A-League week 20
17th February Melbourne Heart v Gold Coast United
18th February Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix
18th February Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory
18th February Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets
19th February Adelaide United v Sydney
Melbourne Victory stunned leaders Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park with a 2-1 win. Goals from a Carlos Hernandez and former English Premiership star Harry Kewell gave Mariners their first win in six matches and a long-awaited first triumph for interim coach Jim Magilton. Victory now travel to a revitalised Brisbane Roar who ended Wellington Phoenix’s winning run with a vital 2-0 victory at Westpac Stadium that puts them right back in the title race.
The defending champions reclaimed second spot from the Phoenix with six games of the season to go. Besart Berisha opened the scoring with a quality finish just before half-time and substitute Mitch Nichols sealed the victory with great strike with just over 10 minutes left on the clock. Misery for the Phoenix was completed by an injury to centre-back Ben Sigmund and a fifth booking of the season each for defenders Andrew Durante and Tim Brown who will both be suspended for the game against league leaders Central Coast Mariners.
Perth Glory lost vital ground at the top when stand-in skipper Brett Emerton inspired Sydney FC to a 2-1 win in at the SFS. Returning from a hamstring injury, Emerton scored the opening goal in the 54th minute and then set up Bruno Cazarine’s for the second in the 72nd-minute. Billy Mehmet’s 86th-minute reply ensured a frantic finish but Perth could not find a second. It brought an end to their eight-match unbeaten run. The victory lifts Vitezslav Lavicka’s men to seventh spot on equal points with Melbourne Heart, while the Glory stay in fourth place.
Luxbet offer Melbourne Heart at $1.69 to beat Gold Coast ($5.00) with the draw paying $3.35. Central Coast are $1.82 to defeat Wellington ($4.25) with the draw paying $3.50. Brisbane are favourites at $1.71 to beat Melbourne Victory ($4.85) with the draw priced at $3.60.
