Western United and Wellington Phoenix are both nipping at the heels of the A-League’s front-runners after a recent form spike. We take a look at Saturday’s (28/12/2019) A-League 2019/2020 Round 12 match is between Western United and Wellington Phoenix.
When: Saturday 28th December, 5:00PM
Where: Mars Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Preview:
The teams’ maiden clash saw Western United bag a historic 1-0 win on A-League debut in Wellington in Week 1. Besart Berisha netted the winner, while the new boys’ stoic defensive effort underpinned the result.
Western United sit third after following up stirring wins over Melbourne Victory (3-1) and Brisbane (2-0) with a 1-all draw away to Western Sydney in their past three games. Aaron Calver scored the 87th-minute equaliser last week.
After starting the season with four straight losses, the Phoenix have gone on a six-match unbeaten run to rise to fifth. They held the Victory to a draw in Melbourne for the second time in five weeks in Week 10, before earning a 2-all draw with ladder-leading Sydney FC last weekend. The Phoenix were unlucky not to take the three points against the Sky Blues after snatching a 2-1 halftime lead, with an unfortunate Steven Taylor own goal levelling the scores.
Western United are warm favourites at home but the Phoenix shape as the value option with their confidence sky-high at present.
Odds:
Tip: Western United at $2.40
Correct Score: Western United 1 – 0 at $9.50
Teams:
Western United FC squad: 1.Filip KURTO (GK), 2.Aaron CALVER, 3.Brendan HAMILL, 4.Andrew DURANTE, 5.Dylan PIERIAS, 6.Connor CHAPMAN, 7. Valentino YUEL 8.Panagiotis KONE, 9.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS, 10.Scott McDONALD, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Dario JERTEC, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 14.Max BURGESS, 15.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 18.Besart BERISHA, 22.Ersan GULUM, 23.Alessandro DIAMANTI (c), 27, Jerry SKOTADIS, 30.Ryan SCOTT (GK)
*2-4 to be omitted*
Ins: 6.Connor CHAPMAN (promoted), 10.Scott McDONALD (promoted), 13.Ivan VUJICA (promoted)
Outs:
Unavailable: 19.Josh RISDON (injury), 20.James DELIANOV (gk) (knee – season)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Stefan MARINOVIC (gk), 2.Liam McGING, 3.Luke DEVERE, 4.Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI, 5.Matti STEINMANN, 6.Tim PAYNE, 7.Reno PISCOPO, 8.Cameron DEVLIN, 9.David BALL, 10.Ulises DAVILA, 11.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 13.Liberato CACACE, 14.Alex RUFER, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21.Callum MCCOWATT, 23.Walter SCOTT, 27.Steven TAYLOR (c), 31.Ben WAINE, 32.Sam SUTTON, 88. Gary HOOPER
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 14.Alex RUFER (return from injury), 23.Walter SCOTT (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 16.Louis FENTON (shoulder – season)
*Odds correct at time of posting. Subject to change
