Wellington Phoenix
0
PREVIEW
Western Sydney Wanderers FC
0
Match result:
The Wellington Phoenix have recorded a memorable and emotional 3-1 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday.
Final score
Wellington Phoenix 3
Western Sydney Wanderers 1
Match preview:
The Wellington Phoenix, under somewhat sombre circumstances, have an opportunity to give themselves some finals race breathing space in their Round 22 fixture against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Westpac Trust Stadium. Join The Roar from 5pm (AEDT) for live scores and blog of the game.
It is becoming too frequent an occurrence that we are often reminded sport, ultimately, is just a game, as the events in Christchurch on Friday have once again managed to do.
No doubt, the black armbands and minute silence before today’s fixture will very much bring to the forefront of everyone’s minds the seeming insignificance of a game for these two sides, so close to the home of the Phoenix.
Wellington are coming off a comfortable and dominant win over the Mariners, that led to the sacking of their coach, and would have been feeling largely confident going into today’s game.
Roy Krishna is scoring goals for fun at the moment, and once again is in red-hot form, where it appears being the fulcrum of the Phoenix attack is a burden that rests comfortably upon his shoulders.
Given Newcastle’s inexplicable slip up against the Mariners overnight, Wellington have a chance today to put a significant amount of space on seventh place, and further entrench themselves in the top four.
However, Western Sydney have become opponents that you can no longer take lightly.
Western Sydney themselves are coming off a strong win last round, putting the cleaners through the Brisbane Roar.
The combination that has clicked between Roly Bonavacia, Alex Baumjohann, and Oriol Riera is working wonders for the Wanderers, themselves trying to make a late, if seemingly futile, finals push.
The Wanderers are on something of a streak at the moment, having won two away fixtures in a row.
No doubt they would love to make it a third.
Prediction
The red-hot, lightning form of Wellington is too hard to look past, and they should be able to get the job done here against a Wanderers opponent who will be no slouch.
Goals should be on the menu, as these two teams showed last weekend they like to score, but the added incentive of top four should propel the Phoenix to another win.
Wellington 3-2.
Join The Roar from 5pm (AEDT) for live scores and coverage, and don’t forget to leave a comment in the comments section below.
Wellington Phoenix
1.Filip KURTO (gk), 4.Mandi SOSA, 5.Ryan LOWRY, 7.Cillian SHERIDAN, 9.Nathan BURNS, 11.David WILLIAMS, 12.Antony GOLEC, 13.Liberato CACACE, 14. Alex RUFER, 15.Michal KOPZCYNSKI, 16.Louis FENTON, 17.Callan ELLIIOT, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21.Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Max BURGESS, 27.Steven TAYLOR, 32.Gianni STENSNESS
Western Sydney Wanderers
3.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO, 5.Brendan HAMILL (c), 7.Nick FITZGERALD, 9.Oriol RIERA, 10.Alex BAUMJOHANN, 11.Bruce KAMAU, 12.Mitchell DUKE, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (GK), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Rashid MAHAZI, 24.Raul LLORENTE, 27.Kwame YEBOAH, 28.Roly BONEVACIA, 33.Tate RUSSELL, 40.Nicholas SUMAN, 42.Andrea AGAMEMNONOS, 43.Adrian VALENTI
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Full time The three first half goals from Krishna, Mandi and Williams get the job done for the Phoenix. Mitch Duke with the late consolation for the visitors. Of greater significant was the late red card to Krishna, who misses next week against Newcastle. A somewhat tame affair, despite the goals. There was only going to be one winner, and it was Wellington. A game more memorable for the outstanding commemoration of last Friday's events, perhaps that was playing on players' minds. Thanks for joining us for the coverage. Enjoy Sydney v City. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 1
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Substitution 95‘ – Burgess comes off for Wellington, missed who has come on, and Llorente comes off for Wilmering. Wellington Phoenix – 3 Western Sydney – 1
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95' - Burgess with another shot, and he completes the set - off target, goal kick Wanderers. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 1
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95' - What makes that lashing out by Krishna even sillier is that we only have one minute left. Wellington were already home. Dear oh dear. Wellington on what should be one last attack through Sheridan. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 1
93'
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Red Card 93' - Oh dear, that's Roy Krishna off, for a second yellow card for lashing out at Llorente's face. Completely unnecessary, if a red card ever can be necessary, and that could have a massive impact on the season. No doubt Krishna lashes out, it's unfortunate connection, but it's a hit to the face. And he was on a yellow, so he ran that risk, and paid badly. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 1
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92' - Wellington break up the Wanderers' attack, and break through Krishna, who earns an attacking throw in. That should do it, in case there was any doubt. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 1
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91' - Yep, 5 minutes of stoppage time. Wanderers still moving the ball around the Wellington defensive area. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 1
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90' - Wanderers on the attack, very structured. Now, a goal here would make things interesting. We should have a fair bit of stoppage time. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 1
88'
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88' - Wanderers with a cross field switch to no one, and out of play. Wellington with the (slow) throw in, as they game manage this to the end. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 1
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Substitution 87' - And Mandi's night is done - great game. He will come off for Gianni Stensness. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 1
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Goal 86' - Well where did that come from. Baumjohann starts the raid, Riera with the cross, and Duke nods it home. Wanderers on the board, and can't say it wasn't coming. Wellington have flatlined a little. Is it game on with 5 minutes to go? Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 1
86'
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Substitution 83' - And that is Williams' night done - great game - and Cillian Sheridan comes on for the last minutes of the game. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 0
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81' - VAR clears the decision, Baumjohann butchers the free kick, and Wellington clear. What a disaster it has been for Western Sydney today. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 0
80'
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Yellow Card 80' - And the game just deteriorating here, as Durante lays a solid tackle on Yeboah. Now, Yeboah goes down, Durante appeared to get the ball - he did, but he got player - so it's a card, but Durante carrying on a bit. Settle down buddy! VAR checking though ... this could be red. That would really make the locals happy. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 0
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78' - Wellington again strong on the ball, out wide to Fenton, but he loses out to Llorente, and Yeboah tries to inject himself into the action. Wanderers passing has been pathetic, it has to be said. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 0
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76' - Wellington with a corner here through Williams. They go short, and try to build up for a slow burn attack. Burgess can't find Mandi, and Mandi is down like he's been hit. Not sure about that though. Wellington Phoenix - 3 Western Sydney - 0