The Wellington Phoenix are eagerly awaiting their first home game of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League.
The Phoenix will play host to Canberra United at Porirua Park on Sunday afternoon in their first of 11 matches at the venue this season.
The Nix have been beaten in just one of their six matches in Porirua, have recorded four memorable wins and scored 13 goals.
The squad trained at Porirua Park on Friday morning with assistant coach Amy Shepherd taking charge of the session in the absence of Paul Temple, who has been ill this week.
“I’ve heard a lot about how noisy this stand gets,” Shepherd told media after training. “So, I’m very, very excited to hear the atmosphere and the environment.
“And hopefully we can give them a good game to be happy about.”
The Phoenix lost 4-2 at Western United in the opening match of the season after conceding four goals in 23 minutes in the first half.
Shepherd has mixed feelings about their round one performance.
“It’s a difficult one because overall the football we played was really good. There were a lot of positives from there.
“Unfortunately, football is about moments and there were some moments there that we’ve addressed this week and looked to work on.
“The timings of the goals were crucial along with the manner of them.
“But like I said they’re work ons and outside of those moments…I think we were really happy with elements of the game we have been working on in pre-seaso,n so there are lots of positives to take away.”
The coaching staff were particularly happy with how they played in the middle third of the pitch, in between the two boxes.
“But ultimately it’s about what happens in the boxes and that’s both defensively and attacking.
“I think we had a lot of box entries, but we need to be finishing those chances.”
The Nix have bolstered their defensive depth by signing Algerian international Imane Chebel.
The experienced centre back joined the squad this week and has been included in the extended squad for the match, but the coaches have yet to decide if she will feature against Canberra.
“Imane’s just arrived. We’ve got a lot of players that have done all of their screening and testing, and we’ve still got to get through that process with her.
“We’re sort of working it out as we go. We’ll see how this week goes with her testing and medical screening and then go from there.”
English forward Olivia Fergusson is expected to make her club and A-League debut after missing the season opener with injury.
Fergusson and Chebel are two of the team’s five new visa players and Amy Shepherd says they’ve all fitted in well.
“I think we’ve had a good pre-season with a mix of on-field and off-field activities.
“We’ve really tried to work on the cohesiveness of the group.
“Overall, I think everyone has bonded really well and I think it’s been a really, really good start, especially off the field.”
Shepherd herself has only been in the capital for the past two months, but is “really, really enjoying it”.
“I mean Wellington’s a little bit colder than Sydney! But overall, the experience has been great.
“We’ve got a good group of players and a good group of staff, so it’s been good.”
Canberra United started the season with a 3-2 win over Brisbane Roar, after leading 2-0 at halftime.
They are led by Matildas forward Michelle Heyman, who has scored three goals in the five previous meetings with the Phoenix.
But Heyman hasn’t found the back of the net in Canberra’s previous two visits to Wellington, which the Nix have won 5-0 and 2-0.
The second round Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Canberra United is scheduled to kick-off at Porirua Park in Wellington at 4pm Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 3 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 24 March 2024 – Canberra United 1 Wellington Phoenix 0
All-time A-League head to head: Phoenix 3W, Canberra 2W.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Imane CHEBEL, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 14. Mebae TANAKA, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 19. Liv INGHAM, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 23. Rebecca LAKE, 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk).
Unavailable: 18. Ella MCCANN (injured).
Canberra United squad (two to be omitted): 1. Sally JAMES (gk), 2. Alex MCKENZIE, 3. Liz ANTON, 4. Holly MURRAY, 7. Jynaya DOS SANTOS, 9. Ruby NATHAN, 10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY, 11. Emma ROBERS, 12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG, 13. Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON, 17. Maja MARKOVSKI, 18. Coco MAJSTOROVIC, 19. Jaya BOWMAN, 20. Lillian SKELLY, 21. Aideen KEANE, 23. Michelle HEYMAN (c), 25. Darcey MALONE, 28. Tegan BERTOLISSIO.Unavailable: 32. Bethany GORDON (injured).
Main image: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.
