The following are previews with betting tips for the G1 Semifinals of the 2021/22 A-League Men season.
Tuesday, May 17
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Western United vs Melbourne Victory7:05PM AEDT, AAMI Park |
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A 10th-minute Aleksander Prijovic scorcher from the right side of the box is all that separated Western United and Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park, in what was a far from convincing 1-0 ‘Green & Black’ victory. Because despite peppering away twenty-two shot attempts in total, eight of which were on target, the hosts were only able to find the back of the net once via the ‘Super’ Serbian Striker. However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom, as they now get to face archrivals Melbourne Victory twice within quick succession as they’ll fight it out for a spot in the Decider. Meanwhile besides Prijovic, star Goalkeeper Jamie Young also stood up to the task, completing several key saves as he thwarted the ‘Nix’s’ attack time after time after time. The former A-League Goalkeeper of the Year was a brick wall at the back and will undoubtedly be crucial against a Tony Popovic coached side that has fashioned fourteen strikes over their last five appearances.
Against Wellington, the home defence was certainly shoddy at times, as Young was required to make five saves in total on the evening. Whilst that represented his eleventh clean sheet of the campaign, far and away the best in the A-League! And one man that should pose a nuisance to him all night long will be opposing Striker and current Socceroo Nick D’Agostino. On the campaign he has ten strikes, despite having averaged just 52-minutes per game over twenty-four clashes. Whilst it was late last year when he brilliantly produced a 90+4 minute strike to seal what was an intense 3-1 victory over the ‘Green & Black’ themselves. This is his best ever A-League campaign and there appears to be no reason the good times can’t keep on rolling for him at his beloved AAMI Park.
United and Victory despise each other. The Western Service Crew and Vuck also hate each other. And while one side may pack out the arena, cough cough, Victory, expect Western United to fight hard, as head coach John Alosi wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s been in these sorts of high-pressure scenarios before, as has injured Playmaker Allesandro Diamanti, who will no doubt also be doing his best to get his teammates fully prepared for this encounter. We can’t also forget though that Popovic used to be teammates with Alosi and achieved a great deal of success with him, so certain mentalities will also go a significant way to deciding the Victorian winner. A Melbourne Derby though! What more could you possibly freaking ask for over a two-legged Semifinal!
*Key Statistic: The Victory have won just three of their overall nine games contested against the ‘Green & Black’!!!
Betting tips: Look for both sides to register 1+ strike a piece at $1.66 (Bet365)
Also pick the goals scored within H1 to be over 0.5 at $1.36 (Bet365)
You can also look for late drama at AAMI Park with at least 1+ goal to be scored after the 75:59 mark at $1.83 (Bet365)
Wednesday, May 18
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Adelaide United vs Melbourne City7:05PM AEDT, Coopers Stadium |
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Adelaide at Hindmarsh sent the Central Coast packing from this season’s finals series in what was a toughly contested 3-1 triumph. Craig Goodwin classily opened the scoring 26-in, before a second half 67th-minute Kusini Yengi easer made the score two to the good. Storm Roux would proceed to get one back for the visitors only four-minutes later, before Oliveira sealed the deal 92-minutes onwards. And they did it very impressively too, shooting 8/16 on target despite owning only 43% possession of the ball. Whilst the feistiness was as aggressive as ever, with both sides conceding two yellow cards a piece. That while the ‘Reds’ got booked with twenty fouls and the Mariners fourteen. Meanwhile with City having won just two of their last eleven contests in Adelaide and with Adelaide on a six-match winning streak, there is the sneaky potential for the reigning Champions to find themselves in a hell of a lot of trouble here.
Adelaide have scored thirteen goals over their last five head-to-heads vs Melbourne when contesting the City Football Group owned franchise at home. Japanese Attacker Hiroshi Ibusuki may well be the key to potentially frazzle City in this affair. From only eighteen matches this season he has conjured up six divine strikes, one goal assist and fifteen shot assists. Most importantly though, he has come up BIG TIME in the dying stages of matches, when the result has been hanging in the balance. So regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench, expect the ex-Sevilla FC player to make his presence felt, as he has done for countless clubs throughout his career.
As for City, Tom Glover is and will be their biggest what if question heading into this matchup. Once touted as a future Socceroo, he has been anything but in recent weeks, as his form has been incredibly shaky, and he’s looked more like a blooper reel as opposed to anything else. Against Perth earlier this month his unfathomable blunder gifted the Glory an easy goal, in what was a shock 2-0 victory for the home side, whilst there are plenty more unpleasant highlights that can be mentioned as well. A stop or two early on should do the 24-year-old the world of confidence. And we all know what he’s fully capable of achieving, as evidenced through his crucial role in City’s double trophy haul last campaign! But if he screws up early on Patrick Kisnorbo’s side could be significantly dented. Either way however this game should not disappoint.
*Key Statistic: City have won just one out of their last three A-League matches and have been kept scoreless twice over that period!!!
Betting tips: Look for City to stifle the ‘Reds’ with a tough win at $1.90 (Bet365)
Also back them to score first at $1.57 and to fashion over 1.5 goals overall at $1.80 (Bet365)
And look for the total number of goals scored within this clash to be an odd number at $1.95 (Bet365)
Best G1 Semifinals Picks –
Look for Western United to qualify over their two Semifinals at $3.00 (Bet365)
Whilst you can also comfortably back City to qualify over their two legs too at $1.25 (Bet365)