Wellington Phoenix have slumped to their first consecutive A-League defeats under second-year coach Giancarlo Italiano, felling 2-1 to Macarthur FC at Sky Stadium. This result marks the Bulls’ first-ever success on New Zealand soil, leaving the home team winless at home this season.
Wellington’s defeat is particularly concerning as it may drop them out of the playoff picture, with their opponents leapfrogging them and three more games scheduled for Saturday. Coming off two local derby losses to Auckland FC, this was Wellington’s third defeat of the campaign.
Italiano promoted veteran Marco Rojas to the starting line-up for his first start since returning to the club where his professional career began 15 years ago. The game started poorly for Wellington, as Macarthur opened the scoring just six minutes in, when defender Isaac Hughes mishandled a ball, prompting referee Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh to award a penalty after Germain's initial effort was saved by Wellington’s Josh Oluwayemi, who could not keep the rebound out.
Despite some efforts from Wellington to get back on level terms, including close attempts from Hideki Ishige and Kosta Barbarouses, the Phoenix struggled to pose significant threats. They finally equalized thanks to Barbarouses, who netted his 98th A-League goal just before halftime with a clever pass from Rojas.
After halftime, Macarthur struck again when Dean Bosnjak scored, surpassing the Phoenix's defense on another attack. The home side worked hard for another equalizer, launching several assaults, but Macarthur held firm, even as Phoenix captain Alex Rufer expressed disappointment over the team’s defensive lapses. "Really, really disappointed to be honest," Rufer said. "We keep shooting ourselves in the foot... lapses in concentration this year, we have not been good." He emphasized the need for the team to keep moving forward.
This defeat marked the first time Wellington had lost back-to-back matches under new head coach Italiano, with the team set to travel to face Western Sydney Wanderers next Sunday.
The setbacks have put pressure on Phoenix, who had previously defeated Macarthur three times last season. Their ability to bounce back from this defeat against a team known for being defensively open will be put to the test.
Macarthur’s position is just below the playoff spots, sitting eighth with eight points from seven games. A positive for the Bulls was their scoring prowess, having netted 14 goals this season, though they also conceded 11. Macarthur's coach Mile Sterjovski noted improvements but expects his side to step up their game to find consistency throughout the season.
The upcoming match presents a chance for Wellington to regain some form as they play against another team they've done well against previously. While the game proved to be difficult, the performance from the returning players like Marco Rojas offers some hope.
Western Sydney Wanderers will host the next matchup, where Wellington Phoenix will be eager to turn their fortunes around. The continuous challenge of working through obstacles and maintaining pressure on the opposition also remains high as they refocus on upcoming games.
This match indicates the challenges and competition within the A-League, with both teams assessing their strategies and re-evaluations as the season progresses. The thrilling nature of football has surely captivated fans, as both teams look to climb up the rankings and secure playoff spots as the end of the season approaches.
