Nix in the Boxall seat
THE LAST time the Wellington Phoenix played finals football, their plan was to concede no goals and then try and nick one on the break.
These days even their defenders are talking about scoring a hatful and playing teams off the park.
It’s been three years since the Phoenix prepared for an A-League playoff match. A lot’s changed ahead of Sunday’s elimination final against Melbourne City at Westpac Stadium.
The Phoenix might not be in vintage form right now, but it definitely hasn’t dented their confidence.
‘‘The way we’ve been playing, particularly in the second halves of games, we back ourselves against anyone in the finals,’’ right back Michael Boxall said.
‘‘If we start well in these finals games, there’s very few teams that can play better football than us.’’
The 26-year-old was brought in as a central defender by Ricki Her- bert. But under second-year coach Ernie Merrick, Boxall’s become a bloke who surprised everyone with his pace and ability to get forward and provide good service to teammates such as Nathan Burns.
Boxall’s even bagged the odd goal, including a strike from a short corner in last week’s 2-1 loss to Sydney FC. It’s not a role the All White ever saw himself in, buthe’s adapted to it well.
‘‘Liking it,’’ he said. the way Ernie plays.
‘‘When you’ve got a solid centre back pairing [of Ben Sigmund and Andrew Durante] and Albert [Riera] beside you, it does give a fair bit of licence to get forward, which I’ve enjoyed.’’
And then there’s Burns, whose ability to run at defenders and create chances from very little will be critical to the Phoenix’s chances of success in this match.
‘‘Whenever I give him the ball and he’s one v one, I just stay away and let him go to work. He makes defenders look silly,’’ said Boxall.
This is the way the Phoenix are determined to play it against Mel-
‘‘Especially bourne. Never mind that they’ve conceded a goal within the first 15 minutes in five of their past six regular-season games, Merrick has PHOENIX V MELBOURNE CITY
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, today, 7pm (SS2) LAST THREE MEETINGS 0-0 ...................... 12/04/15 0-0 ...................... 14/02/15 5-1 (H)................ 30/11/14 FORM Phoenix ............................................. LWDLL Melbourne City ............................. LLDDW TAB ODDS Phoenix ................................................. $2.00 Melbourne City ................................. $3.40 Draw ....................................................... $3.50
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To follow the game, go to called for men in the box and goals to be the remedy for any defensive lapses.
Boxall
hasn’t
completely changed his spots, so any opposition goal wounds him deeply. But he echoed the coach’s sentiment that this is a time of year to approach games with real positivity.
‘‘If you ask any of the teams that are on holiday already, they’d give anything to be in our position right now,’’ Boxall said.
‘‘For us, we haven’t been here for a couple of seasons and we have to make the most of it. It’s what we’ve been working towards for the last 10 months, it’s why we play the game.’’
The Phoenix and Melbourne City have met three times this season. The past two have ended 0-0, with the Phoenix winning the earlier encounter, 5-1.
The visitors are a long way from full strength, with injury and suspension robbing them of some key players. But mid-season signing Joel Griffiths aside, the Phoenix have no such problems. Goalkeeper Glen Moss is the only doubt after being a late withdrawal from the Sydney game due to a knee injury.
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