The Wellington Phoenix men have had an unhappy first visit to Ironbark Fields in Melbourne’s west.
The Phoenix have been beaten 4-1 by Western United at their new home after trailing 2-0 at halftime.
Nathan Walker’s maiden A-League goal was scant consolation for the Nix, who were second best for most of the match.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano says it was an unacceptable performance.
“I’m hurting as much as the fans are,” Italiano told media post-match. “We had our fans come today all the way out here. I don’t even know where we are! They expected more [and] I expected more.
“I’m not fazed by losing games, but the way we’re losing games.
“Today just felt like an unacceptable performance for the first 60. The last 20 was okay when we made the subs. They gave us some good intent.”
Wellington remain 11th on the ladder and Italiano concedes their hopes of making the top six are now over.
“Finals are done. We’re not going to make the finals even if we win all seven games. We still need a lot of things to work for us mathematically.
“Now we’re playing for the pride of the club for the last seven games, and I expect the boys to lift and give something for the fans to be optimistic about.
“I want to see good performances from now until the end of the season.
“We have to dig deep now as a group and show what we’re really made of.”
Giancarlo Italiano made two changes to the XI which started last week’s home defeat to Melbourne City with Corban Piper and Marco Rojas returning to the starting line-up. It was just Rojas’ second start of the season. Young goalkeeper Dublin Boon was named on the bench for the first time in the absence of Josh Oluwayemi (illness).
The Phoenix found themselves a goal down little over two minutes into the match when diminutive Western midfielder Rhys Bozinovski headed home the first corner of the match.
The hosts dominated the first 20 minutes and Alby Kelly-Heald made saves to deny Riku Danzaki, Matthew Grimaldi and Hiroshi Ibusuki.
Kosta Barbarouses had Wellington’s first shot of note midway through the half when he got in behind the Western defence courtesy of a quick clearance from Kelly-Heald. Barbarouses however was unable to test goalkeeper Matt Sutton with Dylan Leonard blocking his shot.
Chico Geraldes dragged a free kick narrowly wide of the left-hand post soon after as the Nix attempted to snatch an equaliser.
However it was United who looked more likely to score next. Kelly-Heald did well to keep out a dangerous in-swinging corner from Angus Thurgate half an hour into the match, but soon after he was picking up the ball from the back of his own net.
Ibusuki doubled Western’s lead, sweeping home from six yards out after Kelly-Heald was unable to hold on to Danzaki’s dangerous cross.
The Phoenix finished the half the better of the two sides but were unable to test Sutton in United’s goal.
Sam Sutton came closest to pulling a goal back for Wellington when he smashed a volley into the side netting in the 41st minute.
Alex Rufer earlier volleyed well over the bar while Rojas pulled a left-footed shot wide of the right post shortly before halftime.
Western United reasserted their dominance at the start of the second half and Grimaldi made it 3-0 in the 51st minute when he squeezed a shot past Alby Kelly-Heald after the Nix coughed up possession in midfield.
The Phoenix struggled to play through the Western press and Grimaldi scored his second shortly after the hour mark when United pounced on a defensive error.
Kelly-Heald made a good save soon after to prevent golden boot leader Noah Botic scoring the hosts’ fifth.
Italiano made a quadruple change midway through the half, bringing on Nathan Walker, Hideki Ishige, Paulo Retre and Kazuki Nagasawa in place of Piper, Geraldes, Rufer and Matt Sheridan. Luke Brooke-Smith had earlier replaced Rojas.
The Nix had their first shot of the second half in the 74th minute when Isaac Hughes headed well wide from a corner.
Wellington had a couple of promising attacks beforehand but were unable to pick out the final pass.
Walker pulled a goal back for the Phoenix in the 82nd minute when he squeezed a shot past Matt Sutton after Tim Payne slipped the 19-year-old in behind the United defence.
Western had numerous opportunities to add to the scoreline but were wasteful in front of goal.
The Wellington Phoenix will return home tomorrow before heading back across the Tasman next weekend to play Sydney FC.
Wellington Phoenix: 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 3. Corban PIPER (41. Nathan WALKER 67th), 4. Scott WOOTTON, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 12. Francisco GERALDES (9. Hideki ISHIGE 67th), 14. Alex RUFER (c) (8. Paulo RETRE 67th), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 19. Sam SUTTON, 21. Marco ROJAS (29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH 57th), 27. Matthew SHERIDAN (25. Kazuki NAGASAWA 67th).
Unused substitutes: 35. Dublin BOON (gk), 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD.
Western United: 33. Matthew SUTTON (gk), 6. Tomoki IMAI (c), 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI (24. Michael RUHS 72nd), 10. Matthew GRIMALDI (7. Ramy NAJJARINE 78th), 13. Tate RUSSELL, 19. Noah BOTIC (14. Jake NAJDOVSKI 78th), 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI (44. Jordan LAUTON 64th), 29. Charbel SHAMOON, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 77. Riku DANZAKI (37. Luke VICKERY 72nd).
Unused substitutes: 70. Michael VONJA (gk), 4. James DONACHIE.
Goals:
23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI (Western United) – 3rd
9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI (Western United) – 33rd
10. Matthew GRIMALDI (Western United) – 51st & 62nd
41. Nathan WALKER (Wellington Phoenix) – 82nd
Cards:
3. Corban PIPER (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 9th
14. Alex RUFER (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 13th
30. Dylan LEONARD (Western United) – yellow – 21st
32. Angus THURGATE (Western United) – yellow – 35th
