The Wellington Phoenix have romped home to an emphatic 5-0 victory over a helpless Newcastle Jets outfit at Westpac Stadium.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Wellington Phoenix 5
Newcastle Jets 0
The Wellington Phoenix and Newcastle Jets will be looking to bounce back after both suffered disappointing losses last week that put a dint in their respective chances of playing finals. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from the Westpac Stadium starting from 5pm AEDT.
We approach the pointy end of the season and both the Phoenix and the Jets sit outside the top six and will be desperate to find a way to jump back in.
It was back to the drawing board for the Phoenix this week who after gaining momentum after some positive results went down to the Wanderers which has now really impacted their chances of participating in this season’s finals series.
Likewise the Jets are currently in a slump of poor form having not claimed the three points in their last six matches after a promising start to the season.
Their poor form was epitomised in last week’s thumping at the hands of Melbourne City, the result being Newcastle’s heaviest defeat of the season, with most of the damage done late in the second half.
The last time these two sides met was on Boxing Day where three former teammates in Barbarouses, Finkler and Nabbout all got on the scoresheet in an evening where the spoils were shared in what was a very entertaining match.
At the time one would have thought that it would be a different story for the Jets who were very impressive playing exciting football.
The last few weeks may have been dire for the Jets but they will be very determined to get on the park this week with history being on their side in recent history in this fixture.
The Jets have won three out of their last five against the Phoenix, however, are yet to topple the Phoenix this season.
Defensively both sides will look to tighten up ahead of this match having both conceding 41 goals after 23 rounds.
Wellington will be determined to get off to an early start due to the Jets statistically being poor starters to matches having conceded seven goals within the first fifteen minutes.
The International break has come at a bad time for both these sides where every goal and point counts ahead of the finals. Wellington have seven players out representing their nation which has forced a number of changes to the side that lost to the Wanderers.
Of those players includes Roy Krishna, Andrew Durante and Shane Smeltz which gives 18 year old Sarpeet Singh and Logan Rogerson an opportunity for their debuts.
In significant contrast the Jets have not been impacted by the International break and will bolstered with Jason Hoffman who returns from suspension, as well as having Joel Alright and Tomislav Arcaba back in the team.
Andrew Nabbout has been a revelation since joining the Jets, rejuvenating not only his career but has been a heavy contributor to Newcastle’s surge towards the finals.
Nabbout is currently the leading goal scorer at the Jets with eight goals and will be looked upon in this match to exploit a Wellington defence that is far from full strength.
This match has the finals hopes of both sides riding on it meaning that we could be set for a highly entertaining 90 minutes.
It will be extremely tough for Wellington who will be without a number of their key players however we have seen young sides pull a few surprises out of the bag against a full strength opponent which should give the Phoenix some hope.
If the Jets are serious about making the finals they will not hold back, especially against a depleted Wellington outfit.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1
Will the Jets pile the pressure on the top six? Or will they be denied by a young Phoenix outfit? Join The Roar from 5pm (AEDT) to find out.
j binnie
Guest
Griffi - I am not advocating that these clubs should be axed from the HAL,on the contrary I,like you. think that they should be helped in their struggle to get better acceptance in their local areas. As I've said before,the three of them have all had 5 figure crowds this season,the problem ,how to get them back week after week, posing the question ,does the FFA have a marketing department to help. Cheers jb.
Griffo
Roar Guru
JB, it is a good point, but one that needs a look at the problem - and each club has it's own problems - and rectifying them. Generally a new 'club' will have some initial goodwill and excitement that needs building on in a number of areas that I'm sure you're well aware of. Given approximately 1200 fewer fans turned up to the Phoenix vs Jets game compared to the average, and all the press over the loss of 7 players in the international window, that is probably the icing on a big cake of problems. And the Jets, irrespective of owners, those they hired, or the funds they have available (and they have been available at various points), will continue to go backwards with members and gate averages if they (the collective club operations) don't try and do something differently next season after nearly 10 years of what amounts to a similar outcome on the field. Easy to look from the outside in I know but from a Jets perspective there is a lot that isn't going on and without even a slight deviation with a new owner, the Jets particular issues obviously lie elsewhere, and have done for quite some time. The average would be a lot higher in both members and crowd average, but I am getting the feeling the proverbial straw has been broken over the camel's back this season. It takes great effort to break a Novocastrian camel, let me tell you, and it only highlights how much more work the club collective will need to do in such a short amount of time to reverse those metrics.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Yeah I don't think that is the answer to the Jets numerous issues. Actually running as a professional football club would be a good start though...even better with people who know what they are doing.
arnold krewanty
Guest
yes, that would work! not
j binnie
Guest
The Wellington "problem" is not whether to pick It's "kids", or play it's returning internationalists, it is the fact that this victory, their best of the season, was watched by only 4,828 fans. With a season average home gate of just over 6,000 it is hard to assess how long the 'Nix can survive in HAL. company. With Jets and CCM , 8,800 and 7350 respectively, not much further ahead in interested spectators,this is a real problem area for the FFA who are being inundated to expand the HAL. jb.
Swanny
Guest
It's not that hard to beat these jets under the useless mark jones The jets should be dumped out the A league and replaced by the mighty Edgeworth Eagles
hog
Guest
Go Pheonix But it does beg the question when your top 5 players are on inter duty, the young guys definitely added something fresh to the team.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Ouch!
AZ_RBB
Guest
Something is broken at Newcastle. No team should go 7yrs without a finals appearance in a salary capped league. I don't have a solution but the problem is serious. Their rugby league team isn't much better either....
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report FULL TIME It's a historic win for the Phoenix who march on in season 2016/17! Wellington scoring five goals for just the second time in their history! Phoenix - 5 Jets - 0
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
91' Barbarouses is not done with it seems looking to add to the scoreline with his shot on goal, which thankfully for Jets fans is blocked. Phoenix - 5 Jets - 0
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
90' We will have 3 minutes added on as stoppage time. Phoenix - 5 Jets - 0
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Some tough selections ahead for Des Buckingham and Chris Greenacre with many of their stars returning after the International break.
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
GOAL Bonevacia gets on the score sheet and makes it five for the Phoenix for only the second time in the clubs history! It was Rogerson with the assist before Bonevacia found the back of the net with a low shot. Phoenix - 5 Jets - 0
Griffo
Roar Guru
Wellington should bench their entire internationals for the rest of the season. Only true way of knowing if they're that good, or we are just rubbish tonight.
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
82' A magical first touch from Logan Rogerson who showcases some impressive skills after just coming on. Phoenix - 4 Jets - 0
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
81' Hamish Watson is replaced by Rogerson after a good day at the office for the Wellington forward. Phoenix - 4 Jets - 0
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
77' Singh becomes the first player to be booked today after a late challenge on Nabbout. Phoenix - 4 Jets - 0
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
73' Bonevacia is certainly eager to get on the scoresheet bustling his way through the Phoenix defence before having his shot ultimately deflected for a corner. Phoenix - 4 Jets - 0
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
72' 18 year old Sarpeet Singh has replaced goal scorer Gui Finkler. Phoenix - 4 Jets - 0