January 30, 2026 • 8 mins
The Wellington Phoenix have missed another chance to rise to the A-League's top six, conceding two late goals to settle for a 2-all draw with Melbourne City.
Adam Cooper was pitchside, and spoke to coach Giancarlo Italiano just after the fulltime whistle.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's talk last night's Wellington Phoenix match against Melbourne City.
There were a lot of festivities around and a good
energy and buzz around the stands as well as the
Phoenix celebrated their five hundredth A League match and things
got off to a pretty good start in the first half.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Anto helps it fall against a fine and is a
features all the way out and falls to Isa and
send the pack at the ned Flang days down when
a tied score goes up a mix up of catastrophic
proportions in Melbourne City's rearguard and midway through the first
half he fine Isa were there's sixth goal of the season.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
So I was all looking good. One nil at halftime
and things were looking promising for the Phoenix and that
continued early into the second half.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
And Isa's off on a run off the shoulder of
Suple and who's doing well to try and keep up
is a.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Goodness me a fine?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Isa goes to the top of the Golden Boot standings
with a screen up.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Yes, so two was the score. The fans were in
full voice. Things were looking pretty good to celebrate the
phoenix five hundredth game. Until the seventy third minutes four
play four towards Eunice.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Kelly Hills out Eunice has gone away from them, Micaus
Unus is gonna get two or two games, and Melvin
City are back in this one. I'll be Kelly Hill
not able to clear.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Yes, so people started to get a bit worried dead
and then just four minutes later this happens.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Toy Loamas giving it away, Kelly Hill saves my Metty's
gonna make it too, an era from Bill tuy Loma,
who's been so good tonight seized upon by men and
Mameti and in the point of an eye, from two
nil down City are back to two a piece.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Ah yes, so from two nil up midway through or
late in the second half, really the Phoenix at two
wall Everyone got a bit of excitement, though they were
awarded a penalty late in the game stoppage time and
Draca jamesian defender for the Wellington Phoenix, lined it up.
Here's how it went and at a time.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
At the end of this one at two to two,
a crucial moment in Wellington season, man Dracer James save
five peaks. More drama in game five hundred.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
And Wellington yeah, great save Peach, the goalkeeper for Melbourne
City diving to has left, successfully saving Mandraka James's stoppage
time penalty attempts. So the Phoenix have to settle with
a too all draw. So they stayed ninth on the table.
They would have moved into the top six with a
win last night if they got the extra points. So
(02:43):
continued frustrations for the Wellington Phoenix a to all draw
in their five hundredth match. I was downsideline during the
game and spoke to their coach Giancarlo Italiano right after
full time to get his thoughts, which if thanks thanks
for your time. It was a game five, I guess
handed all, wasn't it through the course of the game.
One of your initial thoughts this year steer into the
(03:05):
the emptying stadium here to like, I'm.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Disappointed we gave them one point, you know, and I
was disappointed the fact that we just couldn't close the
game out didn't show the maturity a too neal wal
cruising made some stubs and you know the worst part
was when it got back to tour all of a
sudden we could attack again, you know, and that was
(03:28):
a disappointing part. So, but it's been a bit of
a theme in our seasons, you know that we're just
some individual mistakes acrossing us big points, big moments. You know,
I think we probably propped around six to eight points
this year where you know, just simple errors have been
killing us. And yeah, just as disappointing. But you know, again,
we didn't lose. And if you asked me before the
(03:49):
game if I was happy with the point against the champions,
I'd say, yeah, not not a bad result, So you know,
I've got to put into context.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
But yeah, see zero went to those two goals only
what four minutes apart? Were their similarities to the nature
of which they were conceded.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Do you think the first goal I didn't even see
because I was getting the sub ready and turn around,
so we conceded. Then I made a sub and then
and then the second goal. It's just like, you know,
it's just I don't think you can coach that. You know,
it just happens, and you know we've got punished for it.
But the worst part is is that we then go
back and we you know, we show some endeavor and
(04:23):
we get a penalty and we probably made a couple
of chances and then yeah, that was the most frustrating part.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Again, a penalty to potentially win the game in the
final moment, something you can't really coach for. I guess
as you looked out as the team prepared for that,
what was the strategy it was Mandrake has thinkled out
to always take a penalty in that scenario.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah, so Madreka usually takes the penalties. It's either between
him RAMI they take a rummy was subbed and direct.
It's very good with penalties, you know. It's just one
of those moments where I think, you know, he I
didn't even see the pen to be fair, but when
I saw the replay up top, I saw that he
hit very close to the keeper.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah, it's just disappointed. But again we didn't need that
penalty to win the game, if that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So defensively, is that a focus now as you sort
of look look forward with you know, more points on
offering and then they become important points.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Now, focusing on defending and staying in the game and
in the moments and grinding games is the focus. I
don't think it's for a lack of scoring goals. I
think it's for a lack of keeping structure in those
fider moments. And again it's it's probably endemic to like
a lot of the other performances where we've dominated teams
and we just haven't been able to capitalize with our defending.
So look, these things, unfortunately, you know, are coach killers.
(05:35):
But you know, we still we're still in the in
the mix of the six. Just need to grind, We
need to make sure that we're you know, don't lose
confidence and just keep working hard.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Incredible, really, isn't it, given where you could have been
on the table with a winter night and I think,
what's still nights now?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah, so but I think you know,
if you look at the season and the whole, you know,
should have been a matter of Mariners in the first
or second game of the season, Berth in the first game. Season.
We've had a lot of drawls where it should have
gone the other way, even Adelaide a couple of weeks ago.
It's just these are starting to accumulate now, you know,
and if we're actually capitalizing these games would be probably
(06:12):
on I think twenty six points. You know, we've been
talking about coming first, not you know, in the top six.
So yeah, it's just unfortunately it's that's the It's nice
for the fan, but you know, not so mice.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
For me as a coachlto Ilma, everyone knows his qualities
and the class he brings as even a player, I
have a bit of adjustment adapting to a new team
like this. Obviously his first start tonight.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Yeah. For me, the thing is it's, you know, he
needs game time in order for him to, you know,
to be the player that we need. He just needs
like and you know, that's his first ninety I think
in five months. I think he played an international in
the internet last international window, but he hasn't played for
(06:57):
at a large chunk of time. So yeah, look, he'll
just get better as a season gets on.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
On a positive is goes to the top of the
Golden bootstandings of the league seven for him too tonight.
Are you getting exactly out of him what you want?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yeah? I think I can get more, to be fair,
I think that, you know, he's shown his impact on
the league. I just need to give him service. That's
the main thing for me. And I think that you know,
for a large part, you know now that we've got
Sandery and Nicholas Sun to fire. I think we're gonna
I think we'll score more goals, to be fair, So
I'm really excited about that. Just it's more about the
time now, from now to the end of the season.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
You mentioned at the start in consistencies. Is that's something
that can improve between now and the end of the season.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Well, I believe so. The time will tell. Unfortunately, it's
been too many moments like this this season where we
just you know, let ourselves down. But you know, there's
still For me, the most important thing is with this
group is that the belief is there that what we're
doing is going to provide fruit. I think from a
goal scoring aspect, I think it's it shows that we're
(07:59):
on the right part. Defensively, that's a big question mark.
So bringing in players like Bill and Mendreka and having
more a little bit more experience at the back is
very very very very important and important for us to
you know, to have success.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
So yeah, So in long answers short yes, yeah, Well
thanks for your time and all the best for the
next Friday.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Thank you very much for more from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
It' b listen live on air or online and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcast
on iHeartRadio.
Let's talk last night's Wellington Phoenix match against Melbourne City.
There were a lot of festivities around and a good
energy and buzz around the stands as well as the
Phoenix celebrated their five hundredth A League match and things
got off to a pretty good start in the first half.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Anto helps it fall against a fine and is a
features all the way out and falls to Isa and
send the pack at the ned Flang days down when
a tied score goes up a mix up of catastrophic
proportions in Melbourne City's rearguard and midway through the first
half he fine Isa were there's sixth goal of the season.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
So I was all looking good. One nil at halftime
and things were looking promising for the Phoenix and that
continued early into the second half.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
And Isa's off on a run off the shoulder of
Suple and who's doing well to try and keep up
is a.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Goodness me a fine?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Isa goes to the top of the Golden Boot standings
with a screen up.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Yes, so two was the score. The fans were in
full voice. Things were looking pretty good to celebrate the
phoenix five hundredth game. Until the seventy third minutes four
play four towards Eunice.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Kelly Hills out Eunice has gone away from them, Micaus
Unus is gonna get two or two games, and Melvin
City are back in this one. I'll be Kelly Hill
not able to clear.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Yes, so people started to get a bit worried dead
and then just four minutes later this happens.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Toy Loamas giving it away, Kelly Hill saves my Metty's
gonna make it too, an era from Bill tuy Loma,
who's been so good tonight seized upon by men and
Mameti and in the point of an eye, from two
nil down City are back to two a piece.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Ah yes, so from two nil up midway through or
late in the second half, really the Phoenix at two
wall Everyone got a bit of excitement, though they were
awarded a penalty late in the game stoppage time and
Draca jamesian defender for the Wellington Phoenix, lined it up.
Here's how it went and at a time.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
At the end of this one at two to two,
a crucial moment in Wellington season, man Dracer James save
five peaks. More drama in game five hundred.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
And Wellington yeah, great save Peach, the goalkeeper for Melbourne
City diving to has left, successfully saving Mandraka James's stoppage
time penalty attempts. So the Phoenix have to settle with
a too all draw. So they stayed ninth on the table.
They would have moved into the top six with a
win last night if they got the extra points. So
(02:43):
continued frustrations for the Wellington Phoenix a to all draw
in their five hundredth match. I was downsideline during the
game and spoke to their coach Giancarlo Italiano right after
full time to get his thoughts, which if thanks thanks
for your time. It was a game five, I guess
handed all, wasn't it through the course of the game.
One of your initial thoughts this year steer into the
(03:05):
the emptying stadium here to like, I'm.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Disappointed we gave them one point, you know, and I
was disappointed the fact that we just couldn't close the
game out didn't show the maturity a too neal wal
cruising made some stubs and you know the worst part
was when it got back to tour all of a
sudden we could attack again, you know, and that was
(03:28):
a disappointing part. So, but it's been a bit of
a theme in our seasons, you know that we're just
some individual mistakes acrossing us big points, big moments. You know,
I think we probably propped around six to eight points
this year where you know, just simple errors have been
killing us. And yeah, just as disappointing. But you know, again,
we didn't lose. And if you asked me before the
(03:49):
game if I was happy with the point against the champions,
I'd say, yeah, not not a bad result, So you know,
I've got to put into context.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
But yeah, see zero went to those two goals only
what four minutes apart? Were their similarities to the nature
of which they were conceded.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Do you think the first goal I didn't even see
because I was getting the sub ready and turn around,
so we conceded. Then I made a sub and then
and then the second goal. It's just like, you know,
it's just I don't think you can coach that. You know,
it just happens, and you know we've got punished for it.
But the worst part is is that we then go
back and we you know, we show some endeavor and
(04:23):
we get a penalty and we probably made a couple
of chances and then yeah, that was the most frustrating part.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Again, a penalty to potentially win the game in the
final moment, something you can't really coach for. I guess
as you looked out as the team prepared for that,
what was the strategy it was Mandrake has thinkled out
to always take a penalty in that scenario.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah, so Madreka usually takes the penalties. It's either between
him RAMI they take a rummy was subbed and direct.
It's very good with penalties, you know. It's just one
of those moments where I think, you know, he I
didn't even see the pen to be fair, but when
I saw the replay up top, I saw that he
hit very close to the keeper.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah, it's just disappointed. But again we didn't need that
penalty to win the game, if that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So defensively, is that a focus now as you sort
of look look forward with you know, more points on
offering and then they become important points.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Now, focusing on defending and staying in the game and
in the moments and grinding games is the focus. I
don't think it's for a lack of scoring goals. I
think it's for a lack of keeping structure in those
fider moments. And again it's it's probably endemic to like
a lot of the other performances where we've dominated teams
and we just haven't been able to capitalize with our defending.
So look, these things, unfortunately, you know, are coach killers.
(05:35):
But you know, we still we're still in the in
the mix of the six. Just need to grind, We
need to make sure that we're you know, don't lose
confidence and just keep working hard.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Incredible, really, isn't it, given where you could have been
on the table with a winter night and I think,
what's still nights now?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah, so but I think you know,
if you look at the season and the whole, you know,
should have been a matter of Mariners in the first
or second game of the season, Berth in the first game. Season.
We've had a lot of drawls where it should have
gone the other way, even Adelaide a couple of weeks ago.
It's just these are starting to accumulate now, you know,
and if we're actually capitalizing these games would be probably
(06:12):
on I think twenty six points. You know, we've been
talking about coming first, not you know, in the top six.
So yeah, it's just unfortunately it's that's the It's nice
for the fan, but you know, not so mice.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
For me as a coachlto Ilma, everyone knows his qualities
and the class he brings as even a player, I
have a bit of adjustment adapting to a new team
like this. Obviously his first start tonight.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Yeah. For me, the thing is it's, you know, he
needs game time in order for him to, you know,
to be the player that we need. He just needs
like and you know, that's his first ninety I think
in five months. I think he played an international in
the internet last international window, but he hasn't played for
(06:57):
at a large chunk of time. So yeah, look, he'll
just get better as a season gets on.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
On a positive is goes to the top of the
Golden bootstandings of the league seven for him too tonight.
Are you getting exactly out of him what you want?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yeah? I think I can get more, to be fair,
I think that, you know, he's shown his impact on
the league. I just need to give him service. That's
the main thing for me. And I think that you know,
for a large part, you know now that we've got
Sandery and Nicholas Sun to fire. I think we're gonna
I think we'll score more goals, to be fair, So
I'm really excited about that. Just it's more about the
time now, from now to the end of the season.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
You mentioned at the start in consistencies. Is that's something
that can improve between now and the end of the season.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Well, I believe so. The time will tell. Unfortunately, it's
been too many moments like this this season where we
just you know, let ourselves down. But you know, there's
still For me, the most important thing is with this
group is that the belief is there that what we're
doing is going to provide fruit. I think from a
goal scoring aspect, I think it's it shows that we're
(07:59):
on the right part. Defensively, that's a big question mark.
So bringing in players like Bill and Mendreka and having
more a little bit more experience at the back is
very very very very important and important for us to
you know, to have success.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
So yeah, So in long answers short yes, yeah, Well
thanks for your time and all the best for the
next Friday.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Thank you very much for more from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
It' b listen live on air or online and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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