Macarthur FC have won for the first time on New Zealand soil, overcoming the Wellington Phoenix 2-1.
An early penalty and a late goal from substitute Dean Bosnjak were enough to trump Kosta Barbarouses’ 98th A-League strike.
It is the first time that the Phoenix have lost back to back games since April 2023, which head coach Giancarlo Italiano labelled as “very disappointing.”
The defeat leaves the Nix still looking for their first win at Sky Stadium this season, having drawn one and lost two so far.
“It doesn’t feel good,” Italiano told media post-match. “At home, you need to be strong.
“Last year we prided ourselves on making this a fortress, knowing that teams had to travel to get here.
“Again, make of it what you want. Maybe you can call it a bit of a hangover from last year. I know on my part, last year is last year, I don’t touch on that.”
After a dispiriting result, he wants the players to step up before the next match.
“There needs to be a common thread within the whole playing group.
“I’m going to go back, take some steps, we’re going to reevaluate what our core beliefs are and what is going to push us to that next stage.
“To the fans themselves, that’s a big thing. They pay their money, keep the club afloat, and they want to see that the players are always giving 100%.
“I’m not saying that we gave up today, but I don’t think there was real belief.”
The influence of Marco Rojas, who made his first start for the Nix since 2011, was a positive as he played the first hour and assisted Barbarouses’ goal.
“I thought there were some really nice phases, especially in the first half.
“My expectation was that this week I wanted to push him as far as I could in the starting team, and you saw he gave us a bit of a different dynamic.
“Now it’s just a matter of giving him enough conditioning that he can stay about 70, 80 minutes.
“I think you saw the difference in the last twenty minutes of that first half. He linked up really well with Kosta.”
Giancarlo Italiano made one change to the XI which started last week’s derby defeat with experienced forward Marco Rojas replacing young defender Matt Sheridan. It was Rojas’ first start for the Phoenix in 5048 days, since the finals match against Adelaide United in February 2011.
Six minutes in, Macarthur were awarded a penalty when Isaac Hughes misjudged a cross and was deemed to have handled in the area.
Valere Germain’s effort was initially kept out by a sprawling Josh Oluwayemi, but the rebound fell kindly for the Frenchman to tap home at the second time of asking.
The first opening for the Phoenix came in the 14th minute, Kosta Barbarouses unable to steer his volley on target from a tight angle.
The next chance came after clever interplay released Rojas, whose cutback was deflected behind. From the resulting corner, Hideki Ishige fired a menacing ball across the face of goal which just evaded Barbarouses at the far post.
The home side began to pile on pressure, Tim Payne forcing an outstanding reaction stop from Filip Kurto after Kazuki Nagasawa found him in space.
Another chance went begging in the 35th minute when Barbarouses opted to pass to Rojas when shooting looked like the better option.
Chances continued to come thick and fast for the Phoenix, Ishige striking the post from an extremely tight angle.
The breakthrough finally came minutes before the interval, courtesy of more linkup between the Phoenix’s two outstanding players.
A neat backheel from Barbarouses allowed Rojas to ghost between two tackles before returning the ball for Barbarouses to hammer home his 98th A-League goal.
The second half started evenly, the first chance coming when Oluwayemi comfortably palmed an ambitious effort around the post.
Barbarouses nearly found a second in the 66th minute, but Kurto produced another magnificent save to block his point-blank effort.
Italiano immediately turned to his bench, introducing Matt Sheridan, Mohamed Al-Taay, and Stefan Colakovski in place of Sam Sutton, Kazuki Nagasawa, and Marco Rojas.
However, it was Macarthur who retook the lead five minutes later, Dean Bosnjak turning home from Marin Jakolis’ cutback.
Gaps were still available for the Phoenix on the counter attack, but they were unable to find the final incisive pass.
Paulo Retre came closest to an equaliser when his half-volley from outside the area ballooned over the bar.
Long-range efforts from Al-Taay, Rufer, and Sheridan met with similar results before Italiano made another change, replacing Retre with Nathan Walker in the hunt for a second goal.
Macarthur survived a late penalty shout when Luke Brattan caught Al-Taay with a stray arm, and hung on for their first win in four games.
The Wellington Phoenix will head back across the Tasman next weekend to play Western Sydney Wanderers.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 4. Scott WOOTTON, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE (41. Nathan WALKER 83rd), 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 19. Sam SUTTON (27. Matt SHERIDAN 68th) 21. Marco ROJAS (11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI 68th), 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (12. Mo AL-TAAY 68th).
Unused substitutes: 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 23. Luke SUPYK.
Macarthur FC: 12. Filip KURTO (gk), 6. Tomislav USKOK, 7. Daniel DE SILVA (19. Ariath PIOL 59th), 8. Jake HOLLMAN, 11. Jed DREW (24. Dean BOSNJAK 59th), 13. Ivan VUJICA (18. Walter SCOTT 71st), 16. Oliver JONES, 20. Kealey ADAMSON, 26. Luke BRATTAN, 44. Marin JAKOLIS, 98. Valere GERMAIN (c) (22. Liam ROSE 88th).
Unused substitutes: 30. Alexander ROBINSON (gk), 5. Matthew JURMAN, 21. BERNARDO.
Goals:
98. Valere Germain (Macarthur FC) – 6th
7. Kosta Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix) – 44th
24. Dean Bosnjak (Macarthur FC) – 75th
Cards:
20. Kealey Adamson (Macarthur FC) – 87th
