Let’s get Westpac Stadium rocking as Phoenix look to avenge their finals defeat of 2010 against Sydney FC.
Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC
Friday 30th March, 8.00pm
Let’s get Westpac Stadium rocking as Phoenix look to avenge their finals defeat of 2010 against Sydney FC. Make some noise.
The finals are coming to Wellington for the first time since 2010, so let’s fill Westpac Stadium to the brim as Phoenix aim for silverware. And what better way to kick-off a potential finals run than with a win over the team that broke their hearts a couple of years ago?
If last season’s exit at the hands of Adelaide was disappointing, then their 2010 loss was devastating. Having put in two fantastic displays in front of a packed Westpac Stadium, they travelled to Sydney for a preliminary final, only to come away on the end of a controversial defeat.
The pivotal moment came with the scores locked at 1-1, when Sky Blues striker Chris Payne put the ball in the net with his arm. Incredibly, the officials didn’t spot it and the goal was allowed to stand.
Sydney went on to win 4-2 and Wellington’s season was over. Now, with the Fever Zone right behind them, Phoenix have the chance to avenge that loss.
The home side go into this crucial finals clash on the back of a loss last weekend, but they shouldn’t concern themselves too much with that.
With Perth already pretty much wrapping up third place the night before, and with their opponents Central Coast Mariners knowing a victory would secure the Premiers’ Plate, it was always going to be a game in which the visiting side were more up for it. And so it proved, with the new Premiers coming away with a 2-1 win.
Still, Ricki Herbert will be happy with his players in that, while the game was essentially a dead rubber for them (they would have needed to beat Mariners by three goals to sneak third place – a near impossible task), they still showed plenty of spirit and gave their visitors a few nervous minutes with Leo Bertos’ 80th-minute free-kick.
Their opponents on Friday will be absolutely buzzing after a fantastic display on the final weekend of the normal season saw them jump into the finals places.
Knowing that nothing but a win would do against local rivals Newcastle Jets, Sydney FC set about their task brilliantly, and went in at the interval with a 3-1 lead thanks to a header from Bruno Cazarine and a brace from Joel Chianese.
The Jets, who needed just a draw to make the finals, pulled one back in the second-half to ensure an incredible tense finale, but the Sky Blues held out to send The Cove wild.
Who will prevail on Friday? Will Wellington march on or can Sydney’s Vitezslav Lavicka stay at the helm for another game at least? Phoenix have beaten this Friday’s opponents three times out of three this season, can they make it a fantastic four and keep their silverware dreams alive?
Get a ticket to this cracking clash and experience the incredible atmosphere that a home game in the finals can bring. Ready your vocal chords and prepare to make some noise.
