Adelaide favourites for 2017 repeat after historic A-League title
THE Adelaide Reds are the champions of Australia after a magnificent A-League Grand Final, defeating the Western Sydney Wanderers 3-1 at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night.
The Reds – who started the season as $9 fourth favourites – won their first ever A-League title since the league’s inception on their third visit to a Grand Final.
Adelaide United were able to score twice in 11 minutes early in the opening half, triggering what would have felt like deja vu for the Wanderers, who climbed off the canvas only a week prior to defeat the Brisbane Roar after trailing 3-0.
Western Sydney was able to snatch back a goal just before the hour mark, but veteran Red Pablo Sancez sealed the deal for the home side just before the 90th minute to ensure the Premier’s Plate had a Championship companion in the trophy cabinet.
This was the third consecutive year that the Premier’s Plate winner went on to win the A-League title.
Wanderers manager Tony Popovic said his side’s first half was not up to the standard he sets for the squad.
“We weren’t happy with the first half because we weren’t ourselves and if we’re going to lose a final, we have to lose the way we want to play,” he said.
“In the second half it was much better and we had a few more moments but in the end they were able to get the third.
“But I’m just so disappointed in our first half. I’m disappointed because we didn’t do enough and it became too difficult to claw back the two goals.”
The win caps off one of the most incredible turnarounds in domestic Australian sporting history.
After a dismal start to the season which saw them sit at the bottom of the table after eight winless rounds, the Reds launched a remarkable comeback to finish on top of the A-League ladder.
Adelaide lost just one game from the round eight market en route to their maiden A-League title win, defying a huge push for them to finish towards the bottom of the table.
Before round nine the Reds were $2.75 second favourites behind the Newcastle Jets to finish the season at the bottom of the table.
Adelaide manager Guillermo Amor said the win was a ‘special day’ for the Reds and something the club should be incredibly proud of.
“We played very well.” he said.
“The first half for me [was excellent]. We had control of the first half … but we know Western Sydney are a strong team and they showed that all season.
“After 2-1, in this moment, they pressed and recovered and controlled, but we had waited for our chance and in the last moment, we got our third goal.”
2016/17 A-League Title Odds
The 2016 Grand Final combatants lead the betting market for next season at $5.50 with Crownbet.
The champion Reds are the favourites while Western Sydney are on the second line of betting; a mere 50 cents adrift.
Last year’s salary cap breachers the Perth Glory are joint second favourites for the title;after their spectacular end to the season.
The big sliders in the futures betting markets are the two Melbourne sides.
The Melbourne Victory will be without Kosta Barbarouses and Gui Finkler next season after both key play makers decided to sign with the Wellington Phoenix.
The retirement of club stalwart Archie Thompson will also deliver manager Kevin Muscat some personnel related headaches, given three of his biggest names will not be available next season.
The uncertainty around Aaron Mooy’s future as a City player has led Sportbet to wind this season’s most attacking team out of the fourth line of betting, and if overseas interest in Bruno Fornaroli and Harry Novillo materialises as something more than just scuttlebutt, they could drift out even further.
Strangely the signings of Barbarouses and Finkler have not yet made a big impact on the New Zealanders’ betting odds.
The Phoenix are one of only three teams in double figures for next season’s title at $13, but we expect those odds to shorten significantly if Wellington are able to make a winning start to next year’s campaign.
The news that the Newcastle Jets have signed Roar youngster Devante Clut has done nothing to boost punters’ confidence in the coastal cellar dwellers after their dismal season.
The Jets remain at the bottom of the betting table at $26.
2016/17 Betting odds
All odds provided by Crownbet.com.au
Western Sydney Wanderers $6.00
Perth Glory $6.00
Melbourne City $6.50
Melbourne Victory $6.50
Brisbane Roar $7.00
Sydney FC $8.50
Wellington Phoenix $13.00
Central Coast Mariners $23.00
Newcastle Jets $26.00
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