Back home. After last week’s successful trip to Auckland, Phoenix return to Wellington. Be there with them!
Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC
Sunday 27th November, 4.30pm
Back home. After last week’s successful trip to Auckland, Phoenix return to Wellington. Be there with them!
It’s time to spread a little Yellow Fever at the Westpac Stadium. On Saturday, an absolutely huge crowd rocked Wellington Phoenix’s first ever game at Eden Park, so now it’s time to remind the Hyundai A-League that the Wellington public can turn up in numbers and create the same kind of noise as their Auckland counterparts achieved last week.
Let’s make it another big turnout and a sensational atmosphere as the Yellow and Black return to Wellington to take on Sydney FC. Don’t delay, grab a ticket today and help prove that there’s no place like home.
Phoenix will be looking to build on last week’s draw against Adelaide United and pick up three points that will pull themselves away from the foot of the table.
One thing that will have impressed Ricki Herbert on Saturday is how his side continued to fight until the death and managed to steal a point from a game that could easily have slipped away from them. Trailing one-nil to a Bruce Djite goal, Phoenix kept on battling and eventually grabbed an equaliser five minutes from time thanks to an own-goal from Nigel Boogaard.
If they can show the same perseverance against Sydney FC, they might just come away with a much-needed win. Talking of perseverance, Wellington’s opponents this Saturday also never know when they’re beaten.
Having come from 2-0 down to beat Gold Coast United a few weeks back, last Saturday they once again launched a late comeback when finding themselves in the same situation against Central Coast Mariners.
This time, another glorious fightback wasn’t meant to be, but goals from Nicky Carle and a first Sydney notch for Brett Emerton – and what a strike it was too – showed that this Sydney side will never accept that they are beaten. Phoenix will have to remain focused for the full 90 minutes if they are to get a result.
These slow starts though, are really becoming something of a headache for the Sky Blues. If they can learn to begin games as strongly as they finish them, they will be a genuine force in the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 season.
The plus points to take from their derby loss are the continued fine form of Carle and the fact that Emerton’s rasping free-kick will further boost his confidence. This is a team that will head to Wellington fully expecting to be capable of coming away with three points.
Meanwhile, Phoenix will hope that iconic frontman Paul Ifill will make a start, after he returned from a groin injury by coming off the bench after an hour in last week’s draw in Auckland, and had a hand in the equaliser.
It’s Wellington against Sydney and it’s set to be an absolute belter. The Sky Blues will be looking to get back to winning ways after last week’s derby disappointment, so it’s down to the Fever Zone to be the extra man for the home side.
Help Wellington pick up a vital victory and project themselves up the ladder. Sing for the win!
