Phoenix

Wellington Phoenix have cemented fifth place in the men's A-League with a 2-1 home win over the Newcastle Jets.

We needed an extra player in that last line to stop those moments. However, Wellington defended resolutely to hold on for the win. "Even in my first season when we finished third we didn't get the opportunity to play a final here so I think it would be fantastic to get that opportunity this season." "We need to get the results for that to happen, but we're pushing as high as we can go and we'd love to have a home final. "We're a good squad, I think we're a top four squad and we can try to push for the top two. The hosts posted a 2-0 halftime lead thanks to goals to Callan Elliot and Oskar Zawada before held on in what was their first match in Wellington for six weeks.

Shea Connors finished a breakaway effort to cancel out Marisa van der Meer's first-half header in a 1-1 draw at Sky Stadium.

"We deserved to win that game. The point keeps Brisbane Roar in seventh, six points behind the finals places and needing an unlikely late rally to make the top four. The Phoenix have two matches in hand on the Jets and will travel to Newcastle in three weeks.

Callan Elliot scored on his return from suspension as the Phoenix survived a tense second half to claim a crucial win.

“We didn’t want to shut up shop that early, but I think in transition moments we were getting caught out. “We’re pushing as high as we can go and we’d love to have a home final. “The goal is to push as high as we possibly can go. But despite being out-shot 18-11 at home, the Phoenix managed to hold on to claim a valuable win in their first game in Wellington for six weeks. They brought on an extra centre-back in Josh Laws and switched to a back five in an attempt to see the game out. The reality is we’re a good squad, a top four squad and we’re going to push for the top two but we need the results for that to happen,” Talay said.

Oskar Zawada has fired his 11th goal of the A-League Men season as Wellington Phoenix beat Newcastle 2-1, firming up their bid for a home final.

The Japanese veteran, on his first start after a mid-season move, finished a 16-pass move by chipping Oli Sail to get Newcastle back in the contest. Two-up at the break, the Nix retreated to hold onto their lead rather than try to extend it. In first-half injury time, Wellington benefited from another slice of luck, awarded a contentious penalty after a VAR review.

Wellington Phoenix have been forced to share the spoils with Brisbane Roar, despite one of their best performances in the women's A-League.

Once again, we leave a little bit frustrated with the officiating. There are huge, huge positives." "I don't know what the referee saw there but if that's not a red card I don't know what is.

Oskar Zawada fired his 11th goal of the A-League Men season as Wellington Phoenix beat Newcastle 2-1, firming up their bid for a home final.

The Japanese veteran, on his first start after a mid-season move, finished a 16-pass move by chipping Oli Sail to get Newcastle back in the contest. Two-up at the break, the Nix retreated to hold onto their lead rather than try to extend it. In first-half injury time, Wellington benefited from another slice of luck, awarded a contentious penalty after a VAR review.