February 23, 2025 • 34 mins
Piney and Bonnie unpack the New Zealand A-League derby demolition, with Auckland FC thumping Wellington Phoenix 6-1 on Saturday.
Could Auckland win the whole thing in their first season? And where to now for the Phoenix?
Plus, Bonnie reviews the Football Ferns' 1-1 draw with Costa Rica.
Football Fever with Jason Pine & Bonnie Jansen is the weekly podcast to keep up with all the action from the beautiful game!
Our voice of football Jason Pine and sport journalist Bonnie Jansen follow the Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC on their quest for an A-League title - all the goals, all the drama, all the glory!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Football Fever with News Talks MB's voice of Football, Jason
Pine and Bonnie Jensen. Hello that welcome into the start
of a new week and to a fresh episode of
Football Fever, where we discuss all things to do with
New Zealand football, the Wellington Phoenix, or the Left c
men's and women's international games and anything else that drops
into our football consciousness. We being me Jason Pine and
(00:26):
you Bonnie Jensen. Get a Bonnie.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Yoder Piney, how are you good?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Thanks? What an occasion at go Media on Saturday? Can
we talk about the occasion first before we get to
what happens between the White Lions twenty seven thousand and
nine turning up there on Saturday a new regular season
record for a club game here in New Zealand's beautiful day.
(00:51):
Crowd absolutely loved it, and probably mainly because it was
six to one on the field, but what an occasion
to be a part of yet again, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
It's just absolutely crazy and hearing all of that back, Piny,
just goosebumps come back to me. It was incredible. I
was lucky enough to not be working this time and
just soak it up and enjoy it as a fan,
And yeah, what a spectacle it was, you know, and
obviously the match was great because there are a lot
of goals.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Yeah, a lot of goals to enjoy. And I think
probably because of the size of the crowd a lot
of people went for the first time on the weekend.
You know, there've been crowds a sort of fourteen fifteen thousand,
so I know they have had a couple of salouts,
but I'm sure there were you know, a few thousand
there on the weekend who had never been before. Imagine
if that was your first game, you might you've probably
you think is it like this every week? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Exactly. A few of my family members actually went for
the first time and they were just saying, wow, what
an occasion. You know, you don't get sporting events like
this very often in New Zealand. And you know, I
think with the Super Rugby Pacific that's back now, the
Warriors will be starting up soon. Auckland f C really
set a standard of what sporting occasions should be like
(02:03):
in New Zealand. And that doesn't take away from the
Phoenix and what they've done down at their club in Wellington,
you know, over the past decade or more. But you know,
they just know how to put on a show. Auckland
nefcy on and off the field, and I think they
should be really proud of how they hosted that third
third Derby.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
And I think you also have to give huge kudos
to Auckland's fans and in particular the port. They are
the act of support. They lead the way as far
as being raucous and boisterous and completely one hundred percent committed,
standing for the whole game, chanting, singing, you know, hurling, abuse,
all that sort of stuff, and I think everybody else
(02:43):
takes their lead. They arrive and even if they're not
sitting in the port, even if they're somewhere else, they go, oh, okay,
so that's what we do here. We actually can't just
sit here and watch the game. We have to involve
ourselves in it.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yeah, and it's really easy to involve yourself in it.
You know, I'm speaking personally. You know, I'm from Wellington,
I grew up in Wellington. I'm meant to be a
neutral supporter, and I am, you know, as someone who
works in this industry, but it's so easy to kind
of fall in love with how these fans go about
it and their chants and their culture. You know, it
was awesome. I was sitting on the other side of
(03:17):
the stand but looking down at the port and they
had opened up that second tier, that second level on
the south stand and just jam patch. You know, it
was the place to be on Saturday afternoon down in
the port.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
All right, we've held off talking about the football for
long enough. Let's talk about the football. Utter demolition job
by Auckland FC. I don't think anybody really saw this coming.
I'll hold my hand up totally high and say I
did not see this coming at all. In fact, I've
picked a Wellington Phoenix win by a goal to nil.
If I'd been asked for a second choice, I would
have said, okay, a similar margin in favor of Auckland FC.
(03:52):
I thought this was going to be a cagey encounter
where one goal would separate the two sides. But well,
and actually it looked like that for half an hour.
It was nil all after thirty minutes, then Nat Mdino
with a couple of goals in quick succession, Logan Rogerson
scoring before halftime. All of a sudden, it's three nil
and the game has really, to all intents and purpos
has been taken away from Wellington. But then Luke brook
(04:14):
Smith came on at halftime scored three to one, youngest
ever Phoenix goal scorer. More on him in a moment.
But then Nadal Madona scored his third, Auckland's fourth, Logan
Rogerson another goal. Jesse randall right at the end six
to one? Did anybody right next to you? I think
you said to me, didn't you? On the podcast last
(04:34):
week you thought it might be like a what were
we talking about Arsenal and Tottenham, the two women's teams,
and it was a five nil and you said you
predicted something similar, so you had.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
It bang on Piney. You asked who predicted a game
like this? And I ain't it. I did have it
bang on. We asked Michael Burgess as well, who's a
senior football writer for the New Zealand Herald. He also
predicted a KG affair like yourself. But I had it right.
I picked a high score game in favor of Auckland FS,
and I'm pretty proud of that. I think I think
they're just too good, you know, the Phoenix. I find
(05:07):
it so hard to criticize them at the moment because
there's so much stuff they could be doing, but they're
just so young, so in experience, and then their experienced players,
you know, returning from from long term injuries. I didn't
expect it to necessarily be six to one, but yeah,
I wasn't surprised when Auckland made the statement they did.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
The only I think the only reason was a couple
of reasons. I was reticent about it about, you know,
agreeing with you. Look, if it had been a normal
one v ten then yeah, that's different. But Darby's, as
we've said often, you know, are one off occasions. The
other part was that Auckland FC haven't really torn anybody
apart this season. They've won a lot of games, but
they haven't won a lot of games by a lot
(05:50):
of goals. Now they have. They absolutely took Wellington to
the Cleaners twenty four shots to the Phoenixes eleven. Now, Bonnie,
only eight of Auckland FC shots were on tart had
six of them went in.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
This is an example of how they've learned their lessons.
You know, at the start of the season, not even
that long ago, Piney, we were talking about how we're
a little bit concerned by the lack of goals they're scoring.
It's also quite ironic how many times we mentioned on
this podcast how we're not too sure about natea Madena.
I think both of us can take that back. I
feel really bad about that, but I think the thing
(06:24):
is is, you know, as you say, Piney, anything can
happen in a derby match, and it form does go
out the window. But it showed that one side showed
up for the match and the other didn't. And regardless
of how the Phoenix season has gone so far, I
don't think they showed up at all.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I think they had a couple of small periods, and
they were small periods across the ninety minutes. I think
the first five to ten minutes they were probably as
proactive and as you know, on the front foot as
they have been at the start of a game all season,
because they've been very passive from the start in many games.
You know, they there was a very early chance from
(07:05):
a free kick that Paulson tipped over from a Shiga.
The second period was the period straight after halftime, and
they'd injected Alex Ruffer, that injected Luke brook Smith and
also Nathan Walker, so clearly actually something they're three kneeled down,
and I think when Luke brook Smith scored and it
was three to one, there was just a period there
where Auckland looked a bit shaky. But apart from that,
(07:26):
you know, Auckland completely dominated the game. You're right about Moreno,
I mean, the the guy has just become this cult hero.
Do you know, though, that Logan Rogerson is claiming Moreno's
second goal, he thinks Logan Rogerson thinks he's got a
hat trick. I think the official word is still that
Nada Moreno has, but Modano's second one that he fires
(07:48):
through a crowd of bodies, it does actually hit Rogerson
on his hip and goes in. He's claiming it. Rogerson
reckons he's got the hat trick.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
In the match ball oh classic. I actually missed that.
I just Nada's first and second goal were almost like
a carbon copy of each other, that kind of side
foot strike that he put into the back of the net.
But that that is interesting, And you know, I kind
of thought as well. I felt a bit bad for
someone like Liam Gillian who had done so well and
(08:17):
impressed for so long. But you can't pull Logan Rogerson off.
You can't pull Nadar off when they're scoring machines right now,
saying with Max Mutter and Gmo My.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
It's funny with my, isn't it. If you said at
the start of the game, maka Auckland will get six today,
you were thought, ok, well, how many is my gonna get?
Didn't get any, Marta didn't get any. What about Logan
Rogerson's second goal though, what a goal that is.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Remind me Piney there were so many got it? Wow?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
The long shot from outside the area?
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Ah, yes, that's right, Yeah, yeah, unreal. He was good.
Logan Rogerson has really impressed me. I remembered thinking back
at the start of the season how he probably wasn't
going to keep that starting spot. But he's Yeah, he's hustled,
hustled away for that and he's really really, really good defensively,
I think as well tracks back with his player. But yeah,
to fire shots away, like you say, like that one
(09:09):
is what you need from Ford.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
I think you say. I think what you say is
absolutely right in terms. That's the most competitive part of
the squad I think is those attacking players who support
Gizmo Mai. I think my players every week, he's the
one who's going to play every week, and he deserves
to as well, because he has been tremendous, But it's
those positions in and around him where there is real competition.
And you mentioned Liam Gilly and he played almost, you know,
(09:35):
every single game to start the season. But I actually
can't remember the last time that we saw Liam Gillian
out there. I'm just is she going to check my statusy?
He hasn't played the last five games.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
No. Yeah, I think as a real shame for him,
and I would like to see him get another run
because he was obviously he was obviously a great player,
just hadn't found the back of the neck yet and
he's kind of been punished for that, but I think
equally that was the way the whole team was playing
back at the start of the season when Liam couldn't
find the back of the net. So I would love
(10:07):
to see him get a run now when they're starting
to gell a little bit more and see if maybe,
you know, it opens something up for him. Obviously, we
saw Jesse Randall as well get his first goal on
the weekend. He's another one, you know, another young player
that's that's impressing and equally contending for one of those
forward spots.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Yeah, and you know Marley Francois is there as well
at the moment. So yeah, it is crowded. Not everybody
can play. But if you ask Steve Coriker, he'll be like, well,
that's exactly what I want. I want, you know, competition
for places. There's so much so that he didn't even
have to start. Louis Vastrata, one of the you know,
one of, if not the standout player for Auckland FC
(10:47):
this season, suspended for the game against Western United last
weekends through yellow cart accumulation. I just assumed that he
would come back into the side, that he's the type
of player who actually it doesn't matter. They say you
shouldn't change winning team, but it's Louis via Strata, so
he plays. Clearly that's not the case.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Well, your piney. We asked Steve Coker that the day
before in the pre match press conference. I remember asking,
you know, you are playing the tenth the tenth side
in the A League. Is this an opportunity to kind
of take your foot off the gas and maybe play,
you know, rotate the team a little bit, And he said, no, no,
we want to play our strongest team. We asked about
(11:24):
Louis va Strata and he was ready and fit, so
it was interesting that he didn't start him. And I
actually thought he was on the field for the first
thirty minutes or so until I realized. But I mean, yeah,
it's proving the incredible depth that they've got.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
We had Steve Coracker on the radio yesterday the day
after the game, and I said to him, look, if
you're not changing a winning team after winning two nil,
then surely you can't change your winning team that's won
six to one. You can't bring the Strata back in
if you use the same rationale. But he said something
like a week's a long time in football or something
like that. So look, I think louisvis Strata's two good
a player to leave out he you're starting eleven for
(12:01):
too long. Even when he came on, I mean, he's
basically dispossessed. I think it was Tim Pain for Logan
Rogerson's second goal. He just does what he does, mops up,
gets the ball, gives it to one of his mates
and sets them off in forward motion. So I mean,
I'm not picking the team, but if I was, I
think i'd demonstrate her in there. But Steve Corickan might
(12:23):
have might have other ideas. So Adelaide lost to Western
United yesterday, So Auckland FC and now eight points clear
with nine games to go. If they beat Adelaide on Saturday,
and given the way they're playing and how mediocre, if
we're honest Adelaide were yesterday and losing to Western United,
(12:43):
they will be eleven points clear. Surely they can't be
caught with only eight games to go.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Yeah, that's actually crazy. I think they're winning it a poney.
I actually think they're going all the way, which is
a very very real possibility. And Auckland fans, New Zealand
Football fans probably sadly sorry, Wellington Phoenix fans, everyone's going
to prepare for this because it's coming.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
I think they'll win the regular season. That seems now
to be mathematically the most likely outcome, especially if they
beat Adelaide on the weekend. If Adelaide were to win,
they close the gap up to five points. That's a
different conversation, but you know, hypothetically speaking, if they were
to be eleven points clear of they games to go,
they're probably going to finish top. Then we reached the
final series and by finishing top or in the top two,
(13:28):
they avoid the first round of finals, the three four,
five six knockout games, home and away semi final, and
then a home final. I think if they were to
host the final, they would be extremely difficult to beat
at home.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I forgot there as well that they do play a
home and away semi and that really plays the advantage
of Auckland FC. Not that it probably would have mattered
anyway because they are going to finish top likely and
host that regardless. But that's the thing. They're so so
hard beat at home. I mean only Western United were
the ones to do it, and quite significantly, but they
(14:05):
learned from that and I think they've just shown they
can win in big moments, which will come be extremely
handy when it comes to playoff football.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Nanto Pineker interesting incident involving him very early in the game,
only only the second minute, when he's come across and
he has absolutely poleaxed Corbyn Piper on the edge of
the Auckland FC penalty area. Free kick correctly given, yellow
card given out. I've seen a couple of angles of
this in the time since. I actually think Nando Pineck
(14:35):
is very very lucky, not to get a red card
for that challenge.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Was it a foul on Corbyn Piper one hundred percent? Yeah,
but it went the other way.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
No, no, no, when he in Phoenix is why they
got the free kick? Yeah yeah no so so Pinaker
has has just collected him, cut him in half. So
free kick to Wellington and only a yellow card. John
Collotaliana on the sideline is going spare and like I say,
I saw some angles yesterday which I didn't see during
the broadcast, and he has absolutely collected him right up
(15:07):
by his waist with his foot raised. He's actually quite
lucky not to get a red card.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
I'm gonna have to go back and watch that party.
I remember the incident happening, but I don't remember it
being a big deal. I remember we were arguing in
the box because a lot of us thought, you know,
Logan Rogerson's first goal was offside.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Yeah, yeah, that's that is another talking point. And it
looked offside from the from the angles we saw on TV. Again,
var sees things that we don't see, and they drew
the lines on the pitch and it looked to me
as though Lucas Kelly Heeled's heel was keeping him on
side or something like that. But yeah, it's a different story,
isn't it. If we're letting go on at two nil
down not three nil, come back and score that goal
(15:50):
after the break and it's two one, we might be
having a slightly different conversation. I still think Awklandly FC
would have won the game, but yeah, there was a
There are a couple of moments, the other one with
Pinaket because he got the yellow card, and then in
the same I think, yeah it was. It was in
the first half, Costa Barbarusis has kind of got a
bit of space around halfway and he's looking to set
off and Pindeker looks to put an arm across him
and hold him back. Now, no free kick given, so
(16:14):
you know, no yellow car but that on another day
could have been a second yellow. So I think Nando's
been lucky a couple of times.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Yeah, they didn't really go to var much for a
memory and that at all, did they. I remember as
well that Max muttergo right at the start that got
ruled out for a push in the back. There were
quite a few controversial moments.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Yeah, that was a push in the back and the
referee grabbed that one didn't need var But yeah, look,
you can say as much as you like about these incidents,
it wouldn't have affected the result. Auckland FC were by
far the better side. Let's talk a little bit about
Wellington Phoenix though, because for them now this is a
real test of their character. How much will this affect them?
Speaker 2 (16:58):
It will affect them a lot, you know. I felt
like I could, I could feel the pain, especially for
those senior players like Tim Payne, who you know, made
a silly ara to result in in Logan Rogerson's second goal.
Obviously Alex Ruffe didn't start and he would have been
gutted about that, and I just feel like it's not
(17:20):
what they needed. They probably didn't expect to win at
all on the weekend, but they would have expected a
much tighter match. Obviously didn't play that way. And now
they see their big little brothers up in Auckland going
on to lightly win the league do what they haven't
been able to do, and how long, what you know,
do something that they came so close to achieving last season,
(17:44):
And yeah, it must it must really hurt, and I
think they're going to have to be trying to pull
something out for the next bit of the season.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I think they now have to take their eyes of
Auckland FC, don't they. They don't have to play them again,
they have to somehow, and you're right it would be
hard looking up the road and seeing what's happening at
Auckland f C. But they have to try and just
ignore that. They can't do anything about what Auckland f
C are doing. Now all they can focus on is themselves.
You know. They We've talked about this a lot. They've
been a good defensive side all season. They were the
(18:14):
third best going into the weekend and then somehow managed
to ship six goals and some of the goals I
mean Logan Rogerson's goal might have been a touch of
our side about it. But he is completely unchallenged at
the far post from you know, and I know Francis
Devreese has got us one and with his do you
whip him with his left or might have not even
(18:35):
been Francis Devreese. But you know, Wellington Phoenix know that
Auckland f C put crosses in. How on earth they've
left wrote Logan Rogerson free at the far post is
completely beyond me. The you know, the sixth goal by
then you know they're just waiting for the game to
end so they can get off the grass. But Auckland
to see a toying with them in the penalty area,
(18:57):
you know, my and Elliott and then Randall's in the
back of the net. The mistake. I think you can
forgive the mistake by Luke brook Smith because he's a
sixteen year old kid who's been sent on to try
and make a difference in a game when those who
are far older and far more experience than him haven't
been able to. He's got a goal and then no
(19:17):
doubt adrenaline is pumping through his veins. He's just trying
to get on the ball, do whatever he can. He's
back defending. He's played a ill advised pass across his
own penalty area. We're told from the moment we start
playing football, don't play the ball across your own penalty area.
And it's resulted in a goal. But I don't think
you can say you can't point the finger at Luke
brook Smith. He was to me the one positive in
(19:38):
the Phoenix performance.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I thought, yeah, I thought he was great coming off
the bench and it's promise for the Wellington Phoenix. But
speaking of the other goals that they just conceded, you
know that back post Logan Rogerson one. It just shows
their inexperience. Equally, though, I feel like you do have
to put a little bit of blame or question onto
Chief spoke about how they were really prepared for the
(20:02):
set pieces in the corners from Auckland deft C and
that's what they worked hard on in training, and clearly
maybe they focused too much on that, I'm not sure,
but just silly eras once again where the Phoenix could
help themselves a bit better and keep themselves in matches.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
I quite like Chico Geraldes as well, from what I
saw from him playing the full ninety minutes the new
Portuguese player. I think he showed a few touches of
class and enough to suggest that he'll add a bit
of spark. Good to see rufer On. I would have
started Alec rufer He told us during the week that
he had sixty minutes in him, So why they didn't
start him, I don't know. You start him and get
your sixty minutes out of him, and then you hope
(20:42):
that derby adrenaline kicks and he gets seventy seventy five minutes.
They didn't bring him on until halftime, and by that
stage they are three nled down. Good to see Marco
Rohas back out there as well. So look, if they
can somehow get Rufer, Giraldez, Barbarusis Rojas all fit, throw
a little bit of Luke brook Smith and Nathan Walker
into there, I would love to see them, you know,
(21:06):
rise from this, but they have to really change the
way they play, because, as I've said, they've been so passive,
they've been so defensive. It would take a change in
philosophy from Chiefee to bring in all of those players
together and to get on the front foot in matches,
and I just don't know whether he will do it.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Yeah. Well, I think that was the thing over the
weekend is that the Phoenix actually did have some promising
attacking moments, which I've really lacked recently. So yeah, obviously
you've got to put that down to Costa and Cheeko
this guy. I'd like to see them play, probably a
team more at their level and see how they go.
Having Rufer back, having row hassback, as you say, Pineers
(21:49):
surely will insill a bit of confidence in them.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Well, let's hope. So so they're nine points now outside
the top six with nine games to go. Gian Calotaliana
said after the game believes they can make the top six,
and mathematically he's right, but it would be a huge
turnaround in form and fortunes if they were to somehow
climb out of this, because it has been really, really
(22:13):
challenging for them in recent times. They've only won one
of their last eight matches, They've only scored five goals
in those eight games. They've just suffered one of the
worst defeats in club history against their fiercest rivals. They've
got Melbourne City coming on Friday night. Then they've got
to travel to Western United and to Sydney FC, so
(22:35):
by the time we even get to April, it might
be beyond reach. But I will say this a huge,
huge kudos to the members of Yellow Fever who traveled
to the game. They were there in big numbers again
and most of them stayed right till the end. And
I tweeted this out last night. It's not the time
to abandon your team. There's a lot of anger, a
(22:57):
lot of irritation, a lot of frustration, a lot of
chat about the Phoenix, about the club, about the coach
about the philosophy all that stuff. But fandom is a
roller coaster. I mean, if anybody knows that it's Phoenix fans,
you can't jump off just when things get tough. You
have to stay on.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Yeah, you're absolutely right, Pinney. I felt goosebumps when you
were saying that. I think even if the Phoenix falls
short on this playoff run, they need to just pick
themselves up and get a few wins or draws under
their belts, score a couple of goals, you know, just
(23:38):
just keep those fans on. And I doubt the Yellow
Fever fans they're the most loyal you'll ever find. They
were there in full force in Auckland on Saturday and yeah,
no doubt they'll stick with their team. But I just
hope that the boys on the park can give them
something in return.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Yep, I hope so so well said very well said.
So the Phoenix up against Melbourne, short turn around for
them Friday night, Sky Stadium and then Auckland FC are
back at home for a top of the table clash
against Adelaide United. That game kicks off at five o'clock
on Saturday. Afternoon Football Fever with Jason Faine and Bonnie Jensen.
So no game for the Wellington Phoenix women this weekend
(24:17):
because there is an international break and during that break
the football Ferns are in action a couple of games
against Costa Rica. The first of them was yesterday. They've
got another one on Wednesday. Now. By a catastrophic clash
of timings, this game kicked off just as I was
starting a radio show yesterday, the first of these games
in San Jose. I know that you had your eyes
(24:39):
on it, though, so I'm going to defer to your
opinions and your expertise on this. Tell us about the game,
tell us about the way that Michael Maine set them up.
What stood out for you?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Yeah, well, Piney, it was a bit of a windy day,
it looked in San Jose. The conditions weren't great. It
kind of looked like a local, local perch and local stadium. However,
you could hear the fans through the TV, which was
which was great one all draw. It was their first
game and what seven months since the Olympics, so a
(25:11):
lot of speculation as to how they would shape up.
Michael Maine, interim coach, did instill a new system. He
went for three at the back, Essen and Goal Vickison,
and then four across the midfield in near Page Riley,
Mickey Foster, Annalie Longo and Hannah Blake and then Fraser
(25:32):
Macy Fraser just sitting in front, and then Katie Kitching
and Kelly Brown at the top. So it was a
new shape. But they looked alright, a very young squad.
Obviously Grace Jarlay and Millie Cleek were both ruled out,
but overall I thought there are a lot of positives
that they could could take from this game. They you know,
(25:55):
kind of dominated the position to some extent, had ten
shots on goal, which is super unusual for this side,
and a lot of individual performances. Yeah, showed real great promise.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
India Page Riley's goal, I saw that. I've seen that
in the highlights that I've watched. It's a world It's
a great goal.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Yeah. It was a great goal and probably came at
the right time. You know, you don't want to be
down going into the sheds, and they kind of answered back.
The goal they conceded was one where Michael Maine wants
to as an area of improvement in the transition, you know,
not being caught out or two stretched, so just a
turnover at the halfway point, and yeah, the football fans
(26:35):
at the bat got a bit caught out. So nice
for India page Riley to kind of turn around and
answer with that kind of individual brilliance. I think, you know,
as I mentioned before, they did look a lot better attacking.
And that's even so with the likes of Grace Jarlay
and Millie Kleek, who could have possibly started had they
been fit, you know, done all right, So I think
(26:59):
that's that's the biggest thing for the football Ferns is
they need to be scoring more goals and they know
that we all know that we need them to be
doing that. And this new system that Michael Mayne kind
of implemented yesterday showed that's kind of the way they're tracking.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
So quite where that Jackie Han didn't start the game,
I mean, Kelly Brown, is that a you know, yes,
she's a promising player, but she's playing for Perth Glory
on debut. Why didn't Jackie hand start the game?
Speaker 2 (27:28):
I thought this as well, and I'm actually you know
who my favorite team is in the world. It's the
US women's national team. Coach by em Hayes planning, and
I'm actually kind of comparing the two sides at the moment.
They're quite incomparable. But you know, during this first international
window of the year, and I think Michael Mayne is
using this opportunity like Emma Hayes is with the United
(27:50):
States team to see new players. He knows what Jackie
Han can do. It's probably the reason he didn't take c. J. Bott,
Rebecca Stott or Katie Bowen to this international. He knows
what all those players are capable of. He's seen Jackie Han,
Kelly Brown he hasn't seen in this national setup and
and that's why she obviously got the start. He wanted
(28:10):
to give her the opportunity and perhaps, you know, Michael
mains right and doing that as much as we would
like to see Jackie probably growing confidence and grow into
that role now without you know, the likes of Hannah Wilkinson. There,
there's a long way till the next World Cup, in
the next Pinnacle event, so why not see new faces
(28:30):
And that's clearly what he's trying to do. He obviously
brought as well Maniah Elliott from the Wellington Phoenix and
Maya Hahn who plays over in Germany, they also came
on for their debut.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
So I'd quite like to see Emma Pinenberg in that
in that case, because we haven't. I don't think we've
seen her. I don't think she's stay booed in a
football fern shirt. I might be wrong. She certainly hasn't
played very often. She didn't get on the field, did she.
So she's one I would like to see. And we
don't know about Jarlay and Clegg in terms of their
fitness for the second game.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Yeah, no, I haven't heard about their fitness, but you're right,
I would like to see Emma Pinenberger as well. And
I think that's what Michael Mayn will do this again,
comparing to the US team. I just watched their second
game this morning in this international window, and the she
Believes Cup. She Believes Cup against Australia, and Emma Hay
has put a full new starting eleven out there, So
I wonder if Michael Mayn will potentially follow suit, and
(29:22):
you know, we might see the likes of Mackenzie Barry
come in and start in the back there, or maybe
someone like Maya Hahn and Macey Fraser who are similar
creative players. Might swap out. Maybe maybe Brianna Edwards will
get a shot and goal. So yeah, that's what I
would like to see because it's clear Michael Mayn wants
(29:42):
to give new players an opportunity, so why not change
it up for the second match.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
So we're thirty second in the world, Costa Rica are
forty third. I know, you know rankings only count for
so much, but we should be getting results against Costa Rica.
Shouldn't we won? All is? Okay? Yep? We fell behind
and got an equalizer, couldn't find a winner ten shots.
As you say, we should expect New Zealand to win
games like this, or at least have an expectation that
(30:08):
they'll come close to winning games like this.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Shouldn't we We should? But I didn't don't know if
that's harsh. I thought Costa Rica would come out and
probably put three past us, especially with this young side
and that Michael Maine took over there. I base that off.
They played the US again. I mentioned this will be
the last time I mentioned the US. They played them
(30:32):
last year and they drew with the United States and
there I think it was before the Olympics pre Olympic
match again. Then the US went on to beat them
three nil. But I Costa Rica are a great football
nation and I didn't think we would compete with them
as well as we did, especially on the stats front.
We owned more of the position and we still managed
(30:54):
to get ten shots off one goal. So I was
really really impressed with the Ferns and the way they
executed themselves.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
What about Macy Fraser, you mentioned it briefly before played
eighty minutes. How did she look?
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Yeah, she looks good considering she hasn't played a game
of or that we you know, professional football, or you know,
beyond a preseason match since the Olympics, since she came
off and you know, she didn't go back to Utah
after the Olympics, the Utah Royals and the NWSL. She's
gone back there now for the preseason, but she hasn't
(31:27):
played since the Olympics. And I thought she looked really
good out there, and she looked like she was having
a bit more fun, and she was passionate in the
game and she was contesting tackles. Obviously, looks great on
the ball, and maybe this new coaching structure of Michael
Maine is able to bring out the best in Macy
and I think that's so important because I mean, we
(31:49):
speak all the time about how talented this player is
and I just hope, yeah, whoever is in that role
as head coach, can you know, find ways to optimize
her talent.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
All right, So game two between the two teams, same
venue I think, is on Wednesday at two o'clock New
Zealand time. I will be able to watch this one,
so I'll be much better informed. But yeah, let's hope
for a similar performance perhaps and maybe even a win
for New Zealand over Costa Rica when they meet on
Wednesday at two o'clock. As I say, no game for
(32:22):
the Wellington Phoenix women, but they are in action this
coming weekend. I'm just thinking, Actually, it doesn't give the
Phoenix players and the football funds a heck of a
lot of time to get back and get over any
jet lag they might have. But they're going to have
to because they play on Sunday against Adelaide United at
pottido A Park. And as mentioned on the podcast numerous times,
March is massive for the Wellington Phoenix Women. Four of
their five games are at home. We know how good
(32:44):
they are at home. Adelaide United Western Sydney Central Coast
and Melbourne City all come to Pottydoor Park. In the
middle of all of that, Wellington will go away to
play Sydney FC. Just so pivotal that they get a
lot of points in March if they are to make
a run for them for the top six. Okay, Bonnie
well having survived derby number three where I was gonna say,
(33:07):
it all sort of calms down a little bit, but
it doesn't really does it. Wellington Phoenix Men Friday night,
Auckland FC Saturday afternoon, Wellington Phoenix Women Sunday afternoon, and
the football ferns and amongst all of that. So it's
it's ramping up if anything.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Yeah, it is piney and I just want to say,
you know, for t KIWI fans get out there and
you know, obviously support all three teams playing in the
A League as they kind of go on this home stretch.
Obviously it's important for the playoff runs, but it's also
important for all the team's revenue and getting ticket sales.
If you were arming and roning about this Auckland FC
(33:44):
game in the weekend as well. It is a top
of the table clash. Plus rumor has it. They're going
to have a bit of a carnival fair circus type
situation going on with a Fairis wheel, a fifteen meter
ferris wheel.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
Well, if that's not going to convert those who are
sitting on the fence, then nothing will football on the
field and a fairest wheel off to one side. A
fairest wheel. I can't remember the last time I was
on one of those.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
Yeah, I know it's actually insane that I just don't
know what more this club are going to do, but
bring it.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
On, Bring it on, indeed, and we'll have a fresh
episode of Football Fever for you next Monday. This is
Football Fever.
Football Fever with News Talks MB's voice of Football, Jason
Pine and Bonnie Jensen. Hello that welcome into the start
of a new week and to a fresh episode of
Football Fever, where we discuss all things to do with
New Zealand football, the Wellington Phoenix, or the Left c
men's and women's international games and anything else that drops
into our football consciousness. We being me Jason Pine and
(00:26):
you Bonnie Jensen. Get a Bonnie.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Yoder Piney, how are you good?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Thanks? What an occasion at go Media on Saturday? Can
we talk about the occasion first before we get to
what happens between the White Lions twenty seven thousand and
nine turning up there on Saturday a new regular season
record for a club game here in New Zealand's beautiful day.
(00:51):
Crowd absolutely loved it, and probably mainly because it was
six to one on the field, but what an occasion
to be a part of yet again, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
It's just absolutely crazy and hearing all of that back, Piny,
just goosebumps come back to me. It was incredible. I
was lucky enough to not be working this time and
just soak it up and enjoy it as a fan,
And yeah, what a spectacle it was, you know, and
obviously the match was great because there are a lot
of goals.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Yeah, a lot of goals to enjoy. And I think
probably because of the size of the crowd a lot
of people went for the first time on the weekend.
You know, there've been crowds a sort of fourteen fifteen thousand,
so I know they have had a couple of salouts,
but I'm sure there were you know, a few thousand
there on the weekend who had never been before. Imagine
if that was your first game, you might you've probably
you think is it like this every week? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Exactly. A few of my family members actually went for
the first time and they were just saying, wow, what
an occasion. You know, you don't get sporting events like
this very often in New Zealand. And you know, I
think with the Super Rugby Pacific that's back now, the
Warriors will be starting up soon. Auckland f C really
set a standard of what sporting occasions should be like
(02:03):
in New Zealand. And that doesn't take away from the
Phoenix and what they've done down at their club in Wellington,
you know, over the past decade or more. But you know,
they just know how to put on a show. Auckland
nefcy on and off the field, and I think they
should be really proud of how they hosted that third
third Derby.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
And I think you also have to give huge kudos
to Auckland's fans and in particular the port. They are
the act of support. They lead the way as far
as being raucous and boisterous and completely one hundred percent committed,
standing for the whole game, chanting, singing, you know, hurling, abuse,
all that sort of stuff, and I think everybody else
(02:43):
takes their lead. They arrive and even if they're not
sitting in the port, even if they're somewhere else, they go, oh, okay,
so that's what we do here. We actually can't just
sit here and watch the game. We have to involve
ourselves in it.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yeah, and it's really easy to involve yourself in it.
You know, I'm speaking personally. You know, I'm from Wellington,
I grew up in Wellington. I'm meant to be a
neutral supporter, and I am, you know, as someone who
works in this industry, but it's so easy to kind
of fall in love with how these fans go about
it and their chants and their culture. You know, it
was awesome. I was sitting on the other side of
(03:17):
the stand but looking down at the port and they
had opened up that second tier, that second level on
the south stand and just jam patch. You know, it
was the place to be on Saturday afternoon down in
the port.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
All right, we've held off talking about the football for
long enough. Let's talk about the football. Utter demolition job
by Auckland FC. I don't think anybody really saw this coming.
I'll hold my hand up totally high and say I
did not see this coming at all. In fact, I've
picked a Wellington Phoenix win by a goal to nil.
If I'd been asked for a second choice, I would
have said, okay, a similar margin in favor of Auckland FC.
(03:52):
I thought this was going to be a cagey encounter
where one goal would separate the two sides. But well,
and actually it looked like that for half an hour.
It was nil all after thirty minutes, then Nat Mdino
with a couple of goals in quick succession, Logan Rogerson
scoring before halftime. All of a sudden, it's three nil
and the game has really, to all intents and purpos
has been taken away from Wellington. But then Luke brook
(04:14):
Smith came on at halftime scored three to one, youngest
ever Phoenix goal scorer. More on him in a moment.
But then Nadal Madona scored his third, Auckland's fourth, Logan
Rogerson another goal. Jesse randall right at the end six
to one? Did anybody right next to you? I think
you said to me, didn't you? On the podcast last
(04:34):
week you thought it might be like a what were
we talking about Arsenal and Tottenham, the two women's teams,
and it was a five nil and you said you
predicted something similar, so you had.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
It bang on Piney. You asked who predicted a game
like this? And I ain't it. I did have it
bang on. We asked Michael Burgess as well, who's a
senior football writer for the New Zealand Herald. He also
predicted a KG affair like yourself. But I had it right.
I picked a high score game in favor of Auckland FS,
and I'm pretty proud of that. I think I think
they're just too good, you know, the Phoenix. I find
(05:07):
it so hard to criticize them at the moment because
there's so much stuff they could be doing, but they're
just so young, so in experience, and then their experienced players,
you know, returning from from long term injuries. I didn't
expect it to necessarily be six to one, but yeah,
I wasn't surprised when Auckland made the statement they did.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
The only I think the only reason was a couple
of reasons. I was reticent about it about, you know,
agreeing with you. Look, if it had been a normal
one v ten then yeah, that's different. But Darby's, as
we've said often, you know, are one off occasions. The
other part was that Auckland FC haven't really torn anybody
apart this season. They've won a lot of games, but
they haven't won a lot of games by a lot
(05:50):
of goals. Now they have. They absolutely took Wellington to
the Cleaners twenty four shots to the Phoenixes eleven. Now, Bonnie,
only eight of Auckland FC shots were on tart had
six of them went in.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
This is an example of how they've learned their lessons.
You know, at the start of the season, not even
that long ago, Piney, we were talking about how we're
a little bit concerned by the lack of goals they're scoring.
It's also quite ironic how many times we mentioned on
this podcast how we're not too sure about natea Madena.
I think both of us can take that back. I
feel really bad about that, but I think the thing
(06:24):
is is, you know, as you say, Piney, anything can
happen in a derby match, and it form does go
out the window. But it showed that one side showed
up for the match and the other didn't. And regardless
of how the Phoenix season has gone so far, I
don't think they showed up at all.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I think they had a couple of small periods, and
they were small periods across the ninety minutes. I think
the first five to ten minutes they were probably as
proactive and as you know, on the front foot as
they have been at the start of a game all season,
because they've been very passive from the start in many games.
You know, they there was a very early chance from
(07:05):
a free kick that Paulson tipped over from a Shiga.
The second period was the period straight after halftime, and
they'd injected Alex Ruffer, that injected Luke brook Smith and
also Nathan Walker, so clearly actually something they're three kneeled down,
and I think when Luke brook Smith scored and it
was three to one, there was just a period there
where Auckland looked a bit shaky. But apart from that,
(07:26):
you know, Auckland completely dominated the game. You're right about Moreno,
I mean, the the guy has just become this cult hero.
Do you know, though, that Logan Rogerson is claiming Moreno's
second goal, he thinks Logan Rogerson thinks he's got a
hat trick. I think the official word is still that
Nada Moreno has, but Modano's second one that he fires
(07:48):
through a crowd of bodies, it does actually hit Rogerson
on his hip and goes in. He's claiming it. Rogerson
reckons he's got the hat trick.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
In the match ball oh classic. I actually missed that.
I just Nada's first and second goal were almost like
a carbon copy of each other, that kind of side
foot strike that he put into the back of the net.
But that that is interesting, And you know, I kind
of thought as well. I felt a bit bad for
someone like Liam Gillian who had done so well and
(08:17):
impressed for so long. But you can't pull Logan Rogerson off.
You can't pull Nadar off when they're scoring machines right now,
saying with Max Mutter and Gmo My.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
It's funny with my, isn't it. If you said at
the start of the game, maka Auckland will get six today,
you were thought, ok, well, how many is my gonna get?
Didn't get any, Marta didn't get any. What about Logan
Rogerson's second goal though, what a goal that is.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Remind me Piney there were so many got it? Wow?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
The long shot from outside the area?
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Ah, yes, that's right, Yeah, yeah, unreal. He was good.
Logan Rogerson has really impressed me. I remembered thinking back
at the start of the season how he probably wasn't
going to keep that starting spot. But he's Yeah, he's hustled,
hustled away for that and he's really really, really good defensively,
I think as well tracks back with his player. But yeah,
to fire shots away, like you say, like that one
(09:09):
is what you need from Ford.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
I think you say. I think what you say is
absolutely right in terms. That's the most competitive part of
the squad I think is those attacking players who support
Gizmo Mai. I think my players every week, he's the
one who's going to play every week, and he deserves
to as well, because he has been tremendous, But it's
those positions in and around him where there is real competition.
And you mentioned Liam Gilly and he played almost, you know,
(09:35):
every single game to start the season. But I actually
can't remember the last time that we saw Liam Gillian
out there. I'm just is she going to check my statusy?
He hasn't played the last five games.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
No. Yeah, I think as a real shame for him,
and I would like to see him get another run
because he was obviously he was obviously a great player,
just hadn't found the back of the neck yet and
he's kind of been punished for that, but I think
equally that was the way the whole team was playing
back at the start of the season when Liam couldn't
find the back of the net. So I would love
(10:07):
to see him get a run now when they're starting
to gell a little bit more and see if maybe,
you know, it opens something up for him. Obviously, we
saw Jesse Randall as well get his first goal on
the weekend. He's another one, you know, another young player
that's that's impressing and equally contending for one of those
forward spots.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Yeah, and you know Marley Francois is there as well
at the moment. So yeah, it is crowded. Not everybody
can play. But if you ask Steve Coriker, he'll be like, well,
that's exactly what I want. I want, you know, competition
for places. There's so much so that he didn't even
have to start. Louis Vastrata, one of the you know,
one of, if not the standout player for Auckland FC
(10:47):
this season, suspended for the game against Western United last
weekends through yellow cart accumulation. I just assumed that he
would come back into the side, that he's the type
of player who actually it doesn't matter. They say you
shouldn't change winning team, but it's Louis via Strata, so
he plays. Clearly that's not the case.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Well, your piney. We asked Steve Coker that the day
before in the pre match press conference. I remember asking,
you know, you are playing the tenth the tenth side
in the A League. Is this an opportunity to kind
of take your foot off the gas and maybe play,
you know, rotate the team a little bit, And he said, no, no,
we want to play our strongest team. We asked about
(11:24):
Louis va Strata and he was ready and fit, so
it was interesting that he didn't start him. And I
actually thought he was on the field for the first
thirty minutes or so until I realized. But I mean, yeah,
it's proving the incredible depth that they've got.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
We had Steve Coracker on the radio yesterday the day
after the game, and I said to him, look, if
you're not changing a winning team after winning two nil,
then surely you can't change your winning team that's won
six to one. You can't bring the Strata back in
if you use the same rationale. But he said something
like a week's a long time in football or something
like that. So look, I think louisvis Strata's two good
a player to leave out he you're starting eleven for
(12:01):
too long. Even when he came on, I mean, he's
basically dispossessed. I think it was Tim Pain for Logan
Rogerson's second goal. He just does what he does, mops up,
gets the ball, gives it to one of his mates
and sets them off in forward motion. So I mean,
I'm not picking the team, but if I was, I
think i'd demonstrate her in there. But Steve Corickan might
(12:23):
have might have other ideas. So Adelaide lost to Western
United yesterday, So Auckland FC and now eight points clear
with nine games to go. If they beat Adelaide on Saturday,
and given the way they're playing and how mediocre, if
we're honest Adelaide were yesterday and losing to Western United,
(12:43):
they will be eleven points clear. Surely they can't be
caught with only eight games to go.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Yeah, that's actually crazy. I think they're winning it a poney.
I actually think they're going all the way, which is
a very very real possibility. And Auckland fans, New Zealand
Football fans probably sadly sorry, Wellington Phoenix fans, everyone's going
to prepare for this because it's coming.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
I think they'll win the regular season. That seems now
to be mathematically the most likely outcome, especially if they
beat Adelaide on the weekend. If Adelaide were to win,
they close the gap up to five points. That's a
different conversation, but you know, hypothetically speaking, if they were
to be eleven points clear of they games to go,
they're probably going to finish top. Then we reached the
final series and by finishing top or in the top two,
(13:28):
they avoid the first round of finals, the three four,
five six knockout games, home and away semi final, and
then a home final. I think if they were to
host the final, they would be extremely difficult to beat
at home.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I forgot there as well that they do play a
home and away semi and that really plays the advantage
of Auckland FC. Not that it probably would have mattered
anyway because they are going to finish top likely and
host that regardless. But that's the thing. They're so so
hard beat at home. I mean only Western United were
the ones to do it, and quite significantly, but they
(14:05):
learned from that and I think they've just shown they
can win in big moments, which will come be extremely
handy when it comes to playoff football.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Nanto Pineker interesting incident involving him very early in the game,
only only the second minute, when he's come across and
he has absolutely poleaxed Corbyn Piper on the edge of
the Auckland FC penalty area. Free kick correctly given, yellow
card given out. I've seen a couple of angles of
this in the time since. I actually think Nando Pineck
(14:35):
is very very lucky, not to get a red card
for that challenge.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Was it a foul on Corbyn Piper one hundred percent? Yeah,
but it went the other way.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
No, no, no, when he in Phoenix is why they
got the free kick? Yeah yeah no so so Pinaker
has has just collected him, cut him in half. So
free kick to Wellington and only a yellow card. John
Collotaliana on the sideline is going spare and like I say,
I saw some angles yesterday which I didn't see during
the broadcast, and he has absolutely collected him right up
(15:07):
by his waist with his foot raised. He's actually quite
lucky not to get a red card.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
I'm gonna have to go back and watch that party.
I remember the incident happening, but I don't remember it
being a big deal. I remember we were arguing in
the box because a lot of us thought, you know,
Logan Rogerson's first goal was offside.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Yeah, yeah, that's that is another talking point. And it
looked offside from the from the angles we saw on TV. Again,
var sees things that we don't see, and they drew
the lines on the pitch and it looked to me
as though Lucas Kelly Heeled's heel was keeping him on
side or something like that. But yeah, it's a different story,
isn't it. If we're letting go on at two nil
down not three nil, come back and score that goal
(15:50):
after the break and it's two one, we might be
having a slightly different conversation. I still think Awklandly FC
would have won the game, but yeah, there was a
There are a couple of moments, the other one with
Pinaket because he got the yellow card, and then in
the same I think, yeah it was. It was in
the first half, Costa Barbarusis has kind of got a
bit of space around halfway and he's looking to set
off and Pindeker looks to put an arm across him
and hold him back. Now, no free kick given, so
(16:14):
you know, no yellow car but that on another day
could have been a second yellow. So I think Nando's
been lucky a couple of times.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Yeah, they didn't really go to var much for a
memory and that at all, did they. I remember as
well that Max muttergo right at the start that got
ruled out for a push in the back. There were
quite a few controversial moments.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Yeah, that was a push in the back and the
referee grabbed that one didn't need var But yeah, look,
you can say as much as you like about these incidents,
it wouldn't have affected the result. Auckland FC were by
far the better side. Let's talk a little bit about
Wellington Phoenix though, because for them now this is a
real test of their character. How much will this affect them?
Speaker 2 (16:58):
It will affect them a lot, you know. I felt
like I could, I could feel the pain, especially for
those senior players like Tim Payne, who you know, made
a silly ara to result in in Logan Rogerson's second goal.
Obviously Alex Ruffe didn't start and he would have been
gutted about that, and I just feel like it's not
(17:20):
what they needed. They probably didn't expect to win at
all on the weekend, but they would have expected a
much tighter match. Obviously didn't play that way. And now
they see their big little brothers up in Auckland going
on to lightly win the league do what they haven't
been able to do, and how long, what you know,
do something that they came so close to achieving last season,
(17:44):
And yeah, it must it must really hurt, and I
think they're going to have to be trying to pull
something out for the next bit of the season.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I think they now have to take their eyes of
Auckland FC, don't they. They don't have to play them again,
they have to somehow, and you're right it would be
hard looking up the road and seeing what's happening at
Auckland f C. But they have to try and just
ignore that. They can't do anything about what Auckland f
C are doing. Now all they can focus on is themselves.
You know. They We've talked about this a lot. They've
been a good defensive side all season. They were the
(18:14):
third best going into the weekend and then somehow managed
to ship six goals and some of the goals I
mean Logan Rogerson's goal might have been a touch of
our side about it. But he is completely unchallenged at
the far post from you know, and I know Francis
Devreese has got us one and with his do you
whip him with his left or might have not even
(18:35):
been Francis Devreese. But you know, Wellington Phoenix know that
Auckland f C put crosses in. How on earth they've
left wrote Logan Rogerson free at the far post is
completely beyond me. The you know, the sixth goal by
then you know they're just waiting for the game to
end so they can get off the grass. But Auckland
to see a toying with them in the penalty area,
(18:57):
you know, my and Elliott and then Randall's in the
back of the net. The mistake. I think you can
forgive the mistake by Luke brook Smith because he's a
sixteen year old kid who's been sent on to try
and make a difference in a game when those who
are far older and far more experience than him haven't
been able to. He's got a goal and then no
(19:17):
doubt adrenaline is pumping through his veins. He's just trying
to get on the ball, do whatever he can. He's
back defending. He's played a ill advised pass across his
own penalty area. We're told from the moment we start
playing football, don't play the ball across your own penalty area.
And it's resulted in a goal. But I don't think
you can say you can't point the finger at Luke
brook Smith. He was to me the one positive in
(19:38):
the Phoenix performance.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I thought, yeah, I thought he was great coming off
the bench and it's promise for the Wellington Phoenix. But
speaking of the other goals that they just conceded, you
know that back post Logan Rogerson one. It just shows
their inexperience. Equally, though, I feel like you do have
to put a little bit of blame or question onto
Chief spoke about how they were really prepared for the
(20:02):
set pieces in the corners from Auckland deft C and
that's what they worked hard on in training, and clearly
maybe they focused too much on that, I'm not sure,
but just silly eras once again where the Phoenix could
help themselves a bit better and keep themselves in matches.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
I quite like Chico Geraldes as well, from what I
saw from him playing the full ninety minutes the new
Portuguese player. I think he showed a few touches of
class and enough to suggest that he'll add a bit
of spark. Good to see rufer On. I would have
started Alec rufer He told us during the week that
he had sixty minutes in him, So why they didn't
start him, I don't know. You start him and get
your sixty minutes out of him, and then you hope
(20:42):
that derby adrenaline kicks and he gets seventy seventy five minutes.
They didn't bring him on until halftime, and by that
stage they are three nled down. Good to see Marco
Rohas back out there as well. So look, if they
can somehow get Rufer, Giraldez, Barbarusis Rojas all fit, throw
a little bit of Luke brook Smith and Nathan Walker
into there, I would love to see them, you know,
(21:06):
rise from this, but they have to really change the
way they play, because, as I've said, they've been so passive,
they've been so defensive. It would take a change in
philosophy from Chiefee to bring in all of those players
together and to get on the front foot in matches,
and I just don't know whether he will do it.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Yeah. Well, I think that was the thing over the
weekend is that the Phoenix actually did have some promising
attacking moments, which I've really lacked recently. So yeah, obviously
you've got to put that down to Costa and Cheeko
this guy. I'd like to see them play, probably a
team more at their level and see how they go.
Having Rufer back, having row hassback, as you say, Pineers
(21:49):
surely will insill a bit of confidence in them.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Well, let's hope. So so they're nine points now outside
the top six with nine games to go. Gian Calotaliana
said after the game believes they can make the top six,
and mathematically he's right, but it would be a huge
turnaround in form and fortunes if they were to somehow
climb out of this, because it has been really, really
(22:13):
challenging for them in recent times. They've only won one
of their last eight matches, They've only scored five goals
in those eight games. They've just suffered one of the
worst defeats in club history against their fiercest rivals. They've
got Melbourne City coming on Friday night. Then they've got
to travel to Western United and to Sydney FC, so
(22:35):
by the time we even get to April, it might
be beyond reach. But I will say this a huge,
huge kudos to the members of Yellow Fever who traveled
to the game. They were there in big numbers again
and most of them stayed right till the end. And
I tweeted this out last night. It's not the time
to abandon your team. There's a lot of anger, a
(22:57):
lot of irritation, a lot of frustration, a lot of
chat about the Phoenix, about the club, about the coach
about the philosophy all that stuff. But fandom is a
roller coaster. I mean, if anybody knows that it's Phoenix fans,
you can't jump off just when things get tough. You
have to stay on.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Yeah, you're absolutely right, Pinney. I felt goosebumps when you
were saying that. I think even if the Phoenix falls
short on this playoff run, they need to just pick
themselves up and get a few wins or draws under
their belts, score a couple of goals, you know, just
(23:38):
just keep those fans on. And I doubt the Yellow
Fever fans they're the most loyal you'll ever find. They
were there in full force in Auckland on Saturday and yeah,
no doubt they'll stick with their team. But I just
hope that the boys on the park can give them
something in return.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Yep, I hope so so well said very well said.
So the Phoenix up against Melbourne, short turn around for
them Friday night, Sky Stadium and then Auckland FC are
back at home for a top of the table clash
against Adelaide United. That game kicks off at five o'clock
on Saturday. Afternoon Football Fever with Jason Faine and Bonnie Jensen.
So no game for the Wellington Phoenix women this weekend
(24:17):
because there is an international break and during that break
the football Ferns are in action a couple of games
against Costa Rica. The first of them was yesterday. They've
got another one on Wednesday. Now. By a catastrophic clash
of timings, this game kicked off just as I was
starting a radio show yesterday, the first of these games
in San Jose. I know that you had your eyes
(24:39):
on it, though, so I'm going to defer to your
opinions and your expertise on this. Tell us about the game,
tell us about the way that Michael Maine set them up.
What stood out for you?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Yeah, well, Piney, it was a bit of a windy day,
it looked in San Jose. The conditions weren't great. It
kind of looked like a local, local perch and local stadium. However,
you could hear the fans through the TV, which was
which was great one all draw. It was their first
game and what seven months since the Olympics, so a
(25:11):
lot of speculation as to how they would shape up.
Michael Maine, interim coach, did instill a new system. He
went for three at the back, Essen and Goal Vickison,
and then four across the midfield in near Page Riley,
Mickey Foster, Annalie Longo and Hannah Blake and then Fraser
(25:32):
Macy Fraser just sitting in front, and then Katie Kitching
and Kelly Brown at the top. So it was a
new shape. But they looked alright, a very young squad.
Obviously Grace Jarlay and Millie Cleek were both ruled out,
but overall I thought there are a lot of positives
that they could could take from this game. They you know,
(25:55):
kind of dominated the position to some extent, had ten
shots on goal, which is super unusual for this side,
and a lot of individual performances. Yeah, showed real great promise.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
India Page Riley's goal, I saw that. I've seen that
in the highlights that I've watched. It's a world It's
a great goal.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Yeah. It was a great goal and probably came at
the right time. You know, you don't want to be
down going into the sheds, and they kind of answered back.
The goal they conceded was one where Michael Maine wants
to as an area of improvement in the transition, you know,
not being caught out or two stretched, so just a
turnover at the halfway point, and yeah, the football fans
(26:35):
at the bat got a bit caught out. So nice
for India page Riley to kind of turn around and
answer with that kind of individual brilliance. I think, you know,
as I mentioned before, they did look a lot better attacking.
And that's even so with the likes of Grace Jarlay
and Millie Kleek, who could have possibly started had they
been fit, you know, done all right, So I think
(26:59):
that's that's the biggest thing for the football Ferns is
they need to be scoring more goals and they know
that we all know that we need them to be
doing that. And this new system that Michael Mayne kind
of implemented yesterday showed that's kind of the way they're tracking.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
So quite where that Jackie Han didn't start the game,
I mean, Kelly Brown, is that a you know, yes,
she's a promising player, but she's playing for Perth Glory
on debut. Why didn't Jackie hand start the game?
Speaker 2 (27:28):
I thought this as well, and I'm actually you know
who my favorite team is in the world. It's the
US women's national team. Coach by em Hayes planning, and
I'm actually kind of comparing the two sides at the moment.
They're quite incomparable. But you know, during this first international
window of the year, and I think Michael Mayne is
using this opportunity like Emma Hayes is with the United
(27:50):
States team to see new players. He knows what Jackie
Han can do. It's probably the reason he didn't take c. J. Bott,
Rebecca Stott or Katie Bowen to this international. He knows
what all those players are capable of. He's seen Jackie Han,
Kelly Brown he hasn't seen in this national setup and
and that's why she obviously got the start. He wanted
(28:10):
to give her the opportunity and perhaps, you know, Michael
mains right and doing that as much as we would
like to see Jackie probably growing confidence and grow into
that role now without you know, the likes of Hannah Wilkinson. There,
there's a long way till the next World Cup, in
the next Pinnacle event, so why not see new faces
(28:30):
And that's clearly what he's trying to do. He obviously
brought as well Maniah Elliott from the Wellington Phoenix and
Maya Hahn who plays over in Germany, they also came
on for their debut.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
So I'd quite like to see Emma Pinenberg in that
in that case, because we haven't. I don't think we've
seen her. I don't think she's stay booed in a
football fern shirt. I might be wrong. She certainly hasn't
played very often. She didn't get on the field, did she.
So she's one I would like to see. And we
don't know about Jarlay and Clegg in terms of their
fitness for the second game.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Yeah, no, I haven't heard about their fitness, but you're right,
I would like to see Emma Pinenberger as well. And
I think that's what Michael Mayn will do this again,
comparing to the US team. I just watched their second
game this morning in this international window, and the she
Believes Cup. She Believes Cup against Australia, and Emma Hay
has put a full new starting eleven out there, So
I wonder if Michael Mayn will potentially follow suit, and
(29:22):
you know, we might see the likes of Mackenzie Barry
come in and start in the back there, or maybe
someone like Maya Hahn and Macey Fraser who are similar
creative players. Might swap out. Maybe maybe Brianna Edwards will
get a shot and goal. So yeah, that's what I
would like to see because it's clear Michael Mayn wants
(29:42):
to give new players an opportunity, so why not change
it up for the second match.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
So we're thirty second in the world, Costa Rica are
forty third. I know, you know rankings only count for
so much, but we should be getting results against Costa Rica.
Shouldn't we won? All is? Okay? Yep? We fell behind
and got an equalizer, couldn't find a winner ten shots.
As you say, we should expect New Zealand to win
games like this, or at least have an expectation that
(30:08):
they'll come close to winning games like this.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Shouldn't we We should? But I didn't don't know if
that's harsh. I thought Costa Rica would come out and
probably put three past us, especially with this young side
and that Michael Maine took over there. I base that off.
They played the US again. I mentioned this will be
the last time I mentioned the US. They played them
(30:32):
last year and they drew with the United States and
there I think it was before the Olympics pre Olympic
match again. Then the US went on to beat them
three nil. But I Costa Rica are a great football
nation and I didn't think we would compete with them
as well as we did, especially on the stats front.
We owned more of the position and we still managed
(30:54):
to get ten shots off one goal. So I was
really really impressed with the Ferns and the way they
executed themselves.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
What about Macy Fraser, you mentioned it briefly before played
eighty minutes. How did she look?
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Yeah, she looks good considering she hasn't played a game
of or that we you know, professional football, or you know,
beyond a preseason match since the Olympics, since she came
off and you know, she didn't go back to Utah
after the Olympics, the Utah Royals and the NWSL. She's
gone back there now for the preseason, but she hasn't
(31:27):
played since the Olympics. And I thought she looked really
good out there, and she looked like she was having
a bit more fun, and she was passionate in the
game and she was contesting tackles. Obviously, looks great on
the ball, and maybe this new coaching structure of Michael
Maine is able to bring out the best in Macy
and I think that's so important because I mean, we
(31:49):
speak all the time about how talented this player is
and I just hope, yeah, whoever is in that role
as head coach, can you know, find ways to optimize
her talent.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
All right, So game two between the two teams, same
venue I think, is on Wednesday at two o'clock New
Zealand time. I will be able to watch this one,
so I'll be much better informed. But yeah, let's hope
for a similar performance perhaps and maybe even a win
for New Zealand over Costa Rica when they meet on
Wednesday at two o'clock. As I say, no game for
(32:22):
the Wellington Phoenix women, but they are in action this
coming weekend. I'm just thinking, Actually, it doesn't give the
Phoenix players and the football funds a heck of a
lot of time to get back and get over any
jet lag they might have. But they're going to have
to because they play on Sunday against Adelaide United at
pottido A Park. And as mentioned on the podcast numerous times,
March is massive for the Wellington Phoenix Women. Four of
their five games are at home. We know how good
(32:44):
they are at home. Adelaide United Western Sydney Central Coast
and Melbourne City all come to Pottydoor Park. In the
middle of all of that, Wellington will go away to
play Sydney FC. Just so pivotal that they get a
lot of points in March if they are to make
a run for them for the top six. Okay, Bonnie
well having survived derby number three where I was gonna say,
(33:07):
it all sort of calms down a little bit, but
it doesn't really does it. Wellington Phoenix Men Friday night,
Auckland FC Saturday afternoon, Wellington Phoenix Women Sunday afternoon, and
the football ferns and amongst all of that. So it's
it's ramping up if anything.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Yeah, it is piney and I just want to say,
you know, for t KIWI fans get out there and
you know, obviously support all three teams playing in the
A League as they kind of go on this home stretch.
Obviously it's important for the playoff runs, but it's also
important for all the team's revenue and getting ticket sales.
If you were arming and roning about this Auckland FC
(33:44):
game in the weekend as well. It is a top
of the table clash. Plus rumor has it. They're going
to have a bit of a carnival fair circus type
situation going on with a Fairis wheel, a fifteen meter
ferris wheel.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
Well, if that's not going to convert those who are
sitting on the fence, then nothing will football on the
field and a fairest wheel off to one side. A
fairest wheel. I can't remember the last time I was
on one of those.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
Yeah, I know it's actually insane that I just don't
know what more this club are going to do, but
bring it.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
On, Bring it on, indeed, and we'll have a fresh
episode of Football Fever for you next Monday. This is
Football Fever.
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