The Central Coast Mariners sit in first place heading into A-League matchweek nine and Macarthur FC sit in second place.
Yes, you read correctly. Last year’s wooden spooners and the newly founded Bulls sit blissfully atop of the league but come up the betting outsiders in both their games this week.
Here are the best bets and previews for our games of the round below.
adelaide united v central coast
february 19th 7:05pm
The Central Coast Mariners are vying to keep top spot on the A-League table when it travels to Coopers Stadium to face the struggling Adelaide United.
It has been an incredible turn of fortune for the Mariners who, after sitting in the doldrums of the A-League last season, have catapulted up the table having won all three of its last three fixtures.
The Reds, however, have struggled to find their feet this year and have slumped to three straight defeats with the most recent being a crushing 4-0 loss to the A-League’s newest team Macarthur FC.
Carl Veart’s defence has conceded 14 goals this season which is the most of any side in the league and given the Central Coast Mariners front line is in brilliant goal-scoring form, Veart and his men will have the strenuous task of trying to deny veteran Matt Simon and Alou Kuol from hitting the scoresheet.
The case to be made for Adelaide is both its wins this year have been at home in front of its fans and with Central Coast facing its first match away from New South Wales this season it brings with it a different test.
Prediction: Adelaide United 1 Central Coast Mariners 2
Suggested Bet: Same Game Multi
Leg 1: Both teams to score
Leg 2: Central Coast Win
Combined odds: $4.33
western united v macarthur fc
february 20th 5:05pm
It’s an A-League game in Ballarat when Western United face off against Macarthur FC for the first time in A-League history at Mars Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Bulls have looked nothing like a team who had only been assembled just under six months ago as they sit in second place on the A-League table.
For Western United, it’s been a season that looked to promise so much given the heartbreaking semi-final finish of last year but it has been anything but that.
The Black and Green army sit in 10th spot on the table having only won a solitary game from its five fixtures to date but bearing in mind it does have a couple of games in hand on teams above it at the moment.
United captain Alessanrdo Diamanti has toiled away upfront and looked dangerous alongside Besart Berisha but it is defence that will leave coach Mark Rudan concerned.
Matt Derbyshire will be eager to have a crack at this Western United back four having netted a hattrick in the 4-0 drubbing of Adelaide United last Friday.
With the Bulls undefeated in three straight league fixtures it’s form has been superior compared to that of Western United, but United do have the talent to bounce back here.
Good value in the draw at the head to head markets here.
Prediction: Western United 1 Macarthur FC 1
Suggested Bet: Draw at $3.3
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Matt Derbyshire any time goal
Leg 2: Draw
Combined Odds: $7.00
sydney fc v brisbane roar
february 20th 7:10pm
Defending A-League champion Sydney FC welcomes Brisbane Roar to Jubilee Stadium on Saturday night.
The Sky Blues have looked solid enough this year without being overly impressive only dropping points on two occasions in its opening five games. Two victories over Wellington Phoenix and success over Macarthur FC see them poised in fifth place on the league table.
Meanwhile, the Brisbane Roar, who have played three more games than their opponent, sit in third place after a four-game winning streak was halted by a 2-0 loss to Macarthur FC and a scoreless draw against the Newcastle Jets.
The Roar front third, led by gun striker Dylan Wenzel-Halls – equal first in A-League goal scorers this season – and veteran Scott McDonald, have been stopped in their tracks the last two games.
The task for Brisbane does not get any easier facing a Sydney squad laden full of talent in each third of pitch but the form of the Sky Blues looks a touch hollow.
Two victories against Wellington, who have battled away from its new home in NSW due to covid restrictions, seem to be a bit overvalued by the market here.
Brisbane Roar’s away form has seen it manufacture two wins and a loss from three games on the road.
A strike force like the one the Roar possesses cannot be kept down for too long and they can break their run of two scoreless games.
Prediction: Sydney FC 1 Brisbane Roar 2
Suggested Bet: Brisbane Roar head to head at $3.1
