The cup semi-final could go beyond 90 minutes: Sydney vs Melbourne Victory prediction
The Australian Cup semi-final between Sydney and Melbourne Victory will take place on 9 September at “Jubilee Oval” in Sydney. Both teams won their previous-round matches by a narrow 1-0 scoreline, while their recent results suggest a fairly even balance of power. We offer a prediction for this match with a good chance of success.
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Sydney: confident cup run
In the quarter-finals, Sydney beat Raiders 1-0, with Takahiro Sekine scoring the only goal. The team registered 15 shots, hit the target five times and controlled possession for 60% of the match.
Before that, Sydney beat Brisbane Roar 4-2. The team also played a friendly against Tottenham, which ended 1-1 before the Australians lost on penalties.
Melbourne Victory: also coming through difficult matches
Melbourne Victory narrowly beat Leichhardt in the previous round. The match finished goalless in normal time, with Harrison Sawyer scoring the decisive goal in the 93rd minute.
In that match, the team recorded 17 shots, hit the target five times and produced 1.27 expected goals. Their previous cup tie against Western Sydney Wanderers was also a lengthy contest and ended in victory only after a penalty shootout.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Sydney have won three of their last four matches.
- Melbourne Victory have won four of their previous five matches.
- In the last five head-to-head meetings, both teams have recorded two victories, while the most recent match ended in a 1-0 win for Sydney.
Normal time may not be enough: Sydney vs Melbourne Victory prediction
Both teams are in good form, but their cup matches have repeatedly followed a cautious pattern. It is particularly telling that Melbourne Victory were unable to settle either of their previous two ties within 90 minutes.
Sydney are slight favourites according to the bookmakers, but there is little between the two sides. Therefore, a draw in normal time followed by extra time or a penalty shootout looks like the most logical scenario.
