Western Sydney Wanderers have handed the Wellington Phoenix their third straight defeat in the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League.
The Wanderers have beaten the Phoenix 4-1 at CommBank Stadium in Sydney after leading 2-0 at halftime.
The Nix trailed for almost the entire match after conceding inside the opening minute, and were two-nil down inside 10 minutes.
Hideki Ishige’s spectacular overhead kick a quarter of an hour into the second half got Wellington back into the match, but ultimately they weren’t able to score a second and were punished by a more clinical Wanderers side.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano expressed his disappointment after the match.
“We probably gifted them three out of the four goals, well actually probably all four,” Italiano told media. “Errors or us being hesitant around the box. Defensively it was very uncharacteristic from us today.
“To be fair in the second half I was very happy with the group, the way they bounced back. We got it back to 2-1, we had some big moments at 2-1 and I think if we scored to make it 2-all the whole complexion of the game would have changed.
“A lot of teams give up. They kept doing what I asked and I can’t fault them for that. I just think in the end a little bit of inexperience cost us.”
Italiano has already turned his attentions to Saturday’s match against Newcastle Jets at Sky Stadium.
“Halfway through that second half I was already thinking about next week. Once we conceded the third I kind of started focusing on what I can fix for next week.
“I don’t think I’m the first manager to lose three in a row. There are some high profile managers at the moment that have gone through a bit of a rough patch.
“I’m no different. I’m not perfect or anything like that, I don’t profess to be. I think this is a normal part [of football].
“I’ve seen some really good teams go through this. For us it’s a learning opportunity. I’m going to go back to Wellington now and get prepared for Jets next week.”
Giancarlo Italiano made one change to the XI which started last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Macarthur FC with Corban Piper named to start his first A-League match in place of Marco Rojas, who rolled his ankle at training yesterday. Fit-again defender Lukas Kelly-Heald and young winger Luke Brooke-Smith were promoted to the bench.
The Wanderers took the lead inside 60 seconds when forward Brandon Borrello took advantage of a slip from Isaac Hughes to get in behind the Phoenix defence and laid off a pass for Zac Sapsford, who swept home from near the penalty spot.
Borrello also set-up Western Sydney’s second goal nine minutes later, as it went from bad to worse for the Nix. This time he teed up former Wellington midfielder Bozhidar Kraev, who calmly slotted past Josh Oluwayemi to double the hosts’ lead.
The Phoenix looked more likely to score next but they were unable to threaten Lawrence Thomas in the Wanderers’ goal.
Their best moments in the first half came from left-wing crosses, with Scott Wootton unable to connect with Ishige’s dangerous free-kick and Sam Sutton’s whipping delivery soon after was just out of reach of fellow wingback Tim Payne.
The Japanese forward had an opportunity to test Thomas in first half stoppage time when he found some space outside the box but his shot sailed high and wide and the Nix went into halftime two goals down.
Italiano responded by making two changes at the interval, bringing on academy graduates Matt Sheridan and Nathan Walker on for Paulo Retre and Sutton respectively.
The substitutions appeared to have the desired effect and Piper had a chance to pull a goal back for Wellington from another Ishige free-kick three minutes into the second half. He showed great strength to get the better of his opposite in Western Sydney’s six-yard box but was unable to keep his header under the bar.
Wanderers came within inches of scoring their third in the 55th minute when a deflected strike from Nicolas Milanovic smashed the right post. Hughes got the crucial touch to send the shot off target.
Tim Payne shot narrowly over the bar soon after following a mazy run infield and he made a piercing burst into the Wanderers box moments later in the lead-up to Hideki Ishige’s goal. Ishige controlled a mis-hit shot from compatriot Kazuki Nagasawa with his thigh and then, with his back to goal, expertly picked out the roof of the net with an overhead kick.
Unfortunately, Western Sydney restored their two goal cushion just seven minutes later when Swedish striker Marcus Antonsson scored mere moments after coming off the bench.
Corban Piper had another opportunity to head home an Ishige set piece in the 71st minute, this time from a corner. But again, his header sailed over the bar.
Giancarlo Italiano made a triple change with quarter of an hour remaining, bringing on Lukas Kelly-Heald, Luke Brooke-Smith and Mo Al-Taay for Hughes, Ishige and Nagasawa. It was Kelly-Heald’s first appearance of the season having finally shaken off a quad injury, while it was 16-year-old Brooke-Smith’s A-League debut.
Wanderers made a couple of substitutions too and there were few opportunities for either side for a spell as the new players settled in.
Piper had one final goalscoring opportunity from a set piece in the second minute of stoppage time. He volleyed a Nathan Walker corner on target but Lawrence Thomas made a good save to deny the defender his maiden A-League goal.
Instead it was Western Sydney midfielder Dylan Scicluna who scored his first in the competition, blasting home Wanderers’ fourth in off the crossbar after the three minutes of time added on had been played.
The Wellington Phoenix will return home tomorrow to prepare for Saturday’s match against Newcastle Jets at Sky Stadium.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE (27. Matt SHERIDAN 46th), 9. Hideki ISHIGE (29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH 75th), 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES (18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD 75th), 19. Sam SUTTON (41. Nathan WALKER 46th), 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (12. Mo AL-TAAY 75th).
Unused substitutes: 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 23. Luke SUPYK.
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Lawrence THOMAS (gk) (c), 2. Gabriel CLEUR, 4. Alexander BONETIG, 5. Dylan SCICLUNA, 7. Zac SAPSFORD (9. Marcus ANTONSSON 64th), 13. Dean PELEKANOS, 14. Nicolas MILANOVIC, 19. Jack CLISBY (18. Oscar PRIESTMAN 85th), 23. Bozhidar KRAEV (21. Aydan HAMMOND 64th), 25. Joshua BRILLANTE (64. Juan MATA 77th), 26. Brandon BORRELLO (27. James TEMELKOVSKI 78th).
Unused substitutes: 30. Jordan HOLMES (gk), 41. Jesse CAMERON.
Goals:
7. Zac SAPSFORD (Western Sydney Wanderers) – 1st
23. Bozhidar KRAEV (Western Sydney Wanderers) – 10th
9. Hideki ISHIGE (Wellington Phoenix) – 59th
9. Marcus ANTONSSON (Western Sydney Wanderers) – 66th
5. Dylan SCICLUNA (Western Sydney Wanderers) – 90+4
