The following are previews with betting tips for Round 21 of the 2022/23 A-League Mens season.
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Friday, March 17
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Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix7:45pm AEDT, Coopers Stadium |
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Competing against the Jets in Newcastle last round, the ‘Reds’ came away with a vibrant 4-2 triumph. Meanwhile over in New Zealand, the Phoenix fought valiantly and were rewarded for their efforts, courtesy of their thrilling 1-0 victory over the ‘Sky Blues’. With Adelaide in 2nd and Wellington in 5th, in addition to just three-points separating the two rivals, 34 v 31, the tone has been set for what should be a brilliant matchup of Football in front of a booming crowd in Western Australia. Only making matters all the more intriguing is that both sides have won their last two matches on the trot.
In the A-League this campaign, Craig Goodwin has conjured up a brilliant nine goals and eight assists from just nineteen matches played. Meanwhile fellow star Attacker Oskar Zawada has locked down twelve strikes and one assist from twenty appearances for the opposition. Given everything that’s on the line in this clash, it’s not unreasonable to expect the all-time Adelaide United leading goal-scorer and former Polish Cup winner respectively to set Coopers Stadium alight. Goodwin’s vision would be absolutely fine in Europe, such is his knowledge and passing ability within the game. Meanwhile for Zawada, he has feasted on the opportunities given to him this season and has been one of if not the best buy of the season in his debut campaign for the ‘Nix’. If your’e in Adelaide go to this clash or if not watch it on tv, because odds are it’ll be something pretty special.
Betting tips: Back a tight Adelaide victory to occur here at $2.03 (BoomBet)
Also look for them to be first on the score sheet at $1.61 (Bet365)
Saturday, March 18
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Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory5:00pm AEDT, McDonald Jones Stadium |
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The last four scorelines between these two entertainers are as follows, 2-2, 2-1, 3-1 and 6-1. And in particular the most recent two clashes have seen some brilliant A-League Football be played. When they last met at Macedonia Park, a pinpointed cross from Trent Buhagiar allowed Archie Goodwin to head home the equaliser just two-minutes from full-time. And prior to that at McDonald Jones Stadium it was Beka Mikeltadze who was the hero for the hosts. His bullet shot fired past Liam Reddy 90+3 minutes into the affair and into the back of the net, to steal all three-points in what was truly a dramatic clash. In addition with both side vying for a Top Six spot, this game should follow suit from its predecessors.
Speaking of Trent Buhagiar, the focus must surely be on the 25-year-old Attacker at this point in time. He left Sydney at the end of last season in order to pursue something more secure and also in order to highlight his talents more. And yes, while his four goals + four assists from nineteen matches played this campaign on the surface don’t seem too bad, when you dive into it things appear to get considerably worse for the ex-A-League wonder kid. His goal tally has come through twenty-one shots, while he’s also matched that goal number in yellow cards at four. He’s also conceded sixteen fouls, won just 51/153 duels and 5/21 aerial duels at 33% and 24% respectively. Alongside having been triumphant in just 10/41 take ons, 24%. However given the Glory’s tendencies to break down and concede a strike or two this campaign, he should be preparing massively for this one.
Betting tips: Look for both teams to score at $1.66 (Bet365)
And also look for the game to have over 2.5 goals within it at $1.80 (Bet365)
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Brisbane Roar v Western United5:00pm AEDT, Moreton Daily Stadium |
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Brisbane were perhaps a tad unlucky last weekend as they were pipped 2-1 by Melbourne City at AAMI Park. On the 80-minute mark Jay O’Shea’s cooly converted right-footed spot kick saw the game be squared up once again and fashion his fifteenth goal for the club in the process. However just eight-minutes later that was all subdued as a smart Aiden O’Neill broke the visitors hearts with a well-placed headed strike. Meanwhile Western United continued their rise up the ladder and are now just two-points out of a finals position after their tremendous 2-1 win over the Victory in the Derby. The pick of the bunch being promising Forward Noah Botic fashioning his fifth strike in as many games for the club. With John Aloisi’s Men having won their last three games in a row, if nothing else this clash is worth watching due to the visitors.
Kudos to Western United who perhaps if they were another A-League rival might’ve packed in their season already, cough cough, splutters out loud ‘Bulls’ & Victory. However after a torrid run which saw them go down in 4/7 clashes, they kept their nerve and are now on 25-points, just two behind another fallen giant in the form of Sydney FC. And John Aloisi must been credited for this! Because with everything that’s happening or reportedly has happened around the franchise, it would’ve been super easy to get bogged down by it all. But instead a lot of the lads have risen to the occasion and they are an extremely fun team to watch at the moment. And now they face off against a Brisbane side who have disappointed massively, leaking five goals in their last two clashes and also having lost their last 5/7. As the expression goes, easy money. Because this’ll be a walk in the park for the ‘Green & Black’.
Betting tip: Back a ‘Green & Black’ dub at $3.20 (BlueBet)
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Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers7:45pm AEDT, Allianz Stadium |
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Who doesn’t love a cracking Sydney Derby! The pure and utter hatred, the passion, the skills and the glory! These affairs have it all and this one should absolutely be no different from those before it. Sydney FC legend Alex Brosque was famous for bringing the fire to these games, whilst ex-AFC Champions League victor Brendon Santalab was no different. And when you fast forward to the modern day ex-Wanderers turned Sydney and Socceroos Goal Keeper Andrew Redmayne is never afraid to bring a bit of cheekiness to these proceedings. Whilst Brandon Borrello, the newest addition to the Australian team and somebody whom has eight goals + twenty-five shot assists this campaign, is never afraid to let his opinion be known either. For 90+ minutes look for them too despise each other out on the field, before they become buddies off it.
Last round the Wanderers went down to the Glory 1-0 at HBF Park. Now there are a few things that you should be aware of that went down in that affair. From two-minutes onwards Perth were down a Man after Jordan Elsey was given his marching orders by referee Alex King for a nasty challenge. Western Sydney also owned 66% of the ball and took twenty-nine shots to to Perth’s ten. Yet it was the Glory who still won! As they found an exciting winner through Aaron McEneff’s stunning rebound 90+5 in. So Marko Rudan in short will have no doubt been furious with them, with one supporter even calling online for the players not be allowed on the plane back, such was their shock and anger at what had occurred. He will have got them fixing every single issue that occurred during that match during the week. As a result you can expect the ‘Red & Black’ to come out all fired up as they take on their biggest rivals in a battle of the bravest.
Betting tips: Look for Sydney to open the scoring at $1.72 (Bet365)
Also look for 9+ corners to occur at $1.30 (Bet365)
Sunday, March 19
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Macarthur FC v Melbourne City3:00pm AEDT, Campbelltown Stadium |
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Competing at the Glen Willow Sporting Field in Mudgee the ‘Bulls’ were downright horrible as their slide down the ladder continued, 9th, as they were smashed by the Mariners 4-1. Despite opening the scoring courtesy of Danny De Silva just 11-minutes onwards, from there it was nothing but one-way barging traffic. As they leaked strikes in the 30th, 47th, 51st and 63rd-minutes of the matchup. And compounding matters is that at 51% possession, alongside sixteen attempted shots, they were presented with plenty of opportunities to score. As for City a classy Aiden O’Neil effort in the 88th-minute saw them walk away from AAMI Park with a thrilling 2-1 win over the Roar. Sitting in 1st on 12W and 4D from 19GP they are doing things very comfortably at the moment and this game should arguably be nothing more than a training run for them.
I mean this with no disrespect to Macarhtur intended, but does anybody really think that they can even claim a draw from this affair, little lone a victory? In true ‘pub team’ style (sarcasm intended), the Central Coast wiped the floor with them last weekend. And piling the misery further onto that result is the fact that Melbourne have a scarily good history against the hosts. Having never lost against them, winning five out of six in total. As well as that, their last three collective scorelines against them have been 10-3! The latest of which was 6-1! Whilst I don’t envision that sort of annihilation occurring again, it is also very difficult to picture how the ‘Bulls’ will best City just attack-wise because they have struggled hugely in that department all season long. Rado Vidosic’s troops are in for a treat right here.
Betting tips: Back a City victory at $1.62 (BoomBet)
And look for Matthew Leckie to score anytime at $2.50 (Bet365)
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Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners5:00pm AEDT, AAMI Park |
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Interestingly enough at home this season the Victory are just 3/9, however on the road this campaign the Mariners are also at 3 & 9. However barring a miracle turn around in form, one would expect the Central Coast to at some point in the match run away with it and never look back. Pointing to their most recent dub over an equally as hapless Macarthur side in Mudgee, they prevailed 4-1, courtesy of shooting a very commanding 11/18 on target. But perhaps even more impressively then that, they registered three different goalscorer on the day. As Jason Cummings x2, James McGarry x1 and Marco Tulio x1 all found the back of the net with style. When you throw Melbourne’s shaky form into the mix, two wins from their last twelve games, the Central Coast just look better and better as to who’ll take this clash out.
Bruno Fornaroli is ironically the Victory’s best player at the moment. Or at the very least in a season where they are dead-last with just eighteen points from nineteen games played, he’s pretty much the only one appearing to try week-in, week-out and the only one showing some passion for the once much-feared jersey and crest. In his sides 2-1 loss to Western United earlier this week at AAMI Park, that was extremely evident through his ferociously converted free kick on the 50-minute mark. A strike which temporarily at least breathed life back into the game for Tony Popovic’s Men. The former City captain and Striker who led them to their first-ever trophy has fashioned five goals for Melbourne on the season from fourteen games played. He’s been fearless in attack and is never one to waver from a challenge. If the Victory have any hope of getting something out of this game then it’ll all come down to their star man and spiritual leader.
Betting tip: Pick a Mariners win at $2.87 (BlueBet)
Best Bets of the Round – Sydney FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Look for Sydney to open the scoring at $1.72 (Bet365)
Also look for 9+ corners to occur at $1.30 (Bet365)