Nix rise for notable victory
Wellington side shrug of red-card anguish against Perth to beat Sydney away Sopoaga reveals struggles with form
The Phoenix produced one of the best away results of their 12-year history with a 3-1 win in Sydney. Six days after being denied a deserved victory against unbeaten leaders Perth in a match marred by an unwarranted red card, Wellington improved further in an excellent display across the Tasman.
The Phoenix were sharper, worked harder and played with greater desperation to upset the odds and add to hopes that an unexpected transformation is under way.
A couple of statistics underline the notable nature of this win — the Phoenix had lost seven and drawn one of their last eight games against Sydney; they won just one away game last season and had not even scored an away goal this season before tonight.
The result was particularly sweet for Phoenix coach Mark Rudan, an A-League champion with Sydney FC who played alongside several of Saturday night’s opposition staff, including coach Steve Corica.
On the back of a dire three-match losing run, Rudan successfully instilled confidence into his side last week for the game against Perth. The focus last week was on being brave and wanting the ball, and Wellington delivered again.
After taking six games to score their first goal from open play, the Phoenix were almost unrecognisable from last month’s incarnation. Roy Krishna scored a tidy brace and thrived on the service provided by his fellow attackers, with the likes of Sarpreet Singh, Alex Rufer and Mandi a constant threat on the ball.
The Phoenix set the pace from the outset, forcing a corner in the opening minute and taking a first shot in the fourth.
Sydney responded with the best early chance, Adam Le Fondre clipping a good cross over the crossbar from close range. Le Fondre was lively, showing why he has scored nine goals in as many games since arriving in Sydney, and the Phoenix did well to contain him.
But for 20 minutes, Wellington completely outplayed Sydney, scoring three goals. The first two exploited Krishna’s pace superbly in the 21st and 30th minutes.
For the first, Singh curled an outstanding pass in behind the Sydney defence for the Fijian to run on to, and he produced a composed rightfoot finish into the bottom corner.
For the second, Mandi passed from a similar position on the left and Krishna scored with his left foot into the opposite corner.
It was quite a week for the Fijian. He became the club’s record scorer last Sunday, then a New Zealand citizen on Thursday, and added another two goals on Saturday night before being forced off on the hour with a hamstring complaint. Given his form, the club will be hoping any injury is not serious.
Steven Taylor capped a remarkable first half by scoring his first Phoenix goal, guiding a header into the top corner from an excellent Liberato Cacace cross.
A Tom Doyle own goal proved the catalyst for a Wellington collapse against Adelaide two weeks ago, with a 1-0 lead turning into a 3-1 defeat. Andrew Durante put the ball into his own net soon after Taylor’s goal on Saturday night but the Phoenix were spared a similar examination of their mental toughness when referee Jonathan Barreiro blew for offside.
Sydney had more of the play in the second half but Wellington proved frustrating opponents and made the hosts work hard for their only goal, scored in the 89th minute by Michael Zullo after Louis Fenton looked to have been fouled in the build-up. But no matter, the goal was a mere consolation and took little gloss off an outstanding Phoenix performance. Lima Sopoaga has suggested Kiwis underestimate the quality of rugby in the Northern Hemisphere, revealing he’s struggled since making the move to England.
At the end of the 2018 Super Rugby season, the former Highlanders and All Blacks star took up a NZ$3,063,512 to leave Kiwi shores and join Wasps for the England’s Premiership Rugby competition.
Speaking to the Guardian, the 27-year-old said he felt joining the franchise as a marquee player came with added pressure.
“It’s not that I don’t love this but there are things that do get you down,” he said.
“It’s not all glitz and glamour. A lot of the time people just see the 80 minutes, they don’t see what goes on behind closed doors and how winning and losing can affect players.”
Sopoaga was recruited by Wasps to replace English star first five-eighth Danny Cipriani, who left the club to join Gloucester.
The move has been a tough one to get familiar with, with the former All Black admitting he’s yet to find his best form.
“In New Zealand I don’t think we watch enough Northern Hemisphere rugby to truly appreciate it. It’s out of sight, out of mind. Because we don’t see it we’re like: ‘ Meh, whatever.’
“Now, being amongst it, you’ve got some very skilled players and some pretty wicked talent. England have a very decent pack, some electric outside backs and a world-class 10. If you can get a fully-fit England team playing with the mindset they did against the All Blacks last month they’re going to give themselves half a chance.”