Central Coast Mariners is priced as the underdog to win against Sydney FC. The visitors are ranked second in the league and are having one of their best seasons in recent times. Backing Central Coast Mariners to avoid defeat (+0.5) is the best available option in this fixture.
Sydney FC hosts Central Coast Mariners at the Allianz Stadium, Sydney on Saturday in their 15th league game of the season.
Central Coast Mariners can move level on points with Melbourne City FC if they win away to Sydney FC. They have been in very fine form and there's no doubt they have enough quality to outscore Sydney FC. Central Coast Mariners have lost just one of their last five games in all competitions, picking up three wins and one draw.
Nick Montgomery's team come into this game on the back of a 2-2 draw at home to Western Sydney Wanderers FC. They scored a total of eleven goals in their last five games in all competitions and are the highest goal-scoring teams in the Australian A-league with 29 league goals in 14 games.
Sydney FC is currently eighth in the league and six points behind Central Coast Mariners. The hosts have won only twice in their last seven games in all competitions and both wins came away from home. Sydney FC has lost half of their games in the Australian A-league this season and have a poor win rate of 35%.
The home team is currently undergoing defensive crises and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four games, conceding five goals in that period. Sydney FC has lost two consecutive home games — a 3-0 loss to MacArthur FC followed by a one nil defeat to Wellington Phoenix. They are yet to beat a top four team at home this season.
Central Coast Mariners won the last meeting between these two teams. It was a clash in the Australian A-league in December last year where they won 2-1 courtesy of goals from Marco Tulio and Daniel Hall. Central Coast Mariners is having a better season and needs to pick up points vital for the title race. Backing the away team to win or draw is the best available option in this fixture.
