Following three fantastic points in Sydney, it’s time for the Fever Zone to get vocal as Phoenix look to cement their finals spot!
Following three fantastic points in Sydney, it’s time for the Fever Zone to get vocal as Phoenix look to cement their finals spot!
After a couple of disappointing defeats to the top two teams in the Hyundai A-League, Wellington Phoenix are back on track and looking to make it six points from a possible six on Sunday, as bottom club Gold Coast United head to New Zealand.
If you want your team to get themselves a home tie in the elimination final then be there on Sunday to cheer them to three massive points. We all know just how amazing the atmosphere at Westpac Stadium is when it is packed with noisy Phoenix fans, so make it happen by grabbing a ticket today.
Last week, Wellington showed their credentials with a classic away victory in Sydney. Despite conceding plenty of possession and lots of chances, they produced the perfect smash-and-grab raid thanks to Paul Ifill’s well-placed early header.
Defensively, from that moment, Ricki Herbert’s men were nicely organised and, when Sydney did get past them, goalkeeper Mark Paston was on hand to keep the likes of Bruno Cazarine out. A similar display on Sunday will surely be enough to gain them three points against the current cellar dwellers.
Phoenix are thus far unbeaten against Gold Coast United in the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 season. In the very first week of the campaign at Skilled Park, the two teams played out a 1-1 draw, with Chris Greenacre’s 17th-minute goal cancelled out by an 88th-minute wonder-strike from James Brown.
However, at the same venue in January, Wellington went one better. This time it was the New Zealanders that struck late, with Tim Brown’s header two minutes from time proving to be the difference between the teams. The match was indicative of United’s season. Despite playing well and dominating periods of the match, they simply couldn’t make it count.
But, last weekend, Gold Coast proved that, while they are in all kinds of turmoil and seem destined to finish the season with nothing but the wooden spoon to show for their efforts, they are still anything but a pushover.
On a rainy night at Skilled Park, it seemed as though they might achieve a rare win after Maceo Rigters opened the scoring. Even though a strike from Carlos Hernandez drew Melbourne Victory level, United’s heads didn’t drop and they worked incredibly hard to ensure that they took a point from the match, as their opponents pushed on for the winner.
It’s sure to be a super Sunday in Wellington, as the Fever Zone looks to help Phoenix to three precious points. Ricki Herbert’s side have a genuine shot at silverware this season, so show them you are right behind their quest for success by turning up in huge numbers and giving the kind of fervent support that makes Westpac Stadium such a hard place for sides to visit.
Noise from the stands leads to points on the pitch, so be there and make yourself heard!
