Isuzu UTE A-League Round 18 Match Review

Giancarlo Italiano has taken full responsibility for the Wellington Phoenix’s heavy derby defeat.

The Phoenix have been beaten 5-0 by Auckland FC at Sky Stadium in Wellington after trailing 4-0 at halftime.

It’s Wellington’s equal biggest home defeat and their sixth straight to their New Zealand rivals.

Italiano announced his resignation in his post-match media conference.

“I apologise to the fans for the result today,” he said. “It was unacceptable. I didn’t think that would ever happen.

“Once we conceded I think we got quite rattled, very easily. That’s something that’s symbolic of the team this season.

“In big moments, there’s big errors that are costing us. That can be down to inexperience, it can be down to younger players [and] that can be down to senior players not focusing.

“That comes down on me at the end of the day. I do all the training, I provide the environment. Irrespective of if Joshy (Josh Oluwayemi) made some errors in goal, it’s me that picked him.”

Italiano has refused to blame any of his players.

“I can’t fault the playing group. They’re a good bunch of lads, just a little bit low on confidence at the moment, especially after today they’ll be down a little bit.

“I think it’s really important that someone comes in with good energy, can realign them, maybe from a tactical standpoint, some structure that changes their mindset, they can still salvage the season.”

Giancarlo Italiano made four changes to the XI which drew 2-2 with Western Sydney Wanderers last Friday night, two of which were enforced with Sarpreet Singh and Tim Payne out injured.

Fit-again ‘keeper Josh Oluwayemi, defender Manjrekar James and midfielders Paulo Retre and Ramy Najjarine returned to the starting line-up, with Alby Kelly-Heald and Sander Kartum moving to the bench alongside the promoted Xuan Loke and Jayden Smith.

The Phoenix made a positive start and had a sustained spell of pressure inside the Auckland half in the opening 10 minutes.

They however were unable to test Auckland ‘keeper Michael Woud with Carlo Armiento coming closest when he headed a Retre cross over the bar in the 11^th minute.

The visitors were limited to counter-attacks in the opening 20 minutes and they were unable to get in behind an organised Wellington backline.

The game changed in the 24^th minute when Oluwayemi headed a defensive clearance into his own net to give Auckland an undeserved lead.

The Phoenix appeared rattled after going behind and Jesse Randall fired a warning shot over the bar in the 28^th minute.

Randall doubled Auckland’s lead soon after, piercing a shot from the top left of the box through Oluwayemi and into the back of the net.

Kazuki Nagasawa saw a couple of shots go wide in the 35^th minute as the Nix searched for a lifeline. Nagasawa dragged his first effort from the top of the penalty area and his second was blocked by a trio of Auckland defenders as Ifeanyi Eze found him outside the six yard box with a cutback.

Guillermo May scored Auckland’s third half a dozen minutes later, stroking home from inside the Wellington box after being picked out by Luis Felipe Gallegos.

Randall made it 4-0 with the last kick of the first half, chipping over a stranded Oluwayemi after getting in behind the Phoenix defence.

The Nix ‘keeper was substituted at halftime, with Alby Kelly-Herald taking his place in the Wellington goal.

The Phoenix made a positive start to the second half and Retre had a opportunity to pull a goal back in the 52^nd minute. Unfortunately for him and the team his volley rose over the Auckland goal.

Italiano made his second change on the hour mark, bringing on Corban Piper in place of Najjarine.

Piper came close to getting the Nix on the board soon after coming on, heading a left wing Armiento corner narrowly wide of the left post.

Instead Lachlan Brook scored Auckland’s fifth a handful of minutes later and moments after coming on as a substitute.

Italiano made a double substitution of his own soon after, bringing on Lukas Kelly-Heald and Kartum in place of Nagasawa and Retre respectively.

Despite their best endeavours, the opportunities were few and far between for the Phoenix.

Kartum slipped Piper in behind in the closing stages and he attempted to pick out Matt Sheridan on the edge of the six yard box, but Auckland were able to scramble clear.

And Michael Woud cleared a dangerous free-kick from Armiento in the 89^th minute.

The final whistle blew soon after, putting the Phoenix out of their misery.

The Wellington Phoenix will be back at the newly named Hnry Stadium next Sunday to play Sydney FC.

Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk) (30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk) 46^th), 4. Manjrekar JAMES, 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 8. Paulo RETRE (16. Sander KARTUM 77^th), 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE (3. Corban PIPER 60^th), 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD 77^th), 27. Matthew SHERIDAN, 28. Bill TUILOMA.
Unused substitutes: 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC, 24. Xuan LOKE, 39. Jayden SMITH.

Auckland FC: 1. Michael WOUD (gk), 2. Hiroki SAKAI (c) (77. Lachlan BROOK 71^st), 3. Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH, 7. Cameron HOWIESON (22. Jake BRIMMER 71^st), 8. Luis FELIPE GALLEGOS (46. James MITCHELL 82^nd), 10. Guillermo MAY (35. Jonty BIDOIS 75^th), 15. Francis DE VRIES, 17. Callan ELLIOTT, 21. Jesse RANDALL (28. Bailey FERGUSON 75^th), 23. Daniel HALL, 27. Logan ROGERSON.
Unused substitutes: 12. James HILTON (gk), 45. Matthew D’HOTMAN.

Goals:
1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk) (Wellington Phoenix) – 24^th og
21. Jesse RANDALL (Auckland FC) – 30^th & 45+5
10. Guillermo MAY (Auckland FC) – 41^st
77. Lachlan BROOK (Auckland FC) – 74^th

Cards:
2. Hiroki SAKAI (c) (Auckland FC) – yellow – 20^th
7. Ifeanyi EZE (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 45+2
3. Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH (Auckland FC) – yellow – 45+3
15. Isaac HUGHES (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 57^th
16. Sander KARTUM (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 87^th
11. Carlo ARMIENTO (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 90^th