Wellington Phoenix are now just two points outside the Isuzu UTE A-League’s top six after they defeated 10-man Sydney FC 2-0 at Allianz Stadium.
Despite the deluge of rain across Sydney the pitch was in superb condition at Allianz Stadium as the venue hosted A-Leagues football for the first time since April 2025.
It was Wellington Phoenix who settled the better of the two sides; Sky Blues keeper Harrison Devenish-Meares forced into two early saves whilst Wellington Phoenix shot-stopper Eamonn McCarron produced a magnificent save from Tiago Quintal to keep the scores level.
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The deadlock was broken in the 29th minute though and it was the away side who took a deserved lead.
Presiding over a freekick some 10 yards outside the Sydney box, Phoenix wing back Carlo Armiento stepped up and whipped a left-footed effort towards goal which took a deflection off the wall which wrong-footing Devenish-Meares and settled into the the back of the net.
Now a goal down, the Sky Blues were a man down heading into half time as midfielder Rhys Youlley was shown a straight red card for scything down Phoenix midfielder Ramy Najjarine on a counter attack, with replays showing Youlley’s challenge was both high and reckless.
Wellington passed up a glorious chance to make it 2-0 early in the second half as Corban Piper opted to go it himself rather than feed in a teammate when the Nix had an overload in the Sydney box but it wasn’t long before then did get the second.
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Collecting the ball inside the Sydney area, captain Alex Rufer drove to the byline and clipped a delightful left-footed ball into the six yard box which was nodded home by defender Isaac Hughes to make it 2-0.
Now two down and a man down, Sydney FC looked to respond immediately and would have scored were it not for a brilliant goalline clearance from Nix defender Manjrekar James to deny substitute Corey Hollman.
Spanish striker Victor Campuzano rifled a low effort towards goal which forced young keeper McCarron into a smart save in the 82nd minute but that chance aside, the visitors were rarely troubled at Allianz Stadium.
The win is Wellington’s third in their last five matches and sees them climb up into eighth on the ladder while defeat for Sydney FC sees them miss out on the chance to go top of the ladder and they remain in second spot.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
Sydney FC boss Ufuk Talay fronted the media after his side were beaten 2-0 at Allianz Stadium.
Wellington Phoenix boss Giancarlo Italiano was full of praise for his side after they brushed aside Sydney FC in Round 13.
