Another statement road win for the Wellington Phoenix, who have continued their unbeaten start to 2026.
The Phoenix have upset second-placed Sydney FC 2-0 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, a fortnight after knocking over the then third-placed Roar 3-0 in Brisbane.
Carlo Armiento, on his return from suspension, gave the Nix the halftime lead with a goal from a free kick before Isaac Hughes doubled Wellington’s advantage shortly after the hour mark by scoring his second header in as many games.
Sydney FC played the entirety of the second half with 10 men after having a player sent off shortly before the interval, and rarely threatened the Phoenix goal throughout the 90 minutes.
The result lifts the Nix to eighth on the ladder, just two points outside the top six and with a game in hand over the three sides that occupy the final three finals berths.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano labelled it a good 90 minute performance.
“We came here with a gameplan and the boys executed very well in the first half and showed a lot of discipline,” Italiano told media post-match.
“In the second half we adjusted a couple of things and it’s very hard to play against 10 men…but the boys executed very well.
“I’m very happy that some players came on as well and we were able to influence the game with the subs.”
It’s Italiano’s second win over his close friend and former Nix head coach Ufuk Talay.
“We have so much respect for each other. Uffy is really astute when it comes to tactical changes and seeing the game.
“I do have an advantage that I’ve worked with him for so long and also we probably did a couple of things that he wasn’t expecting today.
“But again I’m not expecting an easy game now when they come back home in a couple of weeks.”
Giancarlo Italiano made one change to the XI which started last Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Adelaide United with Armiento returning from suspension in place of Lukas Kelly-Heald, who was named amongst the substitutes.
Twin brother Alby Kelly-Heald was also back on the bench along with new signing Bill Tuiloma, who was available to make his Phoenix and A-League debut.
Sydney had all the possession in the first half a dozen minutes but had nothing to show for it.
The Phoenix had their first attack of note in the eighth minute, with Carlo Armiento heavily involved. He tested Sydney goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares with a left-wing cross and then with a long-range shot that the Sky Blues’ ‘keeper managed to push around his goal for a corner. Captain Alex Rufer hooked a left-footed shot well wide from the resulting corner.
Sydney had their best spell midway through the first half. Young goalkeeper Eamonn McCarron was brave to snuff out an opportunity for Ben Garuccio in the 22nd minute as McCarron also collected the full weight of the fullback.
The 18-year-old brushed himself off to make a sharp save a few minutes later to deny Tiago Quintal’s first time effort and Tim Payne was able to scramble clear.
Armiento gave the Nix the lead shortly before the half hour mark when his free kick took a big deflection off the wall, wrong footed Devenish-Meares and bounced into the back of the net.
Wellington had a couple of good counter-attacking opportunities shortly after going 1-0 up but weren’t able to make the most of them.
The Sky Blues were reduced to 10 men shortly before halftime when midfielder Rhys Youlley was shown a straight red card for a bad foul on Ramy Najjarine. Youlley was originally a presented a yellow card but the referee’s decision was upgraded to a red following a discussion with his assistant.
Corban Piper threatened to double the Phoenix’s lead in first half stoppage time but he headed over the bar and wide of Sydney’s goal from two sights at goal.
Piper created a couple further goalscoring opportunities early in the second half with two lung-busting runs.
The first resulted in a shot for Najjarine at the top of the Sydney box that was well-blocked and the second time around Piper opted to shoot, despite having three teammates queueing up in the penalty area, and it was straight at Devenish-Meares.
In between the two chances Manjrekar James produced a big block of his own to deny Garuccio a shot on target after the Nix gave away possession outside their box.
Italiano made his first substitution shortly before the hour mark with Paulo Retre coming on for Ifeanyi Eze.
Less than a handful of minutes later Hughes doubled Wellington’s lead. He nodded home from inside the six yard box after Rufer stood up a cross following an attacking free kick.
James ensured the Phoenix kept their two goal advantage intact soon after when he got his head in the way of a goal-bound shot from Sydney substitute Corey Hollman.
Italiano made his second change moments later, bringing on Fin Roa Conchie in place of Najjarine.
Piper produced one final attacking burst in the 75th minute, this time down the right flank and then cut it back to Kazuki Nagasawa, who had his shot well blocked.
It was Piper’s final act with Italiano making a triple substitution, also bringing off Payne and Armiento for Nikola Mileusnic, Lukas Kelly-Heald and Tuiloma on debut.
McCarron was largely untroubled in the Wellington goal in the second half although he did make a good save down low to his left to keep out a long-range effort from Victor Campuzano in the 82nd minute.
Mileusnic had the chance to put the icing on the cake when he pounced on a loose pass in the fourth and final minute of time added on, but he was unable to direct his shot from halfway into an open net under pressure from Devenish-Meares who was 50 metres off his line.
The Wellington Phoenix will stay over in New South Wales as they are back in action against the Jets in Newcastle on Friday night.
Wellington Phoenix: 40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk), 3. Corban PIPER (10. Nikola MILEUSNIC 76th), 4. Manjrekar JAMES, 6. Tim PAYNE (18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD 76th), 7. Ifeanyi EZE (8. Paulo RETRE 59th), 11. Carlo ARMIENTO (28. Bill TUILOMA 76th), 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE (5. Fin ROA CONCHIE 66th), 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matthew SHERIDAN.
Unused substitutes: 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH.
Sydney FC: 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES (gk), 5. Alex GRANT (4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS 79th), 7. Piero QUISPE, 9. Victor CAMPUZANO, 13. Patrick WOOD (44. Akol AKON 55th), 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 20. Tiago QUINTAL (6. Corey HOLLMAN 46th), 23. Rhyan GRANT (c), 24. Paul OKON Jnr (33. Marin FRANCE 79th), 32. Marcel TISSERAND (41. Alexandar POPOVIC 46th), 36. Rhys YOULLEY.
Unused substitutes: 30. Alexander ZAVERDINOS (gk), 26. Nikolas ALFARO.
Goals:
11. Carlo ARMIENTO (Wellington Phoenix) – 29th
15. Isaac HUGHES (Wellington Phoenix) – 63rd
Cards:
20. Tiago QUINTAL (Sydney FC) – yellow – 27th
36. Rhys YOULLEY (Sydney FC) – red – 43rd
14. Alex RUFER (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 45+1
44. Akol AKON (Sydney FC) – yellow – 60th
41. Alexandar POPOVIC (Sydney FC) – yellow – 86th
