Phoenix lucky other results go their way
CHRIS GREENACRE insists Wellington Phoenix are still confident of making some noise in the A-league playoffs despite Friday’s 3-0 loss to lowly Melbourne Victory.
It was the Phoenix’s worst loss of the season and they failed to record a point in three games against the eighth-placed Victory after previous 2-1 and 3-1 losses.
But the outlook brightened on Saturday as Brisbane Roar beat Newcastle Jets 2-1 and Sydney FC came from behind to draw 2-2 against Melbourne Heart.
It means the Phoenix, who wrap up the regular season at home to leagueleaders Central Coast Mariners on Sunday, are assured of a top-four finish and hosting an elimination final against one of Heart, Jets or Sydney in the first round of the playoffs on March 30-April 1.
‘‘They really got torn apart in the media during the week and and maybe that gave them added incentive,’’ said Phoenix striker Greenacre of an inspired Victory performance in which Carlos Hernandez, Isaka Cernak and James Jeggo all found the back of the net.
‘‘It was disappointing but the other results went our way and securing a home final is what we set out to do at the start of the season.
‘‘It’s going to draw in big crowds and they’re the games that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. We’ve all been in the game long enough to know that these opportunities don’t come around very often and you’ve got to make the most of it. I’m sure we will.’’
Greenacre said the Phoenix had prepared well for the Victory game but the hosts scored some ‘‘spectacular goals and sometimes that happens in football’’.
The veteran Englishman didn’t think coach Ricki Herbert would need to restore any dented confidence at training this week and the focus was on three points against the Mariners and taking some momentum into the finals.
Central Coast, who are two points ahead of Brisbane in the minor premiership race, have a busy week, hosting Nagoya Grampus in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday before visiting Westpac Stadium.
‘‘It’ll be interesting to see how much of a toll Wednesday has on them,’’ Greenacre said.
‘‘It has maybe taken a little bit of pressure off us, getting that home semifinal but we want to have a little bit of momentum going into the finals series.’’
Phoenix defender Manny Muscat is free to play against the Mariners after Friday’s challenge on Marco Rojas escaped the attentions of the match review committee.
Former Phoenix star Rojas has been ruled out of the Oly Whites Oceania qualifying tournament for the London Olympics after his jaw was fractured by Muscat’s elbow.
He was also concussed and had no recollection of the incident after being taken to hospital.
Greenacre said Muscat had his condolences to Marco’’.
‘‘It wasn’t a pick on Marco kind of thing,’’ Greenacre said.
‘‘That’s just the type of character Manny is, he’s a really quiet, gentle guy away from the field but once he steps over that line, he really puts his body on the line and he’s committed 110 per cent.
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‘‘I think it just spices it up a little bit because Marco’s a friend of ours and an ex-player at the Phoenix so it’s been heightened by that.’’
An A-league spokesman said there were no reported incidents from the game, although Herbert is expected to be reprimanded for failing to front the post-match press conference.
A coach and a player from both teams are required to talk to media after each game but reporters had waited 50 minutes before learning Her- bert had left on the team bus.
The press conference is supposed to be organised by home team officials and a Phoenix spokesman said he had written to the A-league explaining that the Victory had not fetched Herbert from the changing rooms where he was chatting to the Melbourne coaches.
The A-league spokesman said it was unlikely Herbert would be fined but there would ‘‘probably be a reprimand that it can’t happen again’’.