The second round of 2022/23 A-League concludes on Sunday, October 16, with three fixtures in Wellington Phoenix vs Central Coast Mariners, Macarthur FC vs Adelaide United, and Western Sydney United vs Sydney FC.
So far, our A-League picks have been treating us well, barring Saturday’s mishaps, as we’ll look to bounce back with our picks for Sunday’s games.
Wellington Phoenix vs Central Coast Mariners Betting Pick
- When: Sunday, October 16 – 13:00 AEDT
- Where: Sky Stadium in Wellington, Australia
- Weather: Partly Sunny, 19°C
Wellington Phoenix produced a highly entertaining affair last week when they held Adelaide United at a 1-1 draw at Westpac Stadium. Even though the Phoenix did not get the maximum points, a point was a fantastic outcome considering they were down to ten men since the 25th minute, when the new signing, Yan Sasse, received a somewhat controversial red card.
Notably, the Nix even scored an goal in the 50th minute and were on track to win it all. But, unfortunately, that was before Ben Halloran sunk their spirits with an equaliser in the 93rd minute. Nevertheless, it was a solid showing from the Nix.
Central Coast Mariners enter the 2022/23 season following a fantastic top-six finish last term, which is seriously impressive considering their tight budget. That doesn’t necessarily mean that CCM will do well in this bout, but they’re fighters and a tough team to beat – as they showed last season.
Still, we’ve yet to see the Mariners play in the 2022/23 A-League campaign, as their latest game against the Jets got postponed due to floods.
The Mariners and Phoenix have a fascinating H2H record, which heavily favours the former, who have won their last three meetings with 5-0, 4-0, and 2-1. Yet, despite what the H2H figures suggest, the Nix shouldn’t be underestimated. They played well against Adelaide and have been producing consistent games towards the end of last season, culminating with a QF appearance in the Australia Cup. It’s hard to doubt Wellington Phoenix for this affair.
- Prediction: Wellington Phoenix +0.00 Asian Handicap (Same as Draw No Bet)
Macarthur FC vs Adelaide United Betting Pick
- When: Sunday, October 16 – 15:00 AEDT
- Where: Campbelltown Stadium in Sydney, Australia
- Weather: Cloudy, 22°C
Macarthur FC and Adelaide United claimed hard-fought draws in the opening round of 2022/23 A-League, against Brisbane Roar (0-0) and Wellington Phoenix (1-1), respectively. Now they’ll get another shot at claiming all three points.
Macarthur FC will play their first home game of the season this Sunday, which is a positive for the Bulls, despite their less-than-convincing 2-1-2 home record to close out the 2021/22 A-League season. However, it’s hard to ignore that Macarthur had registered 19 goals in their last seven games, proving that they know how to find the back of the net.
And if those figures indicate, Adelaide’s stoic defence will be in trouble. They had already conceded a goal against a 10-man Wellington Phoenix, which gives us little hope that the visitors will manage to hold the Bulls’ potent attack at bay.
Moreover, Macarthur FC gave us nothing to complain about so far. Admittedly, they were a bit unlucky in round one, but this quality team has all the right tools to crack Adelaide United open.
- Prediction: Macarthur FC +0.00 Asian Handicap (Same as Draw No Bet)
Western United vs Sydney FC Betting Pick
- When: Sunday, October 16 – 17:00 AEDT
- Where: AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia
- Weather: Partly Sunny, 15°C
The final match of the day will see the reigning A-League champions, Western United, clash with the five-time Australian champions, Sydney FC, in what promises to be a very close and exciting affair. The last time Western United and Sydney FC met, the latter won 3-0 but lost the previous meeting 0-3, so there is a bit of a mystery about what will happen.
Western United lost their opening match of the 2022/23 season against Melbourne City, and deservingly so. They were clearly the second-best team on the day, mainly due to Leo Lacroix, who had a disastrous showing.
Not only has the A-League All-Star scored an own goal, but he also played a part in City’s second goal. But one bad performance doesn’t take away from the fact that he is an elite defender who now has a lot to prove, especially in this game, as he’ll have to find a way to handle Robert Mak and Joe Lolley. But if he shows the form we’re used to seeing from him, then Sydney will be in a lot of trouble.
There are a lot of what-ifs for this match, but we’re mostly interested in seeing what James Trios is capable of producing. He had a solid debut for WU, historically does well against the Sky Blues, and just might be the decision-maker on Sunday.
This game can go either way, but we end our A-League betting picks by siding with the hosts.
- Prediction: Western United +0.00 Asian Handicap (Same as Draw No Bet)
