Capital braces for another big football night

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

It might not quite be World Cup play-off proportions but Wellington is bracing for another massive footballing night as the Phoenix go searching for a historic A-League home semifinal in their last round-robin match on Friday night.

The Phoenix are riding high, having secured their first play-offs berth in the championship.

Their gutsy 1-nil win away to Gold Coast last night now gives them the chance to make fourth place their own over the last weekend and give them crucial home advantage for a title tilt.

No Australian side would want to be travelling to Wellington for a playoff with the Phoenix unbeaten at the Cake Tin over the last 14 matches.

But it was their increasingly confident form away that helped them out yesterday with Paul Ifill firing in a penalty to continue their season-long grip over Gold Coast.

The Phoenix now look forward to Friday night's match against the Central Coast Mariners at Westpac Stadium and a chance to really push their cause as New Zealand football continues its stellar season.

"It's going to be a huge match and a huge occasion," Phoenix coach Riki Herbert said.

"I'm certain a big crowd will get along and the team is really looking forward to that. It'll be a piece of history and we want the fans to share in that."

Herbert was rapt with the performance of his team who knew they had already made the playoffs before the opening whistle on the Gold Coast as other results went there way. He was thrilled with the way his players kept their focus to make the most of the opportunity to push on.

"We came here to win and that's what we did. We were positive and we approached this as if it was a playoff match – we were up for it.

"Even though we knew we'd made the top six, it was clear what our intentions were and this win puts us in the driving seat for the top four and a home semifinal."

The Phoenix's defence, led superbly by skipper Andrew Durante and his centreback mate Jon McKain, was awesome. When the Gold Coast weren't being shut down by the Phoenix's tireless midfield of Tim Brown, Manny Muscat and Vince Lia, it was Durante and McKain who held the line and repelled the hosts.

Herbert refused to single any particular player out, saying the win was a true team effort.

"There was a lot riding on this match for us and for them and the Gold Coast is a tough place to come to. But everyone, from front to back, worked extremely hard in quite sapping conditions and played their part."

- © Fairfax NZ News