FIRST LEG SCORE: 0-0 DRAW<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s not pretend like that first leg was one for the annals of history, it was a necessary evil to set up this win or go home clash at the Caketin. Both coaches were adamant that they would not lose the tie in Melbourne but someone is going to have to show a bit more ambition here. Even with the Victory\u2019s attacking talent on hand, it still is a big surprise to see them slightly favoured in the 90 minute result and to qualify markets. Wellington has been the better team all season and even if they feel the pressure from playing in front of their biggest crowd of the season, they should still have the talent to see them over the line. We are not going to get a whole lot of goals in this game, all four previous meeting this season have seen two or fewer goals scored, and this might just be decided by one crucial strike. Give me the Nix to qualify just for a bit of cover in case this one goes beyond the 90 minutes and throw in the unders double for a bit of value as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n VALUE<\/strong>: Wellington to Qualify $1.95 | BEST<\/strong>: Wellington to Win and Under 2.5 Goals $5.75<\/p>\n\n\n\n FIRST LEG SCORE: CENTRAL COAST WON 2-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At some point, Central Coast\u2019s season will get the recognition it deserves regardless of how their final one or two matches go. They had every excuse on offer to pack it in and just try to hold on for the second leg. Instead they fought back from a goal down to take the lead just before the hour mark before Sydney received a pair of red cards that only a couple of ardent Sydney supporters felt were harsh to help close the match out. Now they take an advantage back to Gosford knowing a draw is all they need to advance to a second straight A-League Grand Final. With Sydney missing both Jack Rodwell and Corey Hollman on top of the players already absent from pre-existing injuries, it\u2019s tough to see how the visitors can find a way back into the tie. I\u2019ll back the Mariners to win the match and leave no doubt who should be favoured heading into next weekend\u2019s Grand Final in Gosford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n VALUE<\/strong>: Central Coast to Win (90 Minutes) $2.20 | BEST<\/strong>: Central Coast to Win -1 Goal $4.00<\/p>\n\n\n\n Easily the story of the season, the Mariners are now three games away from a treble but they\u2019ll have to do it the hard way here. Having won the AFC Cup early Monday morning in Oman, they have the shortest possible turnaround for the first leg of this Semi Final due to stadium availability issues. That long haul flight will also negate the rest advantage the top two teams normally have heading into these games, with Sydney playing out a relatively routine Elimination Final against Macarthur last weekend. While the scoreline blew out at the end, it was pretty much one way traffic after the Bulls red card so it\u2019s not as though Sydney is bouncing back from a draining win on penalties. This has the makings of a bad spot for the Mariners with the side likely to be a bit sluggish which does give Sydney the edge. However it also means there is a bit of value taking the premiers to qualify for the Grand Final at the moment with Sydney somehow favoured in that market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BEST<\/strong>: Sydney FC to Win $2.05 | VALUE<\/strong>: Sydney to Win and Under 2.5 Goals $5.50 and Central Coast to Qualify $2.25<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things could not have worked out much better for the Nix having had a full week of rest and recovery to prepare for this two-legged tie against a depleted Victory team. Not only will Melbourne have to recover from a draining penalties win in their Elimination Final against Melbourne City. Their star attacker Zinedine Machach is out for both legs of this Semi Final after his 37th<\/sup> minute red card last week and will be tough to replace. However if the three prior meetings between these teams should teach us anything, it\u2019s that this match is going to be a hard fought grind. None of the three fixtures went over the total goals number with two 1-1 draws and a 1-0 Nix win in Wellington. The value play is on the visitors to win, but the best bet is definitely taking the under.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BEST<\/strong>: Under 2.5 Goals $2.20 | VALUE<\/strong>: Wellington to Win $4.20<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":944,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[132],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football","tag-a-league"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":"","md_tip_date_end":null,"md_market_url":"","tip_date":"14\/05\/2024","event_country":"New Zealand"},"yoast_head":"\nCentral Coast Mariners v Sydney FC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
FIRST LEGS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix<\/h3>\n\n\n\n