The following are previews with betting tips for Round 19 of the 2022/23 A-League Mens season.
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Friday, March 3
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Adelaide United v Melbourne City7:45pm AEDT, Coopers Stadium |
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Nestory Irankunda is his name and the 17-year-old kid has got game. The Tanzania-born Winger scored his second and most crucial goal of the season to date, as his belter in the 87th-minute secured Adelaide a decisive point from their 1-1 stalemate against the Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park. The ‘Reds’ highlighting their mettle in what was a nervy, nervy affair.
Meanwhile also at AAMI Park Jamie Maclaren silenced all his doubters with two swift and cutting strikes in City’s 3-2 victory over Sydney FC. Those were the Socceroos 17th and 18th goals of the season, as he now sits six-strikes above 2nd place in the top-scorer race. The reigning runner ups cut the ‘Sky Blues’ wide open, scoring twice inside the opening 13-minutes, as they also landed 7/20 shot attempts on target.
With two goals from his last four matches for the ‘Reds’, Nestory Irankunda is looking like he’ll be the next big thing to jet off from the A-League and into Europe. And he certainly has shown some pretty saucy highlights over the last couple of seasons, both within the first-team setup and playing for the youth sides as well. A lot of that can be attributed to what he does as a ‘Super Sub’ for Adelaide and something that’ll no doubt be sorely needed against the league leaders in the form of City. In his latest matchup for the ‘Reds’ the scores were even headed into the 81st-minute, before that the 79th, prior to that the 76th and 82nd-minute of their game. Adelaide suffice to say have been evenly matched lately. Irankunda however is somebody who could potentially flip the script in a home side upset, so eyes must be kept on him at all times right here.
Betting tips: Look for there to be 8+ collective corners throughout at $1.25 (Bet365)
Also look for both teams to find refuge in the back of the net at $1.63 (Bet365)
Saturday, March 4
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Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets1:00pm AEDT, Sky Stadium |
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It was a red card fiesta down on the Central Coast last Friday night as the Phoenix claimed a highly contentious 1-1 draw versus the Mariners. 58-Minutes on Brian Kaltack was given his marching orders first for the hosts. Then out of nowhere with the ball banging around in the box 90+4-minutes in, Oskar Zawada shot through for his 10th strike of the campaign to crazily even the match back up again. And finally within the dying embers of the clash both Moresche and Nick Montgomery were given the boot too. Obviously much to the disgust of the raging home supporters!
As for Newcastle they were aiming to equal a club record seven-match unbeaten streak against Western United at home last time out, instead they were smashed to smithereens as they went down 3-1. A well-placed Beka Mikeltadze strike on the 33-minute mark temporarily brought the affair back to life, but that was just seemingly delaying the inevitable. The Jets unable to do much despite their 64% possession of the ball.
The Phoenix have been pretty brash in New Zealand lately having won just three out of their last nine games at home this season. As a result a win for the Jets here could see them leapfrog Wellington (and Sydney) all the way into 5th-place on the ladder! So there is a lot on the line for the Jets in this tasty affair. And a fast start may potentially see them over the line, as in four of their six game unbeaten stretch it was in fact Arthur Papas’s troops who opened the scoring. + In their latest away game against Macarthur, despite the trying weather conditions, they still opened the scoring just eight-minutes in via Trent Buhagiar’s delicious finish from close range. Wellington perhaps got lucky against the Mariners last round and if the Jets are good enough, I expect them to punish the hosts with some real vigour.
Betting tip: Back the Jets to prevail at $3.40 (BlueBet)
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Western United v Perth Glory5:00pm AEDT, Mars Stadium |
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The ‘Green & Black’ were absolutely stellar in what was just their second away win of the season to date, as they outclassed the Jets thoroughly 3-1 at McDonald Jones Stadium last Saturday afternoon. Opening the scoring and also grabbing the games second goal as well was Noah Botic, who now has three strikes from his last two appearances. Whilst Tongo Doumbia rounded out the scoring with his late, keenly taken header. This an affair where Western United converted three of their four on target chances, despite owning just 36% possession of the ball.
After a clash of heads in his sides 2-1 loss to Brisbane at Dolphin Stadium, Darryl Lachman was taken to a nearby hospital, thankfully however he is all good now. It left quite a sour taste in the Glory’s mouth, after they shot 4/14 on target + had a shot rattle off the woodwork and perhaps most importantly of all, owned 64% possession of the ball. However it wasn’t to be as Ruben Zadkovich’s Men are still a work in progress.
History shows us that these two sides put defence to the side whenever they play one another, as in seven of their overall eight matchups two + strikes have been produced on each occasion. With the latest two encounters producing a massive nine strikes! And the latest ‘Green & Black’ home match against the Glory was certainly one that won’t be forgotten easily for Perth, as they were battered, battered and battered to the tune of a 6-0 scoreline. The hosts shot a ridiculous 11/18 shots on target, as Lachlan Wales found the back of the net three times. Whilst Dylan Pierias – 34th-minute, Aleksander Prijovic – 52nd-minute and Dylan Wenzel-Halls – 83rd-minute also featured on the scoresheet as well. They absolutely ransacked the Glory for all they had and more. So the major question heading into their encounter is will history repeat itself? I’m not entirely sure about that, but what I can guarantee is that this will be an entertaining match 1000% worth tuning into.
Betting tips: Back Western United to triumph at $2.10 (BlueBet)
And back them to score first as well at $1.66 (Bet365)
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Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners5:00pm AEDT, CommBank Stadium |
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I’ll keep this short and sweet just like the Wanderers did at CommBank Stadium last round, the ‘Red & Black’s’ home venue where they thrashed rivals Macarthur 4-0. Brandon Borrello scored his seventh goal of the season to date just three-minutes in, whilst just three-minutes later the ‘Bulls’ were down a man after an inexplicably stupid late challenge from Craig Noone. Then Romain Amalfitano got on the scoresheet – 37th-minute as did both Morgan Schneiderlin with his first strike for the club and Calem Nieuwenhof too – 61st-minute, in what was a five-star performance!
As for the Mariners, whether right or wrong, they suffered some horrible luck at Industree Group Stadium throughout their 1-1 draw against the Phoenix. Early on in the second-half Brian Kaltack saw red and then 90+4-minutes into the affair the ‘Nix’ forged a rather ‘luck of the draw’ equaliser after the ball was pinning around in the box for what seemed like forever. And then to add insult to injury both Moresche and the ever-loveable Nick Montgomery were given their matching orders too. It was not a good day to be a Central Coast supporter, that much was for sure.
Foe the hosts they are currently 3rd, while the visitors are 2nd, in what is guaranteed to be an absolutely cracking game of Football! With both sides on an impressive 28PTS for the season, yet with each also just – 5PTS falling out of the Top Six all together, there is so, so, so much to contest for in Parramatta on Saturday evening. The Mariners might come out with a better start due to the ridiculous occurrences of last round, however give it 20-25-minutes or so and Marko Rudan’s Men will rightfully settle into the scintillatingly tasty affair as well. And there is so much star power to look forward to! Brandon Borrello is starting to create some rightfully earned noise about a future Socceroos jersey with the Attacker in some rich form at the moment. Whilst Jason Cummings is in fact a Socceroo with a grand 12 goals on the season. Beni Nkololo has also produced five strikes this season alongside the ‘Cum Dog’ up front. And there’s Morgan Schneiderlin, a former Manchester United and Everton Attacker who in just four games for the ‘Red & Black’ thus far has procured one goal and one assist. There is plenty to look forward to in this matchup!
Betting tip: Look for there to be over 3.5 goals collectively scored at $2.75 (Bet365)
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Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory7:45pm AEDT, Allianz Stadium |
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Diego Caballo scored a rocket of a free kick from outside the box against Melbourne City at AAMI Park … however it came in the 96th-minute, as his side were already down 3-1. So despite it being just a consolation goal in the end, it could’ve been so much more had Sydney not let both of Jamie Maclaren haunt them for a double and ex-employee Marco Tilio double Melbourne’s lead to two just 13-minutes on. With Steve Corica’s side still desperately holding onto their finals spot within the Top Six.
Meanwhile for the Victory they too contested their latest affair at AAMI Park, a match in which Nestory Irankunda stole the show with an absolute belter of an 87th-minute equaliser. However it wasn’t all bad as Bruno Fornaroli opened the scoring late on in the second-half, just six-minutes before the ‘Reds’ struck to be exact, with a cooly converted penalty. With that coming after a poor foul from Hiroshi Ibusuki.
Sydney vs Melbourne is the type of Derby that brings out the fiercest of moments. You only have to look no further than Jake Brimmer’s flexing free kick conversion and Max Burgess’s belter in the ‘Sky Blues’ most recent one-goal victory in Victoria. Both of those goals being absolute highlights that would’ve come across as appealing to even the most skeptical A-League supporter out there. They’ve also contested countless finals against one another, had an endless amount of fights and even the fans despise each other. Tony Popovic, the head honcho in Melbourne currently, even ended his playing career in Moore Park/began his managerial one there too. Whilst even during the darkest of days these two teams still show up in an attempt to rattle one another. And while the Victory might be experiencing those at the moment, it sure as hell won’t deter them from putting in a proud performance. Expect this to be a bloody tough battle and one that’s extremely closely contested at that.
Betting tips: Look for a tight Sydney dub at $2.05 (BoomBet)
Also look for there to be 9+ collective corners during the Derby at $1.50 (Bet365)
Sunday, March 5
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Macarthur FC v Brisbane Roar3:00pm AEDT, Campbelltown Stadium |
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To infamously quote ex-Macarthur coach Dwight Yorke, “the ‘Bulls’ are a pub team”, or at least they appeared to be so on Saturday night as they were thrashed 4-0 by Western Sydney. Macarthur’s play of the game as announced on their social media channels was a shot on target, one which was easily save by rival Goal Keeper Lawrence Thomas no less! So the less said about this encounter the better!
Meanwhile for Brisbane they held their heads hight at Dolphin Stadium after they came away with a well-deserved 2-1 win over Perth. Despite conceding a pretty sensational opener in the 19th-minute to Jack Clisby, they preserved through it all and forged some well earned strikes courtesy of Tom Aldred nine-minutes later and Henry Here on the 45-minute mark. And considering the Roar owned just 36% possession of the ball throughout the game makes their victory all the more impressive, as they aim to go strength-to-strength since the sacking of Warren Moon.
No Ulises Davila for the rest of the season probably puts an end to their finals hopes. However, one of the small bright joys that comes out the influential captains absence from the field is the youth who might hopefully shine throughout it and get all the more game time because of it. With one player that particularly comes to mind first up is 21-year-old Jake Hollman, 20-year-old Ali Auglah and 24-year-old Charles M’Mombwa. Hollman to his credit did some time with the Northbridge Bulls before making the jump to first grade and in his limited minutes this season he’s been pretty impressive. His passing in particular has been great, with 311 completed passes to his name, at an 81% accuracy rate. And while Auglah is still very raw and averaging just 30-minutes per match, he has shown some real promising glimpses of his potential. Meanwhile for M’Mombwa he has featured in just 11/18 games this season and has also been a bit raw. But some more consistent games and playing time will no doubt help speed up his development into a better player as well. Look out for these three over the coming weeks. There may be some promising things coming in their favour.
Betting tip: Look for Brisbane to score the games last goal at $2.03 (BoomBet)
Best Bets of the Round – Adelaide United vs Melbourne City
Look for there to be 8+ collective corners throughout at $1.25 (Bet365)
Also look for both teams to find refuge in the back of the net at $1.63 (Bet365)