Played
December 9, 2012 2:30 PM EST
Westpac Stadium — Wellington
Referee:‬ K. Griffiths-Jones‎
Attendance:‬ 7375‎
 
90+2′ (PG) Jeremy Brockie
Sebastian Ryall 45+1′
 
Rhyan Grant 70′

A-League preview: Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC

Missing Del Piero but with Frank Farina on the touchline, the Sky Blues face a tough test in their trip to a Phoenix side in solid form

More On :  Sydney FC, Wellington Phoenix, Wellington Phoenix vs Sydney FC
Terry McFlynn - Sydney FC - Paul Ifill - Wellington Phoenix
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  PROBABLE LINEUP
WELLINGTON PHOENIX

Paston
Bertos, Durante, Sigmund, Lochhead
Muscay, Lia, Smith
Ifill, Huysegems, Brockie

SYDNEY FC

 Janjetovic
Grant, Bosschaart, Griffiths, Fabio
Abbas, Culina, McFlynn
Chianese, Lovrek, Yau
After observing from the stands last weekend, Frank Farina officially takes charge of his first game at the helm of last-placed Sydney FC.

And the former Socceroos boss could not have asked for a tougher challenge first-up than a visit to in-form Wellington.

The Sky Blues have lost their last five matches against the Phoenix and have not won at Westpac Stadium since January 2008.

At least the Sky Blues head into the clash having snapped a four-game losing streak and after keeping a rare clean sheet in the 0-0 draw with Melbourne Heart last Sunday.

But they will be without star striker Alessandro Del Piero due to a hamstring strain, with Kruno Lovrek or Mitch Mallia are likely to earn a spot in attack in the Italian's absence.

Socceroos midfielder Jason Culina will be pushing for a starting berth after two appearances off the bench, while defender Sebastian Ryall is available following a one-game ban.

The Phoenix have surged up to fifth spot on the back of a three-game unbeaten run.

They will also have plenty of confidence after defeating Sydney 2-0 back in the opening round of the season.

There are no new major injury worries for Phoenix boss Ricki Herbert, who is likely to stick with the same squad that edged out the Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 last Sunday.

The key for the hosts might be finding some goal-scoring support for Jeremy Brockie.

The former Newcastle Jets, Sydney FC and North Queensland attacker has been in career-best form this campaign.

He is finally starting to add goals to his exciting attacking play, scoring exactly half of his side's tally for the season.

But it will be much more difficult for opposition sides if they have a number of threats they need to stop rather than just Brockie.

Meanwhile, the last time the Sky Blues were without 2006 World Cup winner Del Piero they were on the end of a 7-2 hammering at the hands of Central Coast.

While the same result should not be expected in this match, Sydney FC must find a way to cope without their main man.

This is where senior players like Terry McFlynn, Pascal Bosschaart, Jason Culina and Adam Griffiths will need to step up to carry the load and guide the youngsters in the windy and daunting conditions in Wellington.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Wellington Phoenix 0-3 Sydney FC
    19.36 %
  • Wellington Phoenix 0-2 Sydney FC
    12.9 %
  • Wellington Phoenix 0-1 Sydney FC
    12.9 %
Head to Head
Australia - A-League ‎(AUS1)‎ 19/01/2013 Sydney FC 7 - Wellington Phoenix 1
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Australia - A-League ‎(AUS1)‎ 09/12/2012 Wellington Phoenix 1 - Sydney FC 2
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Australia - A-League ‎(AUS1)‎ 06/10/2012 Wellington Phoenix 2 - Sydney FC 0
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Australia - A-League ‎(AUS1)‎ 30/03/2012 Wellington Phoenix 3 - Sydney FC 2
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Australia - A-League ‎(AUS1)‎ 25/02/2012 Sydney FC 0 - Wellington Phoenix 1
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Last Five Matches
Wellington Phoenix
31/03/2013Wellington Phoenix 2 - Melbourne Victory 3AUS1
17/03/2013Perth Glory 1 - Wellington Phoenix 2AUS1
10/03/2013Western Sydney Wanderers 2 - Wellington Phoenix 1AUS1
03/03/2013Wellington Phoenix 1 - Melbourne Heart 0AUS1
27/02/2013Wellington Phoenix 1 - Newcastle Jets 2AUS1
Sydney FC
28/03/2013Brisbane Roar 3 - Sydney FC 1AUS1
23/03/2013Western Sydney Wanderers 1 - Sydney FC 1AUS1
16/03/2013Sydney FC 1 - Melbourne Victory 1AUS1
09/03/2013Sydney FC 2 - Central Coast Mariners 0AUS1
02/03/2013Perth Glory 2 - Sydney FC 1AUS1
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1Mark PastonGoalkeeper
2Emmanuel MuscatDefender
3Tony LochheadDefender
18Ben SigmundDefender
22Andrew DuranteDefender
7Leo BertosMidfielder
-Jeremy BrockieStriker
17Vince LiaMidfielder
-Alexander SmithStriker
8Paul IfillMidfielder
11Stein HuysegemsStriker
20Griffin McMasterGoalkeeper
-Louis FentonMidfielder
9Benjamin TotoriStriker
-Tyler BoydStriker
-Vedran JanjetovićGoalkeeper
2Sebastian RyallDefender
-FabinhoDefender
4Pascal BosschaartMidfielder
26Adam GriffithsDefender
15Jason CulinaMidfielder
15Terry McFlynnMidfielder
23Rhyan GrantDefender
26Ali AbbasMidfielder
-Blake PowellStriker
-Y. GlaizeStriker
20Ivan NecevskiGoalkeeper
24Paul ReidMidfielder
-Hagi GligorMidfielder
-Mitchell MalliaMidfielder
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Daniel McBreen Daniel McBreen
Striker
Central Coast Mariners 		19 4
Jeremy Brockie Jeremy Brockie
Striker
Toronto FC 		16 2
Marco Rojas Marco Rojas
Midfielder
Melbourne Victory 		15 0
Alessandro Del Piero Alessandro Del Piero
Striker
Sydney FC 		14 4
Besart Berisha Besart Berisha
Striker
Brisbane 		14 4