365)
Also look for there to be 12+ corners taken at $2.10 (Bet365)
Saturday, March 19
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Central Coast Mariners vs Macarthur Bulls5:05PM AEDT, Glen Willow Regional Sporting Complex |
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The Mariners and ‘Bulls’ are bringing their decisive styles of play to Mudgee as they face off in what is quickly turning into not a must-win but a should desperately-want-to-win clash for both sides. For the Mariners, a win could potentially allow them to go just one win off a finals spot, while for Macarthur it would allow them to keep their pursuit of 1st place well and truly alive. However, the key to both sides fortunes in this clash could perhaps lay in the palm of Macarthur Attacker Craig Noone. After producing 11 goals and 15 goal assists during his previous two seasons at City, he had a poor start to life with the A-League’s newest franchise this season. Yet as time has gone on the Englishman has quietly adapted to Ante Milicic’s style of play and scored a superb 8th-minute effort last week against the Wanderers. Now for the campaign he’s locked down three strikes, three goal assists and a wonderful 43 shot assists. His play and form could potentially be very vital to a Macarthur triumph or agonising defeat in this clash.
Did you know the last time these two teams went at it, 2732 spectators attended Central Coast Stadium as they produced a highly entertaining 3-3 draw with both Tommy Oar and Craig Noone coming up with some worldly strikes. Noone’s stunner equalised the game in the 90th-minute while only four-minutes prior Mattheus Moresche had stolen the lead with the spot kick.
Betting tips: It may not be easy, but back Macarthur to win at $3.00 (Sportsbet)
Also look for the 2nd half alone to witness over 1.5 strikes at $1.91 (Sportsbet)
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Sydney FC vs Western United7:45PM AEDT, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium |
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After conjuring up a 5-0 win over Kaya FC in the Asian Champions League qualification process and then a sturdy 2-0 win over the Glory in Perth, it appears that the ‘Sky Blues’ may have finally turned a corner in their desperate pursuit of playing finals Football this season. However, that will well and truly be put to the test against the best defensive side in Australia, as well as the exact same one that just scored twice against Melbourne City in the Derby, in the form of John Aloisi’s lethal Western United! They are a side that simply DOES NOT TAKE NO for an answer as evidenced through their current nine game unbeaten streak! Milos Ninkovic is still the classy Serbian he always was, while the ‘bobbling Brazilian’ in Bobo can still be a potent force in limited gametime. And Adam ‘Alfie’ Le Fondre should never be fully discounted either despite his struggles this season. It’s all to play for in this classy matchup of some top teams.
Did you know prior to their two-match win streak, Sydney had not won in their last five matches. However, on a completely different note, over their two matches vs the Glory and Kaya they’ve attempted a massive thirty-seven shots at goal in total. As for Western United they are undefeated throughout their past four road games, while over the last three of those they’ve conceded just one goal in total.
Betting tips: Back Aleksander Prijovic to score anytime at $2.60 (Bet365)
While Max Burgess also loves a goal this season and what better way then against his old employers at $4.75 (Bet365)
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Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory7:45PM AEDT, AAMI Park |
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ITS ANOTHER MELBOURNE DERBY! Only days after seeing Western United and Melbourne City battle it out to the tune of a 2-2 screamer at AAMI Park, we now get to witness City taking on the Victory at the exact same fantastic venue. Despite going down 2-0 inside the opening 30-minutes last round, strikes to Connor Metcalfe and of course Jamie Maclaren ensured that in the battle of 1st vs 2nd, the spoils would be fairly shared. City owned 60% possession of the ball, shot 8/23 on target and saw a shot rattle the woodwork. They played incredibly and it only further sets the tone for what is going to be a BIG, BIG affair. Only aiding the pressure already surrounding Tony Popovic’s men is the fact that they’ve won just four of their last ten games and while their spot in the Top Six is almost assuredly assured, they want a home final or two and they’re not nearly close enough to that level with the form they’re displaying currently. Derbies rarely disappoint and this one shouldn’t either.
Did you know City have banged in fifteen strikes over their past six appearances on the pitch. However, their defence has been lacking keeping just the one clean sheet throughout their last nine matchups. Meanwhile for the Victory they’ve kept a single clean sheet over their past sixteen matches.
Betting tips: Look for City to come away with the closely contested win at $1.80 (Sportsbet)
Also pick there to be over 2.5 goals scored at $1.68 (Sportsbet)
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Perth Glory vs Brisbane Roar10:45PM AEDT, HBF Park |
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With Perth preparing to play Brisbane at HBF Park they do so having just been clinically defeated their only days earlier, going down 2-0 to Sydney FC. That being their fifth loss from their past eight games. In fairness to Richard Garcia’s men, they are trying hard at the moment, but hard won’t cut it. And it only gets worse with captain Brandon O’Neil expected to miss a large amount of time after being on the receiving end of an accidental yet damaging foray from Alex Wilkinson. Now they have to face off against a Roar side with a bit of a swagger to them, as they prevailed at Dolphin Stadium 2-1 last round against the Phoenix. With their goals coming courtesy of Rahmat Akbari (7th-minute) and Henry Hore (76th-minute). While as an added bonus, their defence was very resistant as well, leaking just the one goal despite facing twenty-two attempts at goal in total. Both teams on their day are capable of significant surprises, so no matter who topples this affair it should be highly entertaining.
Did you know Bruno Fornaroli has previously scored two goals from four games in the UEFA Cup, while he’s also contested three games of Champions League Football and has played X4 in the Europa League. Meanwhile A-League wise for the Glory he has scored a grand total of 27 goals throughout roughly 2.5 seasons, along with registering seven goal assists. Meanwhile Nikola Mileusnic is leading the goalscoring charts for Brisbane this campaign with five from eleven. His best ever equal total in the A-League with ten less games played (11 vs 21). And he has forty total goals throughout his professional career.
Betting tips: Look for Bruno Fornaroli to open the scoring at $6.00 (Bet365)
While you can also look for there to be no goals scored from 00:00 to 09:59 at $1.18 (Bet365)
Sunday, March 20
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Western Sydney Wanderers vs Adelaide United7:05PM AEDT, CommBank Stadium |
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For the second time in a week the Wanderers will go head-to-head against the ‘Reds,’ instead this time it’ll be contested at CommBank Stadium as opposed to South Australia. And the Wanderers will need a significant amount of luck on their side to prevail in this encounter, having won just 2/11 previous home stands against the visitors, an atrocious record! Only adding to Mark Rudan and his men’s woes for this matchup is the fact that Adelaide have also won 4/6 last road trips. It is not looking good for the ‘Red & Black’ here! With their latest away Derby Day defeat to Macarthur (3-1) hopefully in the rear view mirror the Wanderers should be striving for a much, much improved performance, especially in front of their loyal fans who turned up in droves to witness Saturday’s pathetic performance. It can only go up from here however meaning this match should be a toughly contested one.
Did you know since finishing 6th in the 2016-17 A-League season Western Sydney have had four straight seasons of finals-less Football, finishing 7th, 8th, 9th, and 8th. Meanwhile the ‘Reds’ have secured a Top Six berth seven out of the last nine seasons. While they are also in vastly contrasting positions on the ladder as well, with Adelaide having won 7/17 to occupy 3rd place. Whilst the Wanderers are in 10th having won just 4/15.
Betting tips: Look for the Wanderers to edge the result at $2.00 (Sportsbet)
While you can also look for there to be over 2.5 goals scored at $1.72 (Bet365)
Also look for 1+ goals to be scored in each half at $1.59 (Sportsbet)
And don’t be afraid to pick Tomer Hemed to strike the back of the net at any time at $2.40 (Bet365)
Best Bets of the week – Western Sydney Wanderers vs Adelaide United (March 20th clash)
Look for the Wanderers to edge the result at $2.00 (Sportsbet)
While you can also look for there to be over 2.5 goals scored at $1.72 (Bet365)
Also look for 1+ goals to be scored in each half at $1.59 (Sportsbet)
And don’t be afraid to pick Tomer Hemed to strike the back of the net at any time at $2.40 (Bet365)