Phoenix women have playoffs within sight
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The Wellington Phoenix women's team can go a long way to securing a place in the A-League finals for the first time on Friday night.
If the Phoenix beat Sydney FC at Leichhardt Oval they will all but clinch a top six finish with three matches to spare.
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Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman wasn’t aware they were on the verge of securing a finals berth when she spoke to media after training on Thursday.
“We can’t ignore that and they’ve put the work in to get to that point, but it’s not the end goal,” Priestman said.
“I don’t want us to rest on our laurels. We’re here to create that moment…but hopefully that is not the moment. We’re got more in the tank to push.
“Based on the players that I have in front of me, the club’s backing [and] the support that isn’t just the goal. We know we’ve got more in us than that.”
The Nix enter round 20 in third place on the ladder, six points behind leaders Melbourne City but with two games in hand and a superior goal difference.
It means the team are in control of their own destiny in the race for the premiership.
“I challenged the group going into this spell of getting better every game but also taking maximum points from what’s available. Every game we’ve gone into this season we’ve tried to do that.
“I don’t really talk about the table. We know what we’re here to do. Not just the outcome but also how we do it is really, really important because that will put us in good stead for what might come next.
“They’ll be a lot of talk around us and the table and every week is a big game, but every game this season has been a big game, let’s be real.
“We’re one game at a time and we have to go into this game ready to take three points and then we’ll focus on the really tight turnarounds between the next two after that.”
Wellington play their final four matches in 15 days, with a visit to Central Coast to follow on Wednesday before returning home for the team’s final regular season game at Porirua Park against Western Sydney on Sunday week.
“At this point we need the entire group. The bench, the whole squad and everybody is going to have to contribute over the next three games.
“I think it’s three games in nine or 10 days, that’s with travel so that’s really important in how I manage the squad based on where the games get to.
“It’s a bit like tournament football with a game every three days.
“Consistency is always important because…you’ve seen when we are consistent with line-ups we generally play better.
“What I’ve learnt in tight turnarounds is how you sprinkle that and when do you get players off.
“I also think on the road this season what I’ve learnt is we win across 90 minutes. A lot of wins on the road or taking points on the road have been late in games.
“We have to defend well and ultimately it’ll be the bench often that can go and do the business for us.”
The Phoenix spectacularly beat Sydney FC 7-0 in their last meeting at Porirua Park in December and Priestman believes the Sky Blues will be fired up for the rematch.
“I think they’re a much better team now. They look like they’re ticking a little bit more and in some ways they’ve got nothing to lose.
“When you play a bit more free and probably there are players playing for next season, it’s different mindset and we have to show up, bring what we bring and focus on us.
“I’m looking for us to improve on last week. I thought it was a pretty well-rounded performance from us, but I think we’d all agree we could have been more clinical last week and those things will catch you out, particularly on the road.
“I know that this group has another level, and I think we’ve shown spells in this season of that. I’m looking for that consistently now.”
The game will be played Friday night at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney 9pm (7pm AEDT).
