Just four teams remain in the hunt to be crowned the 2022-23 A-League champions! This weekend we’ll see the first of two legs in each semi-finals matchup. First up we have Sydney FC vs Melbourne City on Friday night, which will be followed by Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night. We bring you our full preview and A-League best bets for both fixtures below!
2022-23 A-League: Semi-Finals (1st Leg) Preview & Betting Tips
Sydney FC vs Melbourne City
Friday May 12th, 7:45pm (AEST)
The first leg of the first semi-final should be a cracker, with Sydney FC hosting Melbourne City on Friday night. These two big clubs have featured regularly in the final four for the best part of a decade, so you can expect this to be an entertaining game in front of a raucous Sydney crowd.
Sydney FC finished the home and away season on a three-game win streak and were able to carry that winning form into their elimination final clash with the Wanderers. Despite technically being the travelling side, the Sky Blues were able to come back from a one goal half time deficit to win 2-1 and book their spot in the semi-finals.
Melbourne City finished the home and away season on top of the table to claim yet another Premiers Plate. As a result, they were afforded a bye in the first week of finals and automatic semi-finals qualification. City have been in excellent form all season long and enter this fixture on an eight-game unbeaten run.
These clubs met just twice during the regular season and each team managed to defend their home ground with a win. However, City were by far the better team on the season as a whole, finishing 17 points ahead of Sydney and with a +28 better goal difference. They’ve consistently played at an extremely high level this season and as such, I have to give them the edge on Friday night.
Melbourne City to Win
$2.50 (1.5 Units)
Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners
Saturday May 13th, 7:45pm (AEST)
No strangers to playing each other in important matches this season, Adelaide United and the Central Coast Mariners will do battle in the first leg of their semi-final’s matchup on Saturday night. The Mariners finished the home and away season higher on the ladder and will play the second leg of this tie on their home deck as a result.
Adelaide United looked destined to finish second and gain automatic qualification to the semi-finals with a few weeks to go in the regular season, but an untimely four-game winless run to end the season saw them cough up second spot. As a result, the Reds had to do it the hard way to reach the final four and take on the Phoenix in an elimination game, which they were able to comfortably win 2-0.
In contrast to their opponents, the Mariners finished the season in sizzling form with 13 points attained from a possible 15 in their last five matches. This saw them leap frog a couple of their rivals and finish in second spot on the ladder. The Mariners are now well rested and will be full of confidence ahead of Saturday night’s fixture.
The Mariners will be licking their lips ahead of the first leg of this semi-final’s matchup knowing they’ve belted the Reds in both meetings this season (8-1 aggregate score line). They put four past them at Coopers Stadium only a fortnight ago, and on those efforts alone I have to side with them at decent odds this weekend.
Central Coast Mariners to Win
$2.50 (1 Unit)
