Young gun’s star continues to rise
Consistency is the next challenge for Wellington Phoenix young gun Liberato Cacace following another spectacular A-League performance.
The 19-year-old continued his hot form by scoring the opening goal in the Phoenix’s commanding 2-0 win over former coach Mark Rudan’s Western United on Friday night.
‘‘I’m pleased for Libby. He’s been great for us,’’ coach Ufuk Talay said. ‘‘I think he is one of the best left-backs in the competition. He’s only 19 and he’ll keep growing.
‘‘For me, now, it’s just consistency. He’s getting consistent game time, he’s understanding his role a lot more. He’ll be here until the end of the season and then we’ll assess where he’s at.’’
Hitting a side-footed volley past goalkeeper Filip Kurto following a looping cross from Ulises Davila, the 29th minute strike was Cacace’s second goal of the season and the third of his young career.
It came just hours after being named the joint winner of the
PFA’s Player of the Month award alongside Perth Glory’s Gregory Wuthrich.
‘‘I was pretty lucky to get that goal today,’’ Cacace said. ‘‘But I’m just happy to contribute to the team.’’
Wellington-born with Italian heritage, Cacace came up against former Azzurri player Alessandro Diamanti on Friday night and said the two heckled each other in
Italian throughout the game.
‘‘There was a few words exchanged there. He wasn’t too happy because his team was losing. I can understand what he’s saying, you know if it’s good or bad,’’ he said.
‘‘I was being a bit cheeky on the pitch and he said a few things but I just laughed it off because that’s the person I am.
‘‘But he’s a top player and I’ve got a lot of respect for him.’’
Cacace has made big strides since his debut against Sydney FC in February 2018. He is the first-choice left-back for both club and country and is set to mark his 50th A-League appearance when the Phoenix play the Central Coast Mariners on March 8.
Although no concrete offer was made during the January transfer window, Talay let on after Friday’s match that Cacace has been attracting foreign interest.
‘‘Libby’s an integral part of the way we play and the way we set up so, for me, it was very important that we keep him here until the end of the season and we’ll look at that at the end of the season.’’
But it seems just a matter of time before he follows former team-mate Sarpreet Singh to Europe. But, for now, the New Zealand international wants nothing more than to help his hometown club win its first A-League Championship.
The Phoenix are now up to fourth place on the ladder and look a genuine threat under Talay, who has the team members playing some of the best football they have ever played.