Get along to Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin for thrilling Hyundai A-League action, as Phoenix take on the champions!
Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar
Wednesday 14th December, 7.30pm
Get along to Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin for thrilling Hyundai A-League action, as Phoenix take on the champions!
Following their successful jaunt to Adelaide last month, when a massive crowd of over 20,000 turned out to cheer Wellington Phoenix on against Adelaide United, the club are hitting the road again as part of Football Federation Australia’s scheme to connect with regional Australia.
While this will be the first ever Hyundai A-League game that the Forsyth Barr Stadium has hosted, Wellington Phoenix played the venue’s first football game here – a friendly – in August.
Indeed, the opponents that day, Brisbane Roar, are the same club that the Yellow and Black will be taking on on Wednesday. Then,15,000 fans created plenty of noise on a great occasion. Considering that was just an exhibition game with nothing riding on it, just imagine how good the atmosphere will be on Wednesday with Hyundai A-League points at stake!
And what better reason do you need to get along to this game than the visit of the history-making Brisbane Roar, who recently smashed the 74-year-old record of 35 unbeaten games set by NSW Rugby League club Eastern Suburbs?
The good news for Wellington is that, in their last away game, Roar proved themselves to in fact be beatable, suffering their first defeat in 37 games. Sydney FC opened the scoring after 36 seconds through Dimitri Petratos before Brett Emerton’s wicked corner doubled their lead in the 19th minute.
After that, the Sky Blues held on comfortably enough, and Wellington will perhaps use this game as a template for their own tactics. If they can get at Brisbane early, then they can do some damage.
Of course, Wellington have already come away from a match-up with Brisbane unscathed in the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 season. A few weeks ago, they survived a Roar onslaught for 90 minutes to secure an outstanding 1-1 draw at Suncorp Stadium.
Phoenix showed amazing resilience and spirit after going 1-0 down as early as the 11th minute to Besart Berisha’s header. An early deficit at the Suncorp can lead to curtains for the visiting side – just ask Adelaide or Perth – but the Yellow and Black hung in there and equalised in fine style on 37 minutes, with Leo Bertos playing a perfect ball to Nick Ward, who drew the keeper and squared for Tim Brown to finish. Then, it was a case of all hands to the pump as the away side defended like crazy!
Check out this fantastic arena and take in some full-blooded Hyundai A-League action on Wednesday night, as Phoenix and Roar go toe-to-toe in what is sure to be a belter of a game.
Secure your ticket today and play your part in helping ensure that Brisbane – so long unbeaten – suffer back-to-back away defeats!
