Macarthur FC enter their bout with Wellington Phoenix already qualified for the playoffs, so they don’t really have any reason to give their 100%. Still, the hosts have yet to lose against the Nix, who will want to change that on Friday, June 4, at Campbelltown Stadium.
Macarthur FC vs Wellington Phoenix
When: Friday, June 4 – 19:05 AEST
Where: Campbelltown Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Weather: Light rain, 12°C
Referee: Daniel Elder
With their victory over Western United on Monday, Macarthur FC have already booked a ticket to the quarterfinals of the A-League playoffs. They are now at 39 points, and no matter what happens in the final round of the regular season, they will stay inside the top-six.
The same isn’t the case with Wellington Phoenix. They’re at 35 points, four points short of finishing in the upper part of the table. In their case, a win on Friday won’t help, as they’re guaranteed to miss out on the playoffs, four or one point short.
Basically, this game doesn’t mean anything for these two teams. Still, it can mean a lot for bettors! At least those who put their money on the right pick!
Macarthur FC Getting Ready for the Postseason
The A-League playoffs is expected to start next week, and Macarthur FC will take on Central Coast Mariners. They surely want to keep all of their players fit for that game, which is why their boss Ante Milicic might decide to give some youngsters a chance against Wellington Phoenix.
The 35-year-old English forward Matt Derbyshire might get a day off after playing in each of the 25 A-League matches this season. He has scored 14 goals along the way.
Another player who might sit out this duel is the former Socceroos captain Mark Milligan. The 35-year-old is retiring after this season but is likely to play an important role in the playoffs. That’s why keeping him fit seems like a reasonable thing to do for Macarthur FC.
The same goes for all the other Macarthur FC players in their mid-thirties – Benat Etxebarria, Markel Susaeta, James Meredith, and even their goalie, Adam Federici.
Wellington Phoenix Want to Stay Unbeaten for 11th Straight Game
Wellington Phoenix didn’t start the season too great, which is the main reason why they failed to qualify for the playoffs. That’s a real shame, as they’ve improved significantly over the past two months or so.
Wellington Phoenix are without a single defeat in their last ten games, winning half of them and drawing the remaining five. Their defense has been terrific, with three clean sheets over that period. They’ve been equally as good in the attack, scoring a total of 18 goals across the last 10 outings.
What’s not that impressive is their record against Macarthur FC. The Nix have beaten the Bulls only twice, with Macarthur FC winning once and the other game ending in a draw. Getting their head-to-head victory would certainly be a good way to wrap up the season.
Macarthur FC vs Wellington Phoenix Betting Picks
Neither team has anything to fight for in this game. Still, the season isn’t over for Macarthur FC, who will want to keep their players fresh and rested.
They might want to take it slow on Friday, enabling the visiting team to dominate the play. That said, backing Wellington Phoenix not to lose heavily seems like the right thing to do.
Prediction: Wellington Phoenix +0.25 Asian Handicap
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