Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners Prediction & Betting Tips - A-League

Prediction published on 18/10/2023, 10:50  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 18/10/2023 at 11:49 in Football Predictions

The new A-League season begins as Adelaide United host Central Coast Mariners. It was the visitors who won the Grand Final last season with a stunning 6-1 win over Melbourne City. The Mariners had finished second behind City at the end of the regular season. That took them into the play-off semi-finals where they beat Adelaide United both home and away. Then came that thrashing of Melbourne City with top-scorer Jason Cummings scoring a hat-trick. He's now paying for Mohun in the Indian Super League. Last season saw Central Coast have the second best away record in the main season. They won their last three away fixtures, scoring ten goals. That included a 4-1 win at Adelaide United.

The home side had a poor run of form in the closing weeks of last season's A-League. They looked like securing a top-two finish but only earned two points from their last four games to finish third. Wellington Phoenix were beaten in the play-off quarter finals but their hopes ended with those two losses to Central Coast Mariners in the last four. Home form for Adelaide last season saw them win seven of their first ten matches before only getting a point from their last three. They will hope to get this new season off to a good start and banish memories of the way last term ended. This should be an entertaining season opener and we go for both teams to get on the scoresheet.