The 2015-16 A-league season enters another round this weekend with the Western Sydney Wanderers leading the way and taking on the defending champions the Melbourne Victory on Saturday night. Continue reading for our A-league Round 18 Preview and Betting Tips.
- - -
Adelaide United vs Sydney FC (Friday 7.40pm AEDT)
The Reds winning streak continued as they picked up a narrow victory in Newcastle last week and they are now in a position where they can leapfrog into 3rd spot on the ladder with a fifth straight victory this weekend. It has been a remarkable turn around for a side that couldn’t buy a goal throughout the opening rounds and they now have a stronger goal scoring record than the Sky Blues they will face on Friday night.
Sydney’s goal scoring issues continued against the Roar as they created the majority of the opportunities in the first half but found themselves trailing head into halftime. They were able to capitalise early in the second but a mistake at the back saw them fall behind and frustration begin to build up. Alex Brosque remains on the sidelines for this match and we don’t see the Sky Blues troubling the Reds defence too much in this one as Adelaide will earn the victory at home.
TIP: Adelaide United @ $2.20 with Sportsbet
Brisbane Roar vs Central Coast Mariners (Saturday 5.15pm AEDT)
The Mariners picked up a solid victory in Wellington last weekend and it has given them a bit of an opportunity to end the season away from the wooden spoon. Their new signing Luis Garcia has made an immediate impact by scoring the opening goal on the weekend and contributing to the other two-team goals. The former Liverpool Champions League winner will bring a lot of experience to the young side, however they face a tougher opposition this weekend.
The return of Jamie Maclaren from Olyroos duty saw the Roar bounce back from two straight heavy defeats to earn a victory on the road. Maclaren marked his return with a goal and he will be searching for more this weekend against the Mariners defence that is by far the worst in the league. The Roar will pick up a comfortable win and continue to fight for the top spot.
TIP: HT/FT – Roar/Roar @ $2.02 with Crownbet
Melbourne Victory vs Western Sydney Wanderers (Saturday 7.30pm AEDT)
A shock loss to the Glory last week saw the Victory continue to show inconsistencies. However, they have been strong at home throughout this season and are currently on a nine-match stretch without a loss on home soil.
The Wanderers maintained their top spot after picking up a 4-3 victory in an entertaining match against Melbourne City in a top of the table clash. The Wanderers seemed to be cruising with 20-minutes remaining in the match when they led 3-0 but two quick goals to the City made the Wanderers faithful nervous. They still managed to earn the three points which is something they have done all season as in all the 10 matches they have led at some point they have gone on to win.
The Wanderers were victorious the last time these two sides faced but with the Victory the home side this time around, we are picking the points to be split.
TIP: Draw @ $3.60 with Palmerbet
Wellington Phoenix vs Perth Glory (Sunday 3pm AEDT)
The Glory has begun to show resurgence similar to the way Adelaide United did. A lot of the credit can be given to Andy Keogh who has returned to the side after a disappointing stint with Thai side Ratchaburi. The striker has contributed massively to the side picking up 11 goals in their past three matches which has led to two victories.
The Phoenix suffered a loss at home to the bottom placed Mariners last week and never looked entirely in the contest. It was the third straight 3-1 loss for the Phoenix as their defence has been broken far too easily. Despite the Phoenix having won the last two match ups between these sides, we are backing the Glory to secure the win with their new attacking potency.
TIP: Glory @ $2.70 with William Hill
Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne City (Sunday 5pm AEDT)
The Jets showed signs of new life last week against the Reds but the same problem that has fazed them for the majority of the season let the side down as they failed to capitalise on the chances they created.
Melbourne City’s defence continued to let them down as they showed that goal scoring is not an issue for the side that now has 43 goals in 17 matches and 14 more than any other team in the league. Their attack should be able to crack the weak defence of the Jets on multiple occasions and due to the inability of the Jets to find the back of the net with just 13 goals from 17 matches, we are predicting City to earn a comfortable victory in this one.
TIP: City @ $1.73 with William Hill
