Ninth-placed Wellington Phoenix will be out for their first win of the A-League season when they welcome Perth Glory to AMI Stadium, Christchurch. We’ll have live scores and updates from 3.00pm AEDT.
Those who tipped the Phoenix to finish last this season – and there are many – will be nodding knowingly with the Nix picking up just two points in their opening four matches.
But numbers don’t paint the entire picture, and those who have seen the yellow and black this season would know that the results probably belie the performances so far.
Defensive lapses gift-wrapped from Wellington gift-wrapped Melbourne Victory a three-goal head start at Etihad Stadium on Monday niht before goals from Jeremy Brockie and Paul Ifill brought the visitors back into the match, and they were unlucky not to get a point in the end.
Draws against Western Sydney and Newcastle followed a 2-1 loss in Round 1, where the Phoenix led before Brisbane stole all three points with a stoppage-time winner.
Thanks to a scheduling change, Ernie Merrick will be able to select Ben Sigmund, Andrew Durante, Leo Bertos, Jeremy Brockie and Glen Moss before they head off for All Whites duty in Mexico, and Costa Rican Kenny Cunningham could also come back in.
Perth make the arduous journey across to Christchurch unbeaten in their past three matches, having drawn 0-0 at Newcastle before recording consecutive 1-0 wins against Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC.
Alastair Edwards hasn’t quite yet got his squad firing but with seven points from 12 they have the luxury of building off a solid base.
After starting on the bench last Saturday, Shane Smeltz could come into the starting XI to lead the line with Sidnei Sciola, but Edwards will be without Daniel De Silva, who misses with an ankle injury.
Phoenix have had the better of Glory over the years, winning 10 of 20 matches between the two including a 2-1 win at Perth back in March.
On recent form this appears to be one for the visitors, but in front of what should be a good crowd in Christchurch the home side might sneak an upset here.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Good point I think most teams are happy getting some kind of result over there.Still the Glory are unconvincing just seem to be abit cautious going forward apart from Sciola who doesn't stop attacking and having a go.With Gallas slotting in at the back our defence is going to be even better than it is so our creative and attacking players should be more than confident that even if we turn the ball over the back four will mop up.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
lol yeah still though a 5 second burst of creativity in 450 minutes of football is nothing to get excited about!Hopefully it gives him abit of confidence we now have seen he's got something in his locker.
Chad Bennett
Editor
FULL TIME: Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory Well, an entertaining contest that probably deserved to finish all square in the end. Wellington got off to the best of starts, but Perth ended up getting back into the half and were level by the half-hour mark. Neither side were able to get much joy out of their number nines, with both Smeltz and Huysegems being withdrawn in the second half. Both sides did have half-chances. Sigmund had a header graze the post of a Hernandez set piece, and at the other end both McLaren and O'Neill nearly broke the deadlock as Wellington became a little bit ragged. For Perth, that's four games unbeaten as they stay in fourth spot, while Wellington draw level with sixth-placed Adelaide in fourth spot. That will be it from AMI Stadium today, stay tuned for action from Adelaide/Newcastle and then the Big Blue later on this evening. Thanks for following along.
Chad Bennett
Editor
90 +1′ Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory Wellington getting pretty ragged here! Would be very, very cruel if they lost this in a simliar fashion to their loss against Brisbane in Round 1. There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
Chad Bennett
Editor
90' Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory Perth might have snuck it here. Again, they find space inside the area and O'Neill lays it off to Sciola, his shot is charged down and the Glory end up with a corner, which is delivered poorly. As soon as I said it was fizzling, it has picked right up!
Chad Bennett
Editor
89' Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory Oh great effort from Brandon O'Neill, ball bounces across the D and he hits a left-foot half-volley at the bottom corner that forces Moss to get down to his left. Great tekkas from the substitute!
Chad Bennett
Editor
88' Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory As did the first half, the second period seems to be fizzling out a little bit now, and both sides are beginning to look a little bit longer with their passes. Perth seem content to maybe take a point from this one.
Chad Bennett
Editor
Been a little bit up-and-down with his delivery from set pieces, but apart from that he's been class.
Chad Bennett
Editor
Haha, I was thinking of our earlier comment when he played the ball!
Chad Bennett
Editor
85′ Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory Five left on the clock now, and we're still locked at 1-1. Ifill has tried to take on Jamieson a number of times since coming on, and Jamieson has stood tall every time.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Much better from Edwards well done.
Charles Goldstraw
Roar Rookie
Hernandez is playing well :)
Chad Bennett
Editor
82′ Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory Third and final change now for Perth. Nagai, who is down receiving treatment - possibly for cramp - will be coming off, and Brandon O'Neill comes on in his place.
Charles Goldstraw
Roar Rookie
He should have score that
Chad Bennett
Editor
81′ Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory HUGE chance for Perth. Ryan Edwards does super to cut into the Wellington half, look up and pick out the run of McLaren, who was smart in timing his run. He cuts around the advancing Moss, but from a very wide angle he blazes over the bar.
Chad Bennett
Editor
79' Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory Third and final change by Ernie Merrick. Huysegems, whose impact has waned in the second half, has been replaced by Tyler Boyd.
Chad Bennett
Editor
78' Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory Ifill, 1 v 1 against Jamieson tries to turn the left-back inside out, and Jamieson does well to stand him up and eventually make the tackle. Been super for the visitors today.
Chad Bennett
Editor
76' Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory Nagai does well to get into space, and Davies pushing forward is allowed to try and crack a shot from outside the area, but it fizzes wide. Still maintain we might get a winner here.
Chad Bennett
Editor
75' Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory Looked to be a decent chance as Hernandez played in Brockie, with Ifill also in scoring position, but Brockie is offisde and it is pulled up. Earlier in the play, Ifill clipped Burns (no foul) and play went on, and once the offside call was given Vukovic took it upon himself to hurl abuse at the referee for not stopping the play. He goes into the book for his efforts.
Chad Bennett
Editor
No sorry, I meant AMI Stadium in Christchurch. Fairly damaged after the earthquake, I think they're looking at a new stadium in the CBD.