We’ve been treated to some terrific football through the first fortnight of the new season and there’s more in store in Week 3 of the A-League.
We don’t have to wait long until the match of the round and Friday night’s Melbourne City vs Sydney FC has the makings of a classic. The Jets and Melbourne Victory will lock horns on Saturday evening, and there’s plenty of value around both clubs ahead of Sunday’s Mariners vs Adelaide game on the Central Coast.
Week 3 of the A-League is underway with a bang when Melbourne City host Sydney FC in an absolute blockbuster. The two clubs enter this match tied on points, but the home side sits first on goal difference.
City were unable to frank the form that they showed in Week 1’s Derby win over the Victory when they were held to a 1-1 draw by the lowly Mariners in Gosford. They will only continue to improve as the season progresses and a win over Sydney would do plenty for their confidence and legitimacy.
Sydney took plenty of improvement from their Week 1 draw away to Adelaide into Saturday night’s Derby and ultimately, they proved too good for the Wanderers and secured a 2-0 win.
This season has already produced several great, low-scoring draws and something similar looks a big chance of materialising again on Friday.
Focus will turn back across the ditch for the first of three Saturday fixtures as the Phoenix host the Wanderers.
The Phoenix are clearly an improved side this season and they are unlucky not to be seeking a third win from as many matches here. They were far too good for last year’s finalists the Jets in Week 1 and kept the Roar scoreless in a hard-fought draw last Sunday.
The Wanderers mustered a terrific performance in the nation’s west to draw with the Glory first-up, but they were simply outclassed by big brother last Saturday and face another big task in taking something from this tough road trip.
I think that the Phoenix will prove too strong at home and they represent terrific value in head-to-head betting.
One of the more intriguing fixtures in Week 3 is set to take place in the Hunter on Saturday night when the Jets host Melbourne Victory.
It was a greatly-improved effort from the Jets in Week 2 and they will surely take plenty of positives away from the road draw with Adelaide. Week 1’s loss to Wellington was probably too bad to be true and the draw with Adelaide was a little more typical of the performances that saw a Grand Final berth last season.
With the signings that they made in the offseason no one would have expected to see the Victory winless after two weeks, but that is what has materialised. A loss to City in Week 1 was compounded when they were beaten by Perth in Melbourne last weekend, but surely it’s only a matter of time before this team of stars gel and we’re treated to some quality football.
This shapes to be one of those low-scoring fixtures that the Victory pinches late in the picture, but there’s value around both clubs in head-to-head betting.
Perth Glory will host the Brisbane Roar in Week 3’s penultimate fixture on Saturday night.
The Glory return home after an outstanding performance and win over the Victory in Melbourne, which saw Andy Keogh slot another and Chris Ikonomidis steal the result in the 93rd minute. They were the better side in Week 1 as well, but the campaign is well and truly on track regardless and they are faced with another terrific opportunity at three points here.
The Roar made it two scoreless draws in a row when they welcomed the Phoenix to Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon, but they face a much bigger task in one of the league’s toughest road trips and this impressive Glory outfit.
I think that the Glory will be winning this match and winning well.
Sunday’s sole A-League fixture takes us back to Gosford and the Mariners will look to continue their competitive start to the season, at the expense of Adelaide United.
Not a lot was expected of the Mariners prior to the season as most of the focus appeared to be on the circus surrounding Usain Bolt, but two credible draws with the Roar and Melbourne City have them perched on the edge of the top four, and with plenty of scope for improvement.
Adelaide have also recorded two draws in as many starts and will be confident of taking something from this road trip.
Neither side has been particularly potent in front of goal and another low scoring affair looks likely on Sunday.