Wellington Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante lamented a lack of intensity in the second half against Perth Glory on Sunday as the Kiwi outfit looks to find a 90 minute performance against Sydney FC this weekend.
With their much-vaunted front-five together for the first time in the Hyundai A-League, Phoenix had some bright moments in the first half at nib Stadium but were unable to find a breakthrough.
And it cost them in the second half as Glory scored twice via Diego Castro and Nebo Marinkovic to clinch a 2-0 win in the Distance Derby.
Glory off the mark after downing Phoenix
“It’s disappointing. I thought we started the game very well, I thought we dominated possession and created a few good chances and then they came into the game later on,” Durante told Fox Sports.
“We were pretty happy at half time and we thought we were right in the game.
“But the second half we lacked the intensity we had in the first half and we gave away a penalty and then we are behind the eight ball. It was always going to be difficult after that.”
Durante was one of four Phoenix players who endured a mammoth travel schedule to get to Perth for the match after international duty last week representing the All Whites.
While admitting the travel took its toll, he refused to blame it on the side’s second half fadeout.
“It was a long way to come, 24 hours on a plane to get here,” Durante said.
“But I felt good, I know Mikey [McGlinchey] felt good and Kosta [Barbarouses] played 90 minutes as well so it’s not an excuse.
“We just didn’t create enough chances to win the game.”
Wellington is now the only side in the Hyundai A-League without a point after two rounds, with league-leaders Sydney FC next up on Sunday at Westpac Stadium.
