A major test of the Wellington Phoenix men’s depth as the Isuzu UTE A-League resumes after the international break.
The Phoenix are without their captain Alex Rufer through suspension while first-choice centre backs Scott Wootton and Isaac Hughes, number one goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald and experienced midfielder Paulo Retre have been ruled out with injuries ahead of Saturday’s match against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Sky Stadium.
Despite the absences, head coach Giancarlo Italiano believes his side will still be competitive against the inform Wanderers.
“We’ll have a squad. It’ll be a bit younger than what we usually have, but we’ll be fine for tomorrow,” Italiano told media before training on Friday.
“The backline will be mainly fullbacks. We mixed up a couple of different tactical variations yesterday and today we’re going to try something else a little bit different.
“For me it’s more about the comfort of the player being in those positions. I don’t want them doing things that they’re not used to and that’s the big thing.
“Players play best when they’re not thinking so we want to make sure that everyone is on the same page and able to execute what we need.
“It’s a challenge but also an opportunity for the younger boys. I don’t think I’ve had more than two games where I’ve had the same starting XI this season.
“It’s been a bit of a challenge in terms of cohesion but there have been some really good performances, especially from the young guys.”
The make-shift defence will be put to the test by the top scoring team in the A-League, with Western Sydney having scored four goals in each of their best three matches.
“They’re a good team [but] our focus is on the way we want to play.
“Against Sydney we went back to a structure that I felt suits the team more. For a large part we were very honest in that game and with a little bit more confidence we could have capitalised on some big chances and probably could have won that game. We defended well and there was a good feeling around the group.
“I wanted to build on that. Unfortunately we have some players out now, but the next group of guys that come in they’re going to be up for the challenge.
“I remember when we played Sydney here, they were on a run of goals and we had a very makeshift team and it was nil-all.
“Again, it was a game where with a little bit more confidence we could have capitalised and won that game as well.”
While Kosta Barbarouses, Tim Payne and Alex Rufer were helping the All Whites qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Wanderers have also had players away on international duty, including former Nix midfielders Mo Al-Taay and Bozhidar Kraev.
“They’ve had to travel. BK’s come from Bulgaria. They have some players in the [Australian] under-23s and [Brandon] Borrello is coming back from international duty, so I don’t think they’re going to be at 100% as well.
“The week off also effects every team. You’ve seen that with all the bye teams usually it’s very hard to get a result when you come back.
“I think we’re on equal footing.”
With the Phoenix all but mathematically out of finals contention, Giancarlo Italiano wants the players to focus on their performances over the final six regular season matches.
“It would have been easy against Sydney if all the players gave up and said ‘we’re not going to make the six’.
“The real question of the substance of the team is going to come through in the next six weeks and how they take these games on.
“If they just show up and not put the effort it tells me a lot about the playing group.
“And it’s something I don’t think is going to happen. They’re going to give their best.
“We take every game step by step, we try to play to the best of our ability, we try to get the result [and] we try to give the fans something to be happy with.
“Maybe it takes the pressure off that we’re not going to make the six that we can be a little bit more liberal and a little bit more creative, potentially. It might help the younger players.
“But the players are giving their all which is the only thing I can ask.”
The round 24 Isuzu UTE A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney Wanderers is scheduled to kick-off at Sky Stadium at 5pm Saturday and will be broadcast free-to-air on Sky Open in New Zealand and LIVE on Sky Sport 4 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 22 December 2024 – Western Sydney Wanderers 4 Wellington Phoenix 1
All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 13W, Wanderers 15W & 7D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk),3. Corban PIPER, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 12. Chico GERALDES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 21. Marco ROJAS, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 35. Dublin BOON (gk), 36. Xuan LOKE, 39. Jayden SMITH 41. Nathan WALKER, 46. Lachlan CANDY.
Unavailable: 4. Scott WOOTTON (injured), 8. Paulo RETRE (injured), 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 14. Alex RUFER (c) (suspended),15. Isaac HUGHES (injured), 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk) (injured).
Western Sydney Wanderers squad (two to be omitted): 2. Gabriel CLEUR, 3. Alex GERSBACH, 4. Alex BONETIG, 7. Zac SAPSFORD, 9. Marcus ANTONSSON, 13. Dean PELEKANOS, 14. Nicolas MILANOVIC, 17. Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 18. Oscar PRIESTMAN, 19. Jack CLISBY, 20. Lawrence THOMAS (gk) (c), 21. Aydan HAMMOND, 22. Anthony PANTAZOPOULOS, 23. Bozhidar KRAEV, 25. Josh BRILLANTE, 26. Brandon BORRELLO, 27. James TEMELKOVSKI, 28. Josh LAWS, 30. Jordan HOLMES (gk), 64. Juan MATA.
Unavailable: 5. Dylan SCICLUNA (injured), 8. Jeong TAE-WOOK (injured).
Main image: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.
