Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide United Prediction: CCM to land Premier’s Plate in final-day thriller

Ten teams have completed their regular Australian A-League Men's season, but there is still one match remaining as Central Coast Mariners host Adelaide United at Central Coast Stadium on Wednesday (KO, 10:00). The game was originally scheduled for Sunday, April 20, but was postponed as CCM's flight in Dubai was cancelled on their way back from their AFC Cup semi-final against Abdish-Ata Kant in Kyrgyzstan.

Below I have outlined my Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide United prediction, alongside all the latest team news and match odds, as the hosts look to secure the Premier's Plate.

Central Coast Mariners need just a point on Wednesday to draw level on points with current leaders Wellington Phoenix, and a stalemate would be enough to see Mark Jackson's side crowned regular season champions as they have won more games than the New Zealand club.

CCM heads into Wednesday's contest in Gosford on the back of four-straight wins in the league, the latest of which saw them beat Newcastle Jets away courtesy of strikes from Alou Kuol, Harrison Steele and Ryan Edmondson.

Adelaide United have finished the season strongly, winning four of their last six games including last Friday's 4-3 thriller at Brisbane Roar, but their form has come too little, too late for them to finish in the top six and make the Elimination Finals.

The Reds are confirmed to place eighth but can cut the gap to seventh-placed Western Sydney Wanders with a win in midweek.

Team News

Jackson could be tempted into a couple of changes following the impact made by two of his second-half substitutes, Steele and Edmondson, against the Jets.

However, Noah Smith and Sasha Kuzevski are out injured, while Angelo Torres remains suspended indefinitely.

Jay Barnett, Josh Cavallo and Panagiotis Kikianis all missed Adelaide United's victory in Brisbane last week and look set to miss out again in Gosford.

Nestory Irankunda will make his farewell A-League appearance before departing for Bayern Munich, while it could also be a final game as a Red for 15-goal forward Hiroshi Ibusuki, who hasn't agreed on a new deal yet and has been linked with other sides in the league.

Match Odds

Central Coast Mariners are 4/6 to beat Adelaide United for a second time this year, after beating them 4-0 at Coopers Stadium on February 3. That gives them an implied win probability of 60%, while a draw, which would be enough for them to top the table, can be backed at 3/1.

It's the same price (3/1, or a 25% chance) for the Reds to triumph, just as they did in the first fixture between these sides in October when they ran out 3-0 winners.

Both teams to score hasn't landed in their last three head-to-heads, and it's 7/4 for a fourth-straight BTTS - No.

Central Coast Mariners to win and both teams to score @ 8/5

The task is simple for the Mariners - avoid defeat and they will pick up the Premier's Plate. Against an Adelaide United side with nothing but pride to play for, that appears a very achievable objective.

United did outclass them earlier in the season, winning 3-0, but that was the first game of the league campaign when the Mariners were getting used to the demands of a new manager.

Events were very different in February when Jackson's side hit four past the Reds without reply, and CCM have now won eight of their last nine in all competitions at the Central Coast Stadium.

I do expect the visitors to get on the scoresheet, though. Carl Veart's charges have fired 52 goals in the A-League Men's this season - no club has found the net more times (level with Sydney FC).

It's at the other end where problems have arisen for the Reds, and they could come to the surface once more on Wednesday as I predict the sides to close out the regular season in thrilling fashion.

The Mariners have a good defensive record across the campaign but have kept just one clean sheet in their last five league games. Ultimately, they should get the finish to the season that they deserve.

Nestory Irankunda anytime scorer @ 21/10

Given I have backed Adelaide United to score in Gosford, it makes sense to look to them in the anytime goalscorer market to find some value. Their two lowest-priced players, Ibusuki (2/1) and Irankunda (21/10), certainly provide that.

Only three players have scored more league goals than Ibusuki (15) this season, and the Japanese striker has bagged a brace in three of his last four matches.

Irankunda failed to fire last time out but had scored in four of his previous six appearances, netting six times in that period.

It's a close call between the two, but I'm happy to back Irankunda to score given the slightly better price he provides.

The 18-year-old has lit up the A-League Men's since making his debut in January 2022 and will be desperate to mark his farewell game with a goal.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.