Italiano furious as Phoenix lose to Jets
- editor59343
- 8 minutes ago
- 3 min read
A disappointing third home defeat for the Wellington Phoenix eight rounds into the 2025-26 Isuzu A-League season.
The Phoenix have been beaten 3-1 by Newcastle Jets at Sky Stadium in Wellington after conceding three goals in eight minutes early in the second half.
The result leaves the Nix 11th on the A-League ladder, one point outside the top six.
LATEST HEADLINES:
Head coach Giancarlo Italiano said it’s unacceptable to lose 3-1 at home.
“You can make all the excuses you want, but we weren’t good enough in the crucial moments,” Italiano told media post-match.
“They had one big chance in the first half, Jaydo (Jayden Smith) made a top clearance. We had some big chances, should have been in front.
“We wanted to go a bit more of a mid-block at halftime, we pressed, got picked off in the first nine minutes and were 2-0 down and chasing our tails. We were very naive in defending.
“Once we got it back to 3-1, there was plenty of opportunity to get back into the game.”
Italiano says the result leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.
“If this group is going to do anything, they have to mature very quickly.
“We’re running out of games now, and that was a big three points for us, especially at home.
“We need to start getting our players back as well. Starters are very, very important, and that’ll help us in the long run. There are a lot of learnings from this game.”
Corban Piper, Xuan Loke and Jayden Smith came into the side. It was Piper’s first start of the season and 18-year-old Jayden Smith’s first of his career after playing just three minutes off the bench last season.
Piper made a near instant impact, drawing a good left-handed save from Newcastle goalkeeper James Delianov, who palmed the ball just out of reach of the oncoming Ifeanyi Eze in the sixth minute.
It was end-to-end for much of the first half but Delianov was the busier of the two ‘keepers.
He got his body behind a typically powerful shot from Carlo Armiento in the 10th minute and the Jets were able to scramble clear.
Newcastle striker Lachlan Rose made a couple of big blocks soon after to snuff out opportunities for Alex Rufer and CarloArmiento on the edge of the penalty area.
Rufer and Armiento combined in the 18th minute after the Nix captain drove forward from midfield and found the wingback, who stood up a cross to the back post. Rufer arrived to meet the cross but he was met by some resolute Jets defence.
Eze stung the hands of Delianov in the 21st minute with a left-footed shot but the ‘keeper was able to regather. Seconds later Smith produced a big block in the Wellington six yard box to deny substitute Eli Adams after Josh Oluwayemi had saved Newcastle’s initial shot.
Two minutes later Delianov made arguably his best save of the first half, at full stretch to keep out another forceful effort from Armiento.
The Jets goalkeeper was quick off his line in the 34th minute to deny Eze a chance on goal after he did well to dispossess Newcastle captain Kosta Grozos on the edge of the penalty area.
Piper had a gilt-edged opportunity to break the deadlock in the 42nd minute after being played through on goal by a defence-splitting pass from Ramy Najjarine. Unfortunately for Piper and the Phoenix he shot wide of the right-hand post.
The second half started off in much the same fashion with Delianov making another sharp save in the 48th minute, this time to keep out a back post volley from Loke.
It all unravelled for the Nix soon after.
The Jets took the lead in the 50th minute from a deflected shot from Eli Adams that wrong footed Oluwayemi and found its way into the back of the net.
Eze had an opportunity to draw Wellington level three minutes later when he rounded Delianov in the Newcastle penalty area but he was unable thread his shot past a couple of defenders.
Lachlan Rose doubled the Jets’ lead moments later when he beat Oluwayemi to the loose ball 30 odd yards from goal and finished into an empty net.
Clayton Taylor swept home Newcastle’s third from the penalty spot in the 57th minute after the Phoenix had coughed up possession in midfield.
The Phoenix continued to push for a second goal but were unable to find a way through the Jets, who held on for all three points.
They're back at Sky Stadium next Sunday to play Central Coast Mariners.