The Wellington Phoenix have won their first game of the post-Merrick era, knocking off the Central Coast Mariners 3-0 on Saturday.
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Final score
Wellington Phoenix 3
Central Coast Martiners 0
Last placed Wellington Phoenix take on fellow cellar dweller Central Coast at Waikato Stadium with both teams desperate for the 3 points. Join The Roar for live scores and blog from 5:30pm AEDT.
It’s been a crazy week for the Phoenix with head coach Ernie Merrick calling it a day after the struggling Phoenix side sit last on the table. Sometimes a fresh face in charge can completely change a mood of a dressing room but only time will tell.
Last week’s effort against United was pretty abysmal from the New Zealand side’s point of view. They barely created any chances and never looked likely. The front three of Finkler, Barbarouses and Krishna are yet to find top gear and consistently look dangerous.
While over the Tasman the same can be side for the struggling Mariners who many tipped to finish at the bottom of the table this year it appears that this will be the case. Last week they put in a shocker against the Wanderers losing 4-1.
No notable team changes for the Phoenix this week so I expect the same 11 may start in a hope to find some sort of consistency in their game.
Meanwhile for the Mariners they will welcome back skipper Nick Montgomery into their very inexperienced squad which will bolster the midfield in an attempt to contain Finkler if he gets going.
I don’t expect this game to reach any sort of heights with both teams struggling in front of goal for the majority of this season. When a new coach comes in usually the rule is expect the team to come out all guns blazing, which I think will be the case once again with Phoenix coming away with the win and lifting themselves off the bottom of the table for now.
Prediction: 2-1 Phoenix
Join The Roar for live scores and blog from 5:30pm AEDT.
rasty
Guest
Really, that's impressive. looked about 3000 on the tv.
hog
Guest
Not a football hot spot Hamilton, and after the season Wellington have had.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
5,234 at Hamilton today.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
Match Report Phoenix get off the bottom of the table with a clinical 3-0 win over the Mariners. Chris Greenacre got the perfect start to his tenure. Barbarouses shot in the 2nd minute deflected off Watson to get off to the dream start. After that for the majority of the half Mariners actually controlled the possesion but as the usual story is for them they did absolutley nothing with the ball. Majority of the passes going sideways and backwards. Not alot else happended in the first half, Phoenix looked dangerous on the counter attack but were just caught offside a few times. Once the 2nd half started it was all the Phoenix. Barbarouses had plenty of chances on goal and could have easily ended with 1 or 2 more but kept spraying his shots wide. Up until today Vince Lia had only scored 3goals in 203 A-League matches. But somehow produced an absolute pearler, ball came out to him and he could not have timed it any better with it going into the upmost top right hand corner practically unstoppable. Phoenix controlled the possession for most of the 2nd half and ended it with a swift counter attack for Krishna to put it into the open night. Chris Greenacre will be stoked with the performance,while Paul Okon has alot of work todo if his side is to avoid the Wooden Spoon this year. Man of the match: Hamish Watson I thought he was everywhere today, Plenty of sighters at goal,was involved in almost every attack and probably should have scored himself if Krishna wasnt selfish. Great move starting him upfront.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
94' Phoenix 3 Mariners 0 GOAL! Beautiful counter attack from the phoenix. Tratt gives the ball to an open Krishna who buries it. GAME OVER
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
93' Phoenix 2 Mariners 0 Buhagiar with a very quick run earns a foul just outside the box. Yellow Card Rossi
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
90' Phoenix 2 Mariners 0 4 Minutes of stoppage time here. Phoenix will move off the bottom of the table unless a miracle happens
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
88' Phoenix 2 Mariners 0 Substitution Watson OFF Fenton ON
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
88' Phoenix 2 Mariners 0 Stoppage in play. Rose is down receiving treatment. Looks just like cramp.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
84' Phoenix 2 Mariners 0 Substitution Pain OFF Appiah ON
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
83' Phoenix 2 Mariners 0 Neill fouls Krishna. Dangerous position for Finkler but the cross is cleared.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
80' Phoenix 2 Mariners 0 Substitution Lia OFF Rodriguez ON
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
78' Phoenix 2 Mariners 0 CHANCE! Massive save from Necevski to deny Watson. All one way traffic this half.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
73' Phoenix 2 Mariners 0 Phoenix with more great build up play leads to another Barbarouses shot going wide.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
72 Phoenix 1 Mariners 0 Substitution Ferriera OFF Buhagiar ON
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
70' Phoenix 1 Mariners 0 Offside Finkler thinks his in but is ajudged offside. More great work.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
67' Phoenix 2 Mariners 0 CHANCE! Its all happening at the moment. Barbarouses attempts a volley which goes just wide.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
66' Phoenix 2 Mariners 0 GOAL! WHAT AN ABSOLUTE BELTER! Lia with an absolute rocket from outside the box into the top corner. Unstoppable.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
64' Phoenix 1 Mariners 0 Yellow Card Powell earns a card for a high foot on Tratt. Ohoenix dominating at the moment.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
63' Phoenix 1 Mariners 0 CHANCE! Watsons shot hits the post, probably should have scored.