A disappointing third home defeat for the Wellington Phoenix eight rounds into the 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
The Phoenix have been beaten 3-1 by Newcastle Jets at Sky Stadium in Wellington after conceding three goals in eight minutes early in the second half.
The result leaves the Nix 11th on the A-League ladder, one point outside the top six.
Head coach Giancarlo Italiano says it’s unacceptable to lose 3-1 at home.
“You can make all the excuses you want, but we weren’t good enough in the crucial moments,” Italiano told media post-match.
“They had one big chance in the first half, Jaydo (Jayden Smith) made a top clearance. We had some big chances, should have been in front.
“We wanted to go a bit more of a mid-block at halftime, we pressed, got picked off in the first nine minutes and were 2-0 down and chasing our tails. We were very naive in defending.
“Once we got it back to 3-1, there was plenty of opportunity to get back into the game.”
Italiano says the result leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.
“If this group is going to do anything, they have to mature very quickly.
“We’re running out of games now, and that was a big three points for us, especially at home.
“We need to start getting our players back as well. Starters are very, very important, and that’ll help us in the long run. There are a lot of learnings from this game.”
Giancarlo Italiano made three changes to the XI which started last week’s derby defeat, two of which were enforced with Manjrekar James and Isaac Hughes out through suspension and injury respectively, while Dan Edwards moved to the bench.
Corban Piper, Xuan Loke and Jayden Smith came into the side. It was Piper’s first start of the season and 18-year-old Smith’s first of his career after playing just three minutes off the bench last season.
Piper made a near instant impact, drawing a good left-handed save from Newcastle goalkeeper James Delianov, who palmed the ball just out of reach of the oncoming Ifeanyi Eze in the sixth minute.
It was end-to-end for much of the first half but Delianov was the busier of the two ‘keepers.
He got his body behind a typically powerful shot from Carlo Armiento in the 10th minute and the Jets were able to scramble clear.
Newcastle striker Lachlan Rose made a couple of big blocks soon after to snuff out opportunities for Alex Rufer and Armiento on the edge of the penalty area.
Rufer and Armiento combined in the 18th minute after the Nix captain drove forward from midfield and found the wingback, who stood up a cross to the back post. Rufer arrived to meet the cross but he was met by some resolute Jets defence.
Eze stung the hands of Delianov in the 21st minute with a left-footed shot but the ‘keeper was able to regather. Seconds later Smith produced a big block in the Wellington six yard box to deny substitute Eli Adams after Josh Oluwayemi had saved Newcastle’s initial shot.
Two minutes later Delianov made arguably his best save of the first half, at full stretch to keep out another forceful effort from Armiento.
The Jets goalkeeper was quick off his line in the 34th minute to deny Eze a chance on goal after he did well to dispossess Newcastle captain Kosta Grozos on the edge of the penalty area.
Piper had a gilt-edged opportunity to break the deadlock in the 42nd minute after being played through on goal by a defence-splitting pass from Ramy Najjarine. Unfortunately for Piper and the Phoenix he shot wide of the right-hand post.
The second half started off in much the same fashion with Delianov making another sharp save in the 48th minute, this time to keep out a back post volley from Loke.
It all unravelled for the Nix soon after.
The Jets took the lead in the 50th minute from a deflected shot from Eli Adams that wrong footed Oluwayemi and found its way into the back of the net.
Eze had an opportunity to draw Wellington level three minutes later when he rounded Delianov in the Newcastle penalty area but he was unable thread his shot past a couple of defenders.
Lachlan Rose doubled the Jets’ lead moments later when he beat Oluwayemi to the loose ball 30 odd yards from goal and finished into an empty net.
Clayton Taylor swept home Newcastle’s third from the penalty spot in the 57th minute after the Phoenix had coughed up possession in midfield.
Italiano made a double change soon after going three-nil down, bringing on Fin Roa Conchie and Luke Brooke Smith in place of Najjarine and Loke respectively.
Nagasawa had a shot from a tight angle in the 64th minute that burst through Delianov’s hands but was cleared off the line by a Jets defender.
Eze pulled a goal back for the Nix five minutes later when he headed home from eight yards out after Roa Conchie stood up a cross into the box.
The Nigerian looked most likely to score for Wellington. He shot a powerful volley straight at Newcastle’s ‘keeper in the 77th minute and had a shot well-blocked from the penalty spot soon after.
Italiano made his third and ultimately final substitution in the 84th minute, bringing on Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues in place of Armiento.
The Phoenix continued to push for a second goal but were unable to find a way through the Jets, who held on for all three points.
The Wellington Phoenix will be back at Sky Stadium next Sunday to play Central Coast Mariners.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 11. Carlo ARMIENTO (17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES 84th), 14. Alex RUFER (c), 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE (5. Fin ROA CONCHIE 59th), 24. Xuan LOKE (29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH 59th), 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matthew SHERIDAN, 39. Jayden SMITH.
Unused substitutes: 40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk), 12. Dan EDWARDS, 46. Lachlan CANDY, 48. Mac MUNRO.
Newcastle Jets: 1. James DELIANOV (gk), 9. Lachlan ROSE (11. Ben GIBSON 84th), 13. Clayton TAYLOR (18. Kota MIZUNUMA, 71st), 14. Max BURGESS (7. Eli ADAMS 5th), 17. Kosta GROZOS (c), 19. Alexander BADOLATO, 22. Joel BERTOLISSIO, 23. Daniel WILMERING, 28. Will DOBSON (8. Lachlan BAYLISS 71st), 33. Mark NATTA, 42. Maxwell COOPER (5. Joseph SHAUGNESSY 84th).
Unused substitutes: 40. Jordan BAYLIS (gk), 37. Oliver COCKLE.
Goals:
7. Eli ADAMS (Newcastle Jets) – 50th
9. Lachlan ROSE (Newcastle Jets) – 54th
13. Clayton TAYLOR (Newcastle Jets) – 57th
7. Ifeanyi EZE (Wellington Phoenix) – 69th
