Wellington Phoenix Clinch 2-0 Over Perth Glory

In a commanding display, Wellington Phoenix secured their first win of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season, defeating Perth Glory 2-0. The victory, held at HBF Park in Perth, also served as a landmark occasion for Phoenix star Kosta Barbarouses, who celebrated his 100th league appearance for the club.

Match Summary: Dominance Through Set Pieces

Phoenix’s triumph was shaped by clinical finishes on either side of halftime. Defender Scott Wootton’s header from a well-placed free-kick gave Phoenix the lead in the 39th minute. The team further extended their advantage shortly after halftime when fullback Tim Payne found the back of the net with another header, sealing Wellington’s win. Both goals came courtesy of assists from Japanese newcomers Hideki Ishige and Kazuki Nagasawa, whose influence is quickly becoming apparent on the field.

“We’re thrilled to bag three points, especially with the demanding trip to Perth,” Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano stated post-match. “Our squad dug deep, particularly after a challenging first 20 minutes. Once Payne’s chance lifted the team’s spirits, we gained control and capitalized with perfectly timed goals.”

Tactical Shifts: Italiano’s Adjustments Pay Off

Italiano made minimal changes to the lineup following last week’s draw against Western United. Sam Sutton returned as left wingback, while 18-year-old forward Nathan Walker began on the bench. Stefan Colakovski was also among the substitutes, awaiting his debut.

The match kicked off with Perth pushing the attack. Captain Adam Taggart missed a header at the back post in the 12th minute and later attempted a long-range strike that was expertly parried by Phoenix’s goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi. Wellington’s best first-half chance came when Tim Payne sent a low cross into the box, narrowly missing Ishige and Sutton.

It was in the 39th minute that Phoenix broke the deadlock. Sutton drew a free-kick just outside the box, setting the stage for Ishige’s perfect chip into the area, which Wootton converted with a well-angled header past former teammate Oli Sail.

The second half saw Phoenix continue their attacking momentum. Nagasawa’s left-wing cross found Payne, who nodded the ball in, marking his fourth career A-League goal. The 49th-minute goal all but secured Wellington’s three points.

Defensive Composure and Bench Impact

While Perth threatened to respond, Phoenix’s backline and Oluwayemi remained steadfast. A close call occurred when Carluccio’s deflected shot almost found the net, but Oluwayemi’s quick reflexes denied the effort. Italiano refreshed the squad in the 65th minute, making three simultaneous changes that saw Walker, Al-Taay, and van Hattum take the field. Later, Colakovski and Piper made their Nix debuts, adding depth and fresh legs to maintain control.

Alex Rufer nearly added a third for Phoenix in the 76th minute, with a powerful shot that rattled the crossbar. Wellington’s defense remained composed, securing the clean sheet and a morale-boosting victory.

With this win behind them, Wellington Phoenix will return to New Zealand and focus on their next challenge: the much-anticipated first New Zealand derby of the season against Auckland FC at Sky Stadium on Saturday evening.

Wellington Phoenix Starting XI:

• Goalkeeper: Josh Oluwayemi
• Defenders: Scott Wootton, Fin Roa Conchie (replaced by Mo Al-Taay, 65th), Tim Payne, Kosta Barbarouses (replaced by Corban Piper, 88th)
• Midfielders: Hideki Ishige (replaced by Oskar Van Hattum, 65th), Alex Rufer (Captain), Isaac Hughes, Sam Sutton (replaced by Stefan Colakovski, 76th), Kazuki Nagasawa (replaced by Nathan Walker, 65th)
• Forward: Matt Sheridan

Unused Substitutes: Alby Kelly-Heald (gk), Xuan Loke

Perth Glory Starting XI:

• Goalkeeper: Oli Sail
• Defenders: Anas Hamzaoui (replaced by Zach Lisojalski, 86th), Lachlan Barr, Brandon O’Neill (replaced by Nathanael Blair, 72nd), Hiroaki Aoyama (replaced by Nicholas Pennington, 46th), Taras Gomulka, Adam Bugarija (replaced by David Williams, 46th), Jarrod Carluccio, Abdelelah Faisal (replaced by Khoa Ngo, 46th), Adam Taggart (Captain), Luis Canga

Unused Substitutes: Cameron Cook (gk), Andriano Lebib

Match Highlights

• Goals:
  • Scott Wootton (39th minute)
  • Tim Payne (49th minute)
• Yellow Cards:
  • Jarrod Carluccio (38th minute)
  • Sam Sutton (70th minute)
  • Anas Hamzaoui (72nd minute)
  • Oskar Van Hattum (74th minute)

Tags: Wellington Phoenix, Perth Glory, Isuzu UTE A-League, Kosta Barbarouses, Giancarlo Italiano, New Zealand Soccer
Hashtags: #PitchsideHQ #WellingtonPhoenix #AucklandDerby #KostaBarbarouses #WellingtonVsPerth #ALeague #NZFootball #SoccerNews