The Wellington Phoenix have secured their third home win of the new Isuzu UTE A-League season to rise up a congested ladder.
The Phoenix have beaten Central Coast Mariners 3-1 in their Nixmas match at Sky Stadium thanks to goals from Corban Piper, Manjrekar James and Carlo Armiento.
James and Armiento found the back of the net inside the first seven minutes of the second half after the Mariners had scored from virtually the last kick of the first half to cancel out Piper’s opener.
The result sees the Nix jump up to seventh on the table, just a point behind the three teams above them.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano was happy with the response he got in the second half.
“I didn’t mince my words at halftime to the boys,” Italiano told media post-match. “I was disappointed in terms of the fact that we let them back in game just on the stroke of halftime.
“It was very frustrating. I wasn’t happy at halftime because we worked so hard to get the lead and then we gave it away, but in the second half I got the response I wanted.
“I got the discipline in the defending, which was quite good, [and] we did a couple of different things today…which we executed quite well and on the run.
“That’s where I was very happy. We were able to change things as the game progressed. It’s something I’ve been a little bit frustrated with over the last maybe five or six games…but the boys were focused, gave everything and I was happy in the end.”
Wellington secured the three points despite losing inform goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi to a seemingly serious injury 10 minutes into the match.
Eighteen-year-old Eamonn McCarron came on to make his A-League debut and is likely to continue in goal in Oluwayemi’s absence.
“I thought Eamonn did really well today when he played. Even though he didn’t have to save much in terms of shot-stopping, but I thought in the air he was great, he communicated well and he’s got a nice presence about him.
“I have the utmost confidence in him. The one moment that really cemented it was in the Wrexham gave when he played. He played like he was in his late 20s, early 30s; very poised.”
Giancarlo Italiano made two changes to the XI which started last Sunday’s defeat to Newcastle Jets with James (suspension) and Isaac Hughes (injury) returning in place of Xuan Loke and Jayden Smith respectively. Paulo Retre was named on the bench for the first time this season after recovering from a long-term injury.
The Mariners had the ball in the back of the net little over 60 seconds into the match, but referee Tim Danaskos quickly ruled it out for offside. His decision was upheld by the Video Assistant Referee.
Phoenix wingback Matt Sheridan had the first shot in the seventh minute after some good hold up play from Ifeanyi Eze. However, Sheridan’s left-footed effort was straight at Andrew Redmayne in Central Coast’s goal.
Former Nix fullback Lucas Mauragis had the Mariners’ first shot on goal less than 60 seconds later, but it was comfortably saved by Oluwayemi. Unfortunately, he injured himself in making the save and had to be replaced by McCarron on A-League debut.
It was scrappy for the next 10 or so minutes before Piper had a shot deflect into the arms of Redmayne.
Piper hooked a shot wide on the half hour mark too after Central Coast’s ‘keeper had pushed away a typically powerful effort from Armiento.
The powerful striker put Wellington in front in the 36th minute when he finished inside the right-hand post after Kazuki Nagasawa had won possession in midfield, driven forward and delivered an inch-perfect pass to Piper.
However, the Phoenix were unable to hold on to the lead until halftime as Mariners striker Sebit Ngor tapped home from close range in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time after McCarron had saved the initial shot from Central Coast substitute Miguel Di Pizio.
The Nix didn’t have to wait long for an opportunity to restore their lead in the second half.
After intervention from the VAR Wellington were awarded a penalty after Mariners fullback Will Kennedy got his arm in the way of a cross from Ramy Najjarine.
James stepped up to the spot and smashed the penalty inside the right-hand post to put the Phoenix 2-1 up.
Armiento doubled their lead three minutes later when he stroked home at the back post after Piper turned provider with an inviting ball across the six yard box.
Goalscoring opportunities were few and far between for the rest of the half, although the Phoenix looked more threatening, and Italiano made his second substitution with a quarter of an hour remaining, bringing on Fin Roa Conchie in place of Eze who led the line energetically.
The Mariners continued to try and find a way back into the game, but the Nix defended well and McCarron wasn’t called upon to make any notable saves.
Italiano made his final change in the third minute of time added on, with Retre making his season debut in place of Najjarine.
After six home matches in the opening nine rounds of the season the Wellington Phoenix will fly to Melbourne next Sunday to play Victory on Monday, December 29.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk) (40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk) 11th), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Manjrekar JAMES, 7. Ifeanyi EZE (5. Fin ROA CONCHIE 75th), 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE (8. Paulo RETRE 90+2), 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matthew SHERIDAN.
Unused substitutes: 12. Dan EDWARDS, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 37. Anaru CASSIDY, 39. Jayden SMITH.
Central Coast Mariners: 30. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2. James DONACHIE, 3. Nathan PAULL, 5. Lucas MAURAGIS, 7. Christian THEOHAROUS (9. Ryan EDMONDSON 59th), 8. Alfie MCCALMONT (10. Miguel DI PIZIO 41st), 11. Sebit NGOR (14. Nicholas DUARTE 84th), 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Harrison STEELE (37. Bailey BRANDTMAN 84th), 20. Will KENNEDY (24. Diesel HERRINGTON 58th), 26. Bradley TAPP (c).
Unused substitutes: 40. Dylan PERAIC-CULLEN (gk), 6. Haine EAMES.
Goals:
3. Corban PIPER (Wellington Phoenix) – 36th
11. Sebit NGOR (Central Coast Mariners) – 45+5
4. Manjrekar JAMES (Wellington Phoenix) – 49th pen
11. Carlo ARMIENTO (Wellington Phoenix) – 52nd
Cards:
24. Diesel HERRINGTON (Central Coast Mariners) – yellow – 84th
