Another opportunity for the Wellington Phoenix’s past and present academy players to showcase themselves early in pre-season for the 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League.
Just eight days on from the momentous 1-0 win over Wrexham AFC at Sky Stadium, the Phoenix are visiting Perth Glory in the Australia Cup round of 32.
Eighteen of the 25 players that took the field against Wrexham travelled to Perth on Friday, with 14 of those either recent academy graduates or current members of Chris Greenacre’s men’s reserves squad.
Fullback Ryan Lee, midfielders Anaru Cassidy, Fergus Gillion and Lachlan Candy and centre back Mac Munro, who all started the second half at Sky Stadium, have been included in Wellington’s touring party along with young goalkeeper Eamonn McCarron, who was a second half substitute.
The six reserve team players complement the 13 fit and available first team squad members, including academy grads Fin Roa Conchie, Isaac Hughes, Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues, Lukas Kelly-Heald, Luke Supyk, Xuan Loke, Matt Sheridan and Jayden Smith who all played 45 minutes last Saturday.
Experienced Australian midfielder Paulo Retre is the only inclusion after missing the match against the Red Dragons, while captain Alex Rufer, fellow All White Tim Payne, young professionals Corban Piper, Alby Kelly-Heald and Nathan Walker and new signings Ifeanyi Eze and Carlo Armiento were unavailable to make the trip.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano believes the six reserve team players have earned another opportunity with the first team with their performances against Wrexham.
“I thought they did really well to be fair in the second half,” Italiano told media on Thursday before the team left Wellington.
“It wasn’t so much from a tactical side, I thought it was more the output and the energy. They gave 100% and I couldn’t fault them.
“I was also really buoyed with the performance of the first half team. They gave the same energy, were more to structure [and] a little bit different vibe but I was very happy with both teams.”
And Italiano’s expectations for the round of 32 Australia Cup match remain high, despite having a young squad.
“I go into every game wanting to win. “I hear some things in the back burner that we’ve got a younger team and it’s about development, but that’s all crap.
“We want to win every game. You can balance both things, winning and playing a younger team and developing players.
“It really comes down to mentality and how they’re prepared for every game.
“That’s one thing that is a big shift in focus for this season…that if improve the mindset we’re going to go into every game wanting to win every game.”
It is the first time the Nix have travelled to Western Australia for the Australia Cup and Italiano was honest when asked what his reaction was when the draw was made.
“I was disappointed because it’s a long trip and a lot of travel.
“But you’re going to go all around Australia so better knock them off first and then we’ll go on a shorter trip next time.”
The two sides last met in the final round of the 2024-25 season in May, with Perth Glory leaving Sky Stadium with all three points courtesy of a brace from Socceroos striker Adam Taggart.
The round of 32 Australia Cup match between the Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory is scheduled to kick-off at Olympic Stadium in Perth at 7pm NZT (3pm AWST) Sunday and will be broadcast on 10 Streaming and Football Australia’s YouTube channel.
Most recent meeting: 2 May 2024 – Wellington Phoenix 0 Perth Glory 2
All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 21W, Glory 21W & 12D.
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 15. Isaac HUGHES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 23. Luke SUPYK, 24. Xuan LOKE, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 31. Ryan LEE, 37. Anaru CASSIDY, 39. Jayden SMITH, 40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk), 42. Fergus GILLION, 46. Lachlan CANDY, 48. Mac MUNRO.
Unavailable: 3. Corban PIPER, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 19. Nathan WALKER, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD.
