Phoenix must find a way to win away
Wellington Phoenix coach Paul Temple accepts his team must find a way to win in Australia if they are to save their A-League Women season.
The Phoenix are on the outside looking in with six games left in the regular season, starting with a tough encounter against three-time champions Melbourne Victory at the new Home of the Matildas on Sunday.
They sit ninth on 19 points, four points behind the sixth-place Newcastle Jets, with a game in hand against the lowly Adelaide United.
The Phoenix need to finish in the top six to qualify for the finals series and Temple has conceded they cannot simply rely on their superior home form to secure a playoff spot, especially as one of their remaining three home games is against defending champions Sydney FC.
Although they have been hard to beat at home, the Phoenix find themselves in this position because of their inability to win outside New Zealand.
They have picked up just three points from a possible 27 on the road this season and have lost every game in Australia since they beat Western Sydney Wanderers 3-0 in round two.
That was 19 weeks ago.
“It feels like a lifetime ago,” Temple said. “It’s been way too long. I think we all know that and we need to very quickly reverse the fortunes away from home.
“The reality is we’ve got three away games left and if we don’t pick up any points in those three games then we’re going to make it incredibly difficult.”
From personnel to their game-day routine, Temple said he has turned over every stone possible in an attempt to improve their fortunes in Australia and was even contemplating changing his sideline attire, inspired by superstitious Phoenix men’s coach Giancarlo Italiano.
“It seems to work for Chiefy,” he said. “We’re looking at all the different things that might make a difference and some of that is out of our control that definitely are factors that make away games more challenging, like international travel, but we can’t do anything about that one.”
After fielding a severely depleted lineup against Western United in their last match, the Phoenix have been boosted by the return of most of their Football Ferns contingent as well as top scorer Mariana Speckmaier for the match against Victory.
The two teams have battled to 2-2 draws in their last two meetings, but both of those fixtures have been in Wellington.
Captain Annalie Longo (calf) is the only doubtful selection, though she will be given every chance to prove her fitness for the trip across the Tasman.
Grace Wisnewski and Marisa van der Meer will play no further part due to longterm injuries,
The Phoenix will remain in Australia ahead of their following match, a distance derby clash against Perth Glory on March 9. An elusive away win would completely change the outlook of their season with three of their final four games to be played at home.