The A-League enters Week 6 and we’re offered a full complement of matches from Friday night!
Sydney suffered a disappointing defeat to the old enemy in last weekend’s Big Blue but will be confident of returning to winning form at the expense of the Mariners of Saturday.
Perth Glory will attempt to extend their winning streak to five when they travel to New Zealand on Sunday afternoon.
ADELAIDE UNITED VS BRISBANE ROAR
Adelaide
Last 5 Matches: DDWLW
Ladder Position: 4th
Goal Difference: +3 (GF 8, GA 5)
Roar
Last 5 Matches: DDLDW
Ladder Position: 6th
Goal Difference: +1 (GF 6, GA 5)
Week 5 winners Adelaide and Brisbane will do battle on Friday night and both teams have live claims on winning. The Roar undoubtedly produced their best performance of the season to sink Melbourne City and several passages of play suggested they could be a legitimate championship threat this time around. Adelaide is a tough road trip and the draw looms as a potentially lucrative betting play.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS VS SYDNEY FC
Mariners
Last 5 Matches: DDLLL
Ladder Position: 10th
Goal Difference: -7 (GF 5, GA 12)
Sydney
Last 5 Matches: DWWDL
Ladder Position: 3rd
Goal Difference: +4 (GF 8, GA 4)
Sydney FC are licking their wounds after losing last weekend’s Big Blue, but they’re offered the perfect opportunity to atone when the play the last-placed Mariners. Its been a torrid start to the season for the Central Coast, who are yet to record a win and who face another mammoth task on Saturday.
MELBOURNE VICTORY VS WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
Victory
Last 5 Matches: LLWWW
Ladder Position: 2nd
Goal Difference: +3 (GF 10, GA 7)
Wanderers
Last 5 Matches: DLWDL
Ladder Position: 8th
Goal Difference: -1 (GF 6, GA 7)
The Wanderers will attempt to do what their crosstown rivals couldn’t do in Week 6 when they play Melbourne Victory on Saturday night. The Victory were rank outsider to beat Sydney FC in the Big Blue but mustered a spirited performance to walk away 2-1 winners. The Wanderers have been pretty inconsistent and enter this match off the back of a loss to the Jets. There’s still plenty of meat on the bone for the Victory in head-to-head betting and I am happy to ride their streak.
WELLINGTON PHOENIX VS PERTH GLORY
Phoenix
Last 5 Matches: WDLLL
Ladder Position: 9th
Goal Difference: -6 (GF 3, GA 9)
Glory
Last 5 Matches: DWWWW
Ladder Position: 1st
Goal Difference: +5 (GF 11, GA 6)
It’s first versus ninth when the Glory travel to New Zealand on Sunday afternoon. Wellington’s positive start to the season is well and truly in the rear-view mirror and they are now looking down the barrel of a fourth-consecutive defeat. Perth meanwhile are undefeated after five matches and are sitting pretty at the top of the table. I can’t see any real reason why they’ve been priced as generously as they have, and I am more than happy to take the $2.20 on offer for them to win.
MELBOURNE CITY VS NEWCASTLE JETS
City
Last 5 Matches: WDLWL
Ladder Position: 5th
Goal Difference: -2 (GF 5, GA 7)
Jets
Last 5 Matches: LDLDW
Ladder Position: 7th
Goal Difference: 0 (GF 5, GA 5)
An intriguing match to end Week 6 and a case to be made for both City and the Jets. City crashed to a shock defeat at the hands of Brisbane Roar last weekend and will eager to respond to that performance and result with a win this weekend. The Jets finally recorded their first win of the campaign via a terrific performance against the Wanderers away. A repeat of that would see them tough to beat again, but I am happy to sit on the fence.