Wellington have issued a firm statement to the rest of the competition that their early season form has by no means been an indicator of what they will offer as an opponent.
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Final score
Wellington Phoenix 5
Perth Glory 2
Wellington Phoenix, sitting unnervingly comfortably on the bottom of the table, play host to Perth Glory, on an international weekend packed full of world cup qualifiers. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:30pm (AEDT).
It’s the first of the three Distance Derbys in the 2017/18 A-League season, and for Wellington, nailed to the bottom of the ladder, if you’re going to be playing any team on an international weekend with a depleted squad due to those international duties, then this is the team to play.
Wellington, in a singular word, were dreadful last week. Time will tell whether the Nix were truly bad, or the Jets were truly hot, but Wellington should be driven by, at the very least, pride in the jersey to come back from last weekend. Since the 31st minute mark of the Round 4 clash against Brisbane, Wellington have disappeared.
Perth, on the other hand, should be riding high, off the back of a strong home win against a solid Adelaide team. Andy Keogh will also be feeling good, having gotten off the mark for this season with a decisive goal.
The only positive that Wellington can hope for in this match, is the value of home field advantage in the Distance Derby, with that 4,500 km journey a huge factor in travelling for athletes. History is also against Wellington today, as they haven’t beaten Perth in over two years. In fact, Perth have won the last two fixtures in New Zealand, so even the travel issue may not be enough to help a struggling kiwi team.
And, of course, there is that element of the pure unknown in football, as proven on Friday night with the Mariners defeating the normally unrivalled Sydney FC. Wellington will want to go into today’s game with a clear mindset, and a lot of positive energy, in the knowledge that anything is indeed possible.
Prediction
I’m feeling generous, and I am going to have faith that Wellington will aim to prove a few people wrong by putting in a strong performance at home, after last week.
Yes, Perth are in better form, but I’m going to go out on a limb and place a bit of weight on the impact that a long haul flight can have on a player’s mindset. If Perth play to their ability, and can shake off the travel, it could very well be disappointment for the home crowd, but expect a fired up Wellington outfit to take out their frustrations on a well-travelled opponent.
1-all draw.
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perry cox
Roar Guru
Agreed Kanga.
Kangajets
Guest
Bring in relegation immediately for the bottom 2 teams .
perry cox
Roar Guru
Little from column A, little from column B Stevo.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full time Wellington 5 Perth 2 Wellington have issued a firm statement to the rest of the competition that their early season form has by no means been an indicator of what they will offer as an opponent. Stinging from a 3-nil shellacking last weekend, when they conceded an opening goal to Perth, it looked to be a long afternoon for the home-side. But Wellington were not to be dealt with easily, immediately dragging a goal back through Dario Vidosic, who played superbly, and later took the lead through Paracki, who would have been eager to make up for last round's blunder of the year. Neither team seemed overly eager to build upon a resolute defence, as errors offered the main avenue to goal, perfectly summed up by Neville's horror error that, somewhat ironically, allowed Paracki to score himself. The second half again saw the home team concede early, and the tight 2-all affair looked like a lot more goals were on offer. And further goals would prove to be the case, but entirely for the home side. Wellington created space and movement out wide at every instance, and the ball found its way to Finkler, who controlled the ball in the area, and nailed the shot, to give the Phoenix the lead once again. As has been indicative of the season theme so far, controversy was not far away, as the maligned VAR system was called upon to adjudicate whether or not Perth had conceded a penalty through a handball. The crowd bayed: VAR, VAR, VAR. It was determined, eventually, that Perth had indeed given away a penalty, and Kaluderovic duly slotted a pinpoint perfect penalty, to extend the home side's lead. From there, Wellington appeared to be determined not to be denied, and Perth faded. Krishna, who in this writer's opinion was easily man of the match, raided that left hand side with ease, and it was only justice when Kaluderovic put away a header, for the fifth, and a final nail in the away side's coffin. And so the referee blew time on a game that was not exactly a classic, with other teams likely to take advantage of poor and disorganised defences of both teams, but weary that both teams can attack. However, this was very much a game you could not take your eyes off, lest you would definitely miss something. Perth will have a long flight home with a fair amount of introspection, as their unbeaten run against Wellington comes to a crashing halt. Wellington, o the other hand, should now be spurred on by a performance that offers them belief. The kiwi team will now look to make something of a season that appeared to be slipping away. Wellington will also move swiftly off the bottom, leaving a previously unheard of scenario of Brisbane and Melbourne propping up the rest of the competition.
Bazz
Guest
Defending from both teams was borderline park football at times. Entertaining, but not one for the purist.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Ruddy hell, just saw the score. Was the Glory defence like Swiss cheese or was the Nux attack as potent as Messi ?
perry cox
Roar Guru
95' Wellington 5 Perth 2 Wellington raid again, but Wilson is offside. Wellington have been stunning in this second half. Credit to them. Last minute of the game to go. We could still yet see another goal.
perry cox
Roar Guru
93' Wellington 5 Perth 2 Nichols pushes Krishna to the ground, and that will be a free. Will we get 6?
perry cox
Roar Guru
So, by my calculations, Brisbane will go bottom, and Victory will join them as the last remaining winless teams. Strange times.
perry cox
Roar Guru
90' Wellington 5 Perth 2 Castro tries to dip it in, from the tightest angle, but it sails across the face. He's been quiet in the second half, but that was a beautiful passage. Five minutes of stoppage time!
perry cox
Roar Guru
89' Wellington 5 Perth 2 SUB: Watson on, Kaluderovic off. Great day out for the Serbian. Great penalty, quality header. Well done son! Has he been denied the chance for a hatty though?
perry cox
Roar Guru
87' Wellington 5 Perth 2 AND THAT IS FIVE! Parkhouse with some incisive runs on the left, but this time from the right. He sends it in for Kaluderovic to outmuscle his defender, and head it true into the net. The Kiwis are going of! What a great goal, and a great game for the Nix.
perry cox
Roar Guru
86' Wellington 4 Perth 2 Now Parkhouse into space, as he sends it to Krishna in the six yard box. Perth head it clear. Corner. But Reddy comfortably collects the ensuing looping header. Perth send it long.
perry cox
Roar Guru
84' Wellington 4 Perth 2 Mullen with some exceptional movement there in attack, but it's Perth back on the attack. Oh dear: ball lands at Castro's feet in the six yard box, but his second touch leaves him high and dry. Perth corner, and they keep attacking. BALL IN THE NET. Keogh offside. Again. It's tense.
perry cox
Roar Guru
82' Wellington 4 Perth 2 Abbas with a shot into the crowd. He's had a solid game, but hardly incisive. SUB: Parkhouse on, Vidosic off. Vidosic has earned his oranges today. Parkhouse will be eager to make these last ten minutes count to close out the game.
perry cox
Roar Guru
80' Wellington 4 Perth 2 Wellington with a bit of starch in attack there, as they literally force Perth back into their own half with the ball. Perth attack again through Castro now, but Perth appear disjointed, as Wellington have them well covered. That should please the coach.
perry cox
Roar Guru
78' Wellington 4 Perth 2 SUB: Poscoleiro on, Neville off. Neville will be happy to see the back of that one.
perry cox
Roar Guru
76' Wellington 4 Perth 2 Wellington are on fire here. They're attacking at will, another cracking shot at Reddy, which he collects. Perth will try to return serve now, and earn a throw-in on the right hand side.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Football needs to re-evaluate the handball in the penalty area I think. I'm not convinced it was a handball in accordance with the letter of the law. And it's important to understand the laws, because if they're going to use VAR to get it right, the definition needs to be correct.
perry cox
Roar Guru
74' Wellington 4 Perth 2 Kaluderovic steps up, he's staring Reddy down. This for a two-goal buffer, and HE SCORES, with a well taken penalty, along the ground, to the left. Reddy guessed right, but that penalty was perfect.