Round 18 of the 2018-19 Hyundai A-League season proved to be a bit of tricky one to predict. After going 3/3 on our betting tips the week prior, we started Round 18 with a really disappointing loss thanks to Sydney FC blowing a lead late in the game to Brisbane Roar. We then had another tough go in the Wanderers vs Mariners clash, before hitting on the Over 2.5 Total goals market in the Melbourne Victory vs Perth Glory blockbuster.
We’re now entering the final third of the regular season with Round 19 coming up this weekend. As usual, we’ve analysed all the games on the card and have come up with our three best plays of the week. Good luck to everyone following!
A-League Week 19 Betting Tips
Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne City (Friday 7:50pm AEDT)
Our first play of the round comes from the Friday night fixture between the Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City at the McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, New South Wales. City have won both meetings between these teams this season, although they’ve both been at their home ground, AAMI Stadium.
The Newcastle Jets backed up their huge 5-0 thumping of the Wanderers with a solid performance last weekend where they drew with the inform Phoenix. Now in the final third of the season, the Jets will need to hit some serious form to make up the ground to sixth spot on the ladder.
Melbourne City enter this game in the same fashion as their opponents here, with a home draw in their last outing against Adelaide United. It was a successful debut for new striker Jamie McClaren, who scored his team’s only goal in the 1-1 draw.
City come into this away fixture as huge favourites, which we simply don’t agree with. Yes they’ve been a bit better than the Jets this season, but their away form gives no indication that they’re a lock in this fixture. We’re more than happy to take the Jets + Draw market at juicy odds.
Newcastle Double Chance
$2.28
Perth Glory vs Brisbane Roar (Saturday 10pm AEDT)
Our best bet from the late Saturday night game comes from the Perth Glory vs Brisbane Roar match-up, which is to be played at NIB Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. Glory have won both fixtures against Roar this season, scoring six goals in the process.
League leaders Perth Glory claimed arguably their best win of the season last weekend against Melbourne Victory. They came into the fixture as underdogs despite their fabulous season, and proved the doubters wrong yet again, extending the gap to second place to five points in the process.
Meanwhile, Brisbane Roar managed their best win of the season last weekend, too (although there’s only been one other to compare it with). Against all odds, Roar came from a goal behind at home to knock off Sydney FC and claim just their second win of the season.
Perth are hot favourites here, meaning there’s no meat on the bone in the head-to-head market. However, we still really fancy them at the -1.5 handicap. They’ve picked apart Roar’s defence in both meetings this season, and on current form who’s to say they’re not going to do it again? Definitely not us.
Sydney FC vs Central Coast Mariners (Sunday 5pm AEDT)
Our third and final play from this weekend’s A-League action comes from the Sunday twilight fixture between Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners at Leichardt Oval in Sydney, New South Wales. Sydney have won both games against the Mariners this season, including a 5-2 thumping of them last time out.
Sydney FC suffered a bizarre loss in last weekend’s fixture against Brisbane Roar. They looked home and hosed with around quarter of an hour to go, but simply fell asleep at the wheel and had all three points stolen from them. They now must regroup and go again this weekend to stay in touch with the Victory and Glory at the top.
On the other hand, Central Coast Mariners have lost four on the spin and just look like a beaten team at the moment. They’ve had one eye on the off-season since about Round 5 of the season and don’t look like pinching a win anytime soon.
Once again, Sydney FC are far too good for the Mariners here. They’ve banged in seven goals in their two fixtures against them this season and will be licking their chops at the prospect of hosting them on Sunday. The handicap looks good again here.
