Wellington Phoenix have stunned Brisbane Roar at a sold out Kayo Stadium, running out 3-0 winners in spite of a first half red card to Carlo Armiento.
The Phoenix’s talismanic striker Ifeanyi Eze was the most significant presence on the park, scoring the first goal inside six minutes and creating the second for Kasuki Nagasawa just before the hour mark.
Eze’s goal came from the Nigerian’s trademark combination of pace, power and ruthlessness, making Hosine Bility pay full price for a casual header that was never reaching keeper Dean Bouzanis with an accomplished finish.
The flashpoint in the game came in the 35th minute, when Armiento’s challenge on Dimitri Valkanis caused an all-in brawl that led to the former Roar man being handed his marching orders by referee Ben Abraham.
Bouzanis and Eze were both also booked for their own roles in the stoush.
Brisbane – without manager Michael Valkanis after a red card against Central Coast Mariners – poured the pressure on from the red card until after half time, but it was Eze’s driving run from inside his own half that created Nagasawa’s goal in the 58th minute.
READ MORE: Michael Valkanis’s fiery press conference after his red card against Central Coast Mariners
It initially looked as though the chance was gone when Ramy Najjarine couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet, but it eventually fell to the Japanese international whose shot from nearly 30 yards surprised Bouzanis enough to sneak under him.
Brisbane continued to press but were sucker punched in stoppage time when sub Luke Brooke-Smith broke from a Roar corner and set up the returning Paolo Retre for a tap in to make all three points safe.
The 3-0 result saw Wellington keep their first clean sheet in since January 2025, a total of 22 matches.
Brisbane – who now lose Lucas Herrington to the MLS – next up face the daunting prospect of hosting Auckland FC, while Wellington have Adelaide United in town next week.
ALEX TOBIN MEDAL VOTES:
3. Ifeanyi Eze
2. Eamonn McCarron
1. Alex Rufer
