Former Sydney FC striker Alex Brosque says he’s eager to see more of the scenes produced at Wellington Phoenix’s record-breaking home victory over Western United, after the raucous home crowd helped put on an unforgettable show at Sky Stadium.
Simon Hill and Brosque returned to the airways on SEN’S weekly football show ‘The Global Game’ on Tuesday night to discuss a huge week of football, played both at home and around the world.
On the agenda was Wellington’s 3-0 win over Western United – the first Phoenix game on home soil in 433 days. Ufuk Talay took his side back to New Zealand for the highly-anticipated contest and the spectacle did not disappoint, as both the home side and their fans put on an occasion to remember.
Speaking on ‘The Global Game’, Brosque outlined his hopes for the scenes produced throughout the blockbuster at Sky Stadium to become a regular occurrence – and the ‘Nix have the chance to do it all over again in Matchweek 23 on a trip to Aukland.
Read on as Brosque and Hill discuss Wellington’s historic day out at Sky Stadium, hear why Brosque can’t see Perth Glory scraping into the top six by the end of the 2020/21 season and more as a-league.com.au unpacks another entertaining episode of ‘The Global Game’!
Listen to SEN’S The Global Game HERE
“Terrific” supporters making Phoenix homecoming worth the wait
“Everyone there would have to have had a great night – we want to see it again.”
After waiting more than a year to see their home side in action, the Phoenix faithful came out in their droves to create an incredible atmosphere in Wellington’s 3-0 win over Western United.
The ‘Nix roared to victory on a day where every foray forward, every block, tackle and created chance was met with emphatic cheers bellowing from the stands at Sky Stadium.
Reno Piscopo’s second-half thunderbolt ripped the lid off the ‘Cake Tin’ as the visiting side crumbled under pressure from a team on form and their passionate crowd backing them in every step of the way.
REPORT: Record-breaking home crowd flocks to watch Phoenix dazzle in 3-0 win over Western United
REACTION: Durante’s bids Phoenix fans emotional farewell
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6256203186001
The Phoenix returned to Australia to defeat Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 at Bankwest on Wednesday night, leaving Talay’s team just three points outside of the top six heading into Matchweek 23.
Wellington play their next game – a Distance Derby against Perth – at Eden Park in Aukland on Saturday afternoon.
With the prospect of Finals Series football growing larger game by game, Phoenix fans will be encouraged to get out in similar numbers on the weekend to try and recreate the atmosphere displayed in Wellington on Saturday, May 22.
“We have to pay homage to the crowd at the ‘Cake Tin’ on Saturday, Brosquey,” Hill said.
“24,105 – the biggest crowd of the A-League season – absolutely terrific by the Phoenix supporters.”
“It definitely was,” Brosque replied. “We mentioned it last week when we found out they were going back there, and asked and hoped that the fans would show up, and didn’t they just.
“(They were) incredible scenes. I think with (Andrew) Durante as well announcing his retirement and using that moment to do it, it was just perfect.
Like you said, the hope of course is to make that a regular occurrence. We want those crowds every week.
There wouldn’t be a single person at that game who would have gone home disappointed or upset. That was a fantastic game, great atmosphere, it added so much to it and because of that the players respond, it’s a better spectacle.
“Everyone there would have to have had a great night,” Brosque added. “We want to see it again.”
BELOW: Gallery – Phoenix return home to beat Western United in front of 24,105 fans
Troubling away record makes Perth’s last-gasp attack on top six a tough ask
“I don’t see, given their away form, that they can scrape in.”
After spending more than one month playing eight consecutive home games at HBF Park, Perth Glory have hit the road for their final three fixtures of the 2020/21 A-League campaign.
Richard Garcia’s side got on a roll as the HBF Park fixtures piled up, winning four on the bounce heading into a crucial clash with Macarthur FC in Matchweek 22.
But Perth fell short in their final home game of the season, going ahead before the Bulls pegged one back in a 1-1 draw.
Looking at Glory’s unwanted record away from home, Brosque says he struggles to see the Western Australian outfit breaching the top six by the end of the season.
Perth begin Matchweek 23 four points outside the top six ahead of the Distance Derby on Saturday afternoon.
“Glory for me, they really needed to win that game,” Hill said when dissecting Perth’s draw with Macarthur.
“They had this great run at home, but they’ve only taken two points from a possible 18 on the road since February, and all their remaining games are on the road.”
“That’s exactly right.. that doesn’t make for good reading if you’re a Perth fan,” Brosque said.
“I think they had to win that game like you said, and only taking a draw really hurt their chances.
“They’re relying a lot on Brisbane, Macarthur even to (drop points). All they can do is keep winning, they had great form heading into that game but unfortunately for me, that really, really hurt them.
“I don’t see, given their away form, that they can scrape in.”
READ: Team of the Week, presented by Bunnings Warehouse – Matchweek 22
MORE: Thursday night preview: Macarthur FC v Central Coast Mariners – May 27
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6255643921001
“Well-rounded” Reds impressing Brosque in the run-in to finals
“It’s just a really good mix for me at the moment, I like watching them play.”
Adelaide United have the opportunity to draw level on points with second-placed Sydney FC with a home win over the Sky Blues on Saturday night.
The Coopers Stadium clash pits Brosque’s former side against a team he sees as one of the more balanced in the league, with players both young and old blending to create a squad which, under Carl Veart, is shaping up very nicely ahead of the crunch clash on Saturday, May 29.
“Craig Goodwin, he’s been incredible for them this year. He’s such an important piece and part of their attack,” Brosque said after the Reds attacker fired his side to a 1-0 Original Rivalry win over Melbourne Victory last time out.
“The calmness he has on the ball, his experience, he controls the pace of the game, he speeds it up when he needs to or slows things down.
I think Adelaide are just very well-rounded. Not jut with him ,but with other experienced players.
“You’ve got (Tomi) Juric, (Michael) Jakobsen, Juande, Stefan Mauk as well who has been incredible this year.
“Then you’ve got a good mix of young guys with the Toure brothers, Kusini Yengi, (Joshua) Cavallo who has been great.
“I think Carl Veart has been able to find the way to mix these guys in and to get the best out of all of them, it’s just a really good mix for me at the moment, I like watching them play.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6256185417001
