Two rare errors have cost the Wellington Phoenix men in their first home game of 2025.
The Phoenix have been beaten 2-1 by high-flying Adelaide United at Sky Stadium in Wellington to remain five points adrift of the Isuzu UTE A-League’s top six.
Adelaide opened the scoring from an own goal inside 10 minutes and the Reds scored the match-winner from a Nix mistake with a quarter of an hour remaining.
The result at least momentarily moved Adelaide to the top of the ladder, while Wellington remain 10th.
Head coach Giancarlo Italiano cut a frustrated figure post-match.
“When things go against you, everything seems to go against you,” Italiano told media post-match.
“The frustrating part is there’s a lot of own goals at the moment and it’s probably our set up [and] the way we set up in the box.
“It also might be down to inexperience with some of the younger players. But I’m not going to fault them.
“I’m not here to point the finger. They just do exactly what we ask. Once they gain that experience and they’re more comfortable, then those moments become easier to defend.
“But I was genuinely proud of the way the team played today. I felt like they gave me 100%. They stuck to the gameplan and…they gave everything.
“I think if Adelaide don’t score [their second goal], I think we win that game. We were pushing and I could see Carl (Veart) was getting frustrated with his team as well.”
Italiano says every game for the Phoenix is now a must-win.
“We need to start winning some games to turn the season around.
“I’m the eternal optimist. After today I feel like there’s still some fight left in this team, irrespective of who’s playing or who’s available.
“Today we showed there is a backbone to this team, and we can do things.
“I have to carry and build that belief in the squad.”
Giancarlo Italiano made three changes to the XI which started last week’s 2-0 defeat to Melbourne City, with Corban Piper, Mo Al-Taay and Lukas Kelly-Heald coming into the side in place of Luke Brooke-Smith, Kazuki Nagasawa and injured fullback Tim Payne.
The Phoenix had the first half chance of the match in just the fourth minute. Kosta Barbarouses won possession high up the pitch and found Sam Sutton, who teed up Hideki Ishige at the top of the box, but unfortunately the Japanese forward dragged his shot wide.
The Nix soon found themselves a goal down when a right-wing cross from Adelaide forward Zach Clough deflected off unlucky Wellington fullback Matt Sheridan and into the back of the net.
The Phoenix had a few promising moments after going behind but were unable to test James Delianov in the Reds’ goal.
Sutton, who started in a more advanced left midfield position, whipped in a dangerous cross in the 12th minute and Adelaide did well to deny Piper a header on target.
Ishige went down in the Reds’ box soon after and stayed down but the Video Assistant Referee decided there was no penalty.
Piper made a great burst from right midfield in the 22nd minute but his cutback into the penalty area was behind both Barbarouses and Ishige.
A quarter of an hour later the Nix expertly broke the press down their left and Ishige whipped a cross to Piper, but Adelaide defender Javi Lopez did enough with his body to hold the Wellington midfielder off.
The Phoenix were able to block six of the Reds’ nine first half shots, with centre backs Scott Wootton and Isaac Hughes both putting their bodies on the line.
Josh Oluwayemi had to make just one save of note before halftime and that came in the 36th minute to deny Zach Clough, who pounced on a wayward pass at the top of the Wellington penalty area.
Italiano was forced to make his first substitution at halftime, bringing on Nathan Walker in place of an ailing Sutton, who was suffering with a virus.
The Nix registered their second shot of the match just three minutes into the second half, with Adelaide doing well to block Barbarouses’ quick turn and shoot at the top of the box.
Moments later Barbarouses played a neat one-two with Piper to win the Phoenix their first corner of the match.
Corban Piper headed home Ishige’s right-wing delivery to draw Wellington level and celebrated scoring his maiden A-League goal.
The Reds had a number of shots soon after the equaliser, but most were blocked by the Nix’s resolute defence, and the Nix looked the more threatening of the two sides.
But Adelaide then reclaimed the lead with quarter of an hour remaining. Oluwayemi spilled a near post cross as he collided with Wootton and substitute Luka Jovanovic pounced to score what turned out to be the match-winner.
Phoenix substitute Kazuki Nagasawa came close to equalising just moments later when he got hold of a volley from the top of the box, but unfortunately for him and the Nix it was straight at Delianov.
Wootton also had a volley blocked in the Reds’ penalty area in the 84th minute after another spell of Wellington pressure.
But Adelaide defended well and held on for a rare win in New Zealand.
The Wellington Phoenix will have no time to dwell on the defeat as they will be back at Sky Stadium on Wednesday night to play Sydney FC.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER (29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH 81st), 4. Scott WOOTTON (c), 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 12. Mo AL-TAAY (25. Kazuki NAGASAWA 62nd), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON (41. Nathan WALKER 46th), 27. Matt SHERIDAN.
Unused substitutes: 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 23. Luke SUPYK, 39. Jayden SMITH.
Adelaide United: 1. James DELIANOV (gk), 3. Bart VRIENDS, 6. Stefan MAUK (c) (44. Ryan WHITE 81st), 10. Zach CLOUGH (12. Jonny YULL 90+4), 14. Jay BARNETT (8. ISAIAS 81st), 17. Ben FOLAMI (19. Yaya DUKULY 66th), 20. Dylan PIERIAS, 21. Javi LOPEZ, 26. Archie GOODWIN (9. Luka JOVANOVIC 66th), 51. Panagiotis KIKIANIS, 55. Ethan ALAGICH.
Unused substitutes: 40. Ethan COX (gk), 62. Fabian TALLADIRA.
Goals:
27. Matt SHERIDAN (Wellington Phoenix) – 7th og
3. Corban PIPER (Wellington Phoenix) – 50th
9. Luka JOVANOVIC (Adelaide United) – 75th
Cards:
25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 90th3. Bart VRIENDS (Adelaide United) – yellow – 90+5
9. Luka JOVANOVIC (Adelaide United) – yellow – 90+7
