FFA Cup loss hinders Phoenix pre-season: Rudan

Mark Rudan is disappointed his side will miss out on another quality pre-season match.

But that was as far as the Wellington Phoenix’s coach’s disappointment stretched after losing 1-0 to Victorian National Premier League team Bentleigh Greens in the FFA Cup round of 32 on Tuesday night.

‘‘I wasn’t as disappointed as you may think I was,’’ he said.

‘‘The result, perhaps, was disappointing, but some of the things we’ve been working on looked OK. Other stuff didn’t look OK, that’s where we’re at at the moment. It’s fairly early in terms of our development.’’

A win would have meant a round of 16 tie in Australia at the end of August, with expenses paid by Football Federation Australia. That could have been leveraged into another camp, such as the 10-day one on the Gold Coast in the leadup to Tuesday’s loss, and more games against quality opposition. Instead, the team will have to fund their own trip to Australia and organise their own friendlies if they want more quality games before the season starts on October 21.

‘‘The only disappointing thing for us is we don’t get another strong game now. It becomes a bit of a long grind now in preseason.’’

Rudan said they did have further matches planned in Australia before the season begins.

‘‘We’d like to come back over here and play some solid games. It’s difficult back home to get those games.’’

Options for friendlies in New Zealand are limited.

At this stage, that is restricted to playing club sides in the

‘‘Some of the things we’ve been working on looked OK. Other stuff didn’t look OK.’’ Mark Rudan

middle of their winter seasons, with national league teams not starting pre-season until late August at the earliest.

The Phoenix have beaten Miramar Rangers and Wairarapa United – two mid-table Central League teams. They would likely get a sterner test from importladen leaders Napier City Rovers or Western Suburbs, with the latter into the semifinals of the Chatham Cup.