A-League
Wellington Phoenix’s Corban Piper Fires Up Ahead of Sold-Out game
Intense Rivalry Builds as Wellington Prepares for High-Stakes Showdown
Wellington Phoenix defender Corban Piper has issued a bold statement ahead of Saturday’s sold-out New Zealand Derby at Go Media Stadium. The 22-year-old is laser-focused on ending Auckland FC’s unbeaten streak in the Isuzu UTE A-League. “We’re pretty keen to smash them and get rid of that winning streak,” Piper declared during a pre-match press conference.
Wellington will travel to league leaders Auckland FC after a dramatic 2-0 loss in their last encounter, where late goals from Jake Brimmer sealed the Black Knights’ dominance at Sky Stadium. For Piper, Saturday’s clash is a shot at redemption.
“I’m buzzing for it. I can’t wait,” said Piper. “I really want to get them back because it’ll make the final Derby really interesting. And I want to give all the Phoenix supporters a bit of ammo on social media. Hopefully, we can get the win and stop their winning streak.”
From Aspirations in Auckland to Success in Wellington
Ironically, Piper’s journey to the Phoenix has deep roots in Auckland. The defender, born in the city, initially set his sights on joining Auckland FC. “Initially, it was Auckland FC for me. That was my goal,” Piper recalled. “I didn’t really think about Wellington Phoenix because I thought they were pretty academy-focused. You had to be in the academy to graduate to the first team, which is a really good way of doing it.”
However, Auckland FC’s roster left no room for Piper in his preferred role as a No. 10. Instead, Wellington Phoenix saw potential in his versatility, transitioning him into roles as a center-back, full-back, or even striker.
“Thankfully, Wellington Phoenix looked outside the academy,” he said. “They saw my best attributes and slotted me into different positions. That’s just how it came about.”
High Stakes in a Historic Rivalry
As Wellington gears up for this critical Derby, all eyes will be on Piper and the Phoenix squad to see if they can halt Auckland’s historic run. With a sold-out crowd at Go Media Stadium, the stage is set for an electrifying showdown between these New Zealand rivals.
