Australia Cup Round of 32 Review

A youthful Wellington Phoenix side have fallen at the first hurdle of the Australia Cup.

Harrison Sawyer’s 4th minute goal handed South Melbourne FC a 1-0 win at Lakeside Stadium in a difficult game.

Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano had expected a tough challenge given the lack of preparation time. 

“They’re a tight knit defensive team, and it was more a matter of us trying to break them down,” he explained post-game. 

“I thought we could have been a little bit better with the ball, especially I thought our sixes could have done a better job at commanding the game. 

“Apart from that, I’m not sure what everyone expected because we had two training sessions together as a group.

“Boys have come back from France, I’ve got boys coming back from injury as well. Making sure they weren’t getting injured was my main priority.” 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 06: Fergus Gillon of the Phoenix kicks the ball during the 2024 Australia Cup Round of 32 match between South Melbourne FC and Wellington Phoenix FC at Lakeside Stadium on August 06, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

He knows where he wants the team to improve. 

“I was disappointed in the quality of the goal. It was poor, we never concede goals like that. 

“For me it’s about making sure we go back this pre-season, working on our structures and what we know best. 

However, the performance of academy players was a positive.

“I thought Nathan Walker did exceptionally well, I thought Tze-Xuan Loke when he came on made a massive impact. 

“I was very happy for those guys getting an opportunity. 

“It was a young team. It’s not an excuse, credit to South Melbourne, they took their opportunity and defended well, but it was a really good experience for those guys.” 

With a number of senior players unavailable, the Phoenix put out the youngest starting eleven in club history, with an average age of just 20.8. 

There were two academy debutants in the lineup, with Alby Kelly-Heald getting the nod in net and Nathan Walker starting on the right.

There was a dream start for the home side, South Melbourne’s captain snatching an early lead with their first attack of the game. 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 06: Phoenix goalkeeper Albert Kelly-Heald gathers the ball during the 2024 Australia Cup Round of 32 match between South Melbourne FC and Wellington Phoenix FC at Lakeside Stadium on August 06, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

A clever ball from the right found its way to Harrison Sawyer, who was able to sidefoot into the bottom corner.

The Nix almost responded immediately when Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues’ dinked cross found Oskar van Hattum at the back post. He couldn’t keep his shot under the bar. 

Walker fashioned another great chance soon after with a fizzing low cross that Luke Supyk almost made the telling connection with.

The home side increasingly sat back further as the first half went on, inviting the Phoenix to dominate possession. 

Sloane-Rodrigues in particular looked dangerous, regularly gliding down the left wing to find himself in good positions. 

However, South Melbourne remained resolute, withstanding a number of set pieces. 

The match became increasingly physical in the lead up to half-time, a succession of fouls from both sides sucking all the momentum out of the match. 

The second period began as the first had ended, neither side able to find their rhythm.

Sawyer almost doubled his tally when a rare South Melbourne attack saw him scoop just wide of the right-hand upright. 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 06: Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues of the Phoenix in action during the 2024 Australia Cup Round of 32 match between South Melbourne FC and Wellington Phoenix FC at Lakeside Stadium on August 06, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

He was then denied by even finer margins, as an angled strike hammered the base of the post before deflecting off Alby Kelly-Heald’s back. 

Crosses continued to look like Wellington’s best avenue to tying the game up, but the killer ball did not arrive.

Italiano decided to bring his senior players off the bench with twenty-five minutes to go in search of an equaliser.

Kosta Barbarouses and Marco Rojas were both introduced, with Fergus Gillion also thrown on in midfield.

Barbarouses instantly looked lively, nearly poking a floated cross past López.

The first meaningful save of the game only arrived in the 74th minute, Alby Kelly-Heald gratefully clutching onto Nahuel Bonada’s snapshot from the edge of the area. 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 06: Scott Wootton of the Phoenix and Harrison Sawyer of South Melbourne FC contest the ball during the 2024 Australia Cup Round of 32 match between South Melbourne FC and Wellington Phoenix FC at Lakeside Stadium on August 06, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

It kickstarted a period of South Melbourne attacking pressure, Andy Brennan narrowly shooting wide on their next foray forward. 

Two more debutants in the form of Tze-Xuan Loke and Lachlan Candy then entered the fray to maintain the push for an elusive goal. 

Candy almost made a dream start to his game, a dipping shot forcing an unorthodox save from López. 

While possession was plentiful for the Phoenix, there was still a struggle to create meaningful opportunities against a compact low block.

South Melbourne held on, Sawyer’s early strike enough to secure progression in the cup.

The Wellington Phoenix will now return home to continue with their pre-season preparations ahead of the upcoming Isuzu UTE A-League campaign. 

Wellington Phoenix: 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 4. Scott WOOTTON (c), 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE (42. Fergus GILLION 67th), 12. Mohamed AL-TAAY, 15. Isaac HUGHES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES (7. Kosta BARBAROUSES 67th), 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 23. Luke SUPYK, (21. Marco ROJAS 67th), 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM (46. Lachlan CANDY), 27. Matt SHERIDAN, (36. Tze-Xuan LOKE 77th), 41. Nathan WALKER.Unused substitutes: 35. Dublin BOON (gk), 33. Dylan GARDINER.

South Melbourne FC: 1. Javier LÓPEZ (gk), 3. Jordan LAMPARD, 4. Marco JANKOVIC, 5. Jake MARSHALL, 6. Lucas INGLESE, 8. Mario BARCIA (30. Mac HILSON 89th), 9. Harrison SAWYER (c) (7. Andy BRENNAN 62nd), 15. Zak SPITERI (27. Jack PAINTER-ANDREWS 45th), 16. Emile PEIOS, 19. Cooper HALFPENNY, 21. Ross ARCHIBALD (24. Nahuel BONADA 62nd).Unused substitutes: 20. Willem LEJEUNE (gk), 18. Joshua FRANCOU, 80. George TSITSINARIS.

Goals: 9: Harrison SAWYER (South Melbourne FC) – 4th 

Cards:12: Mohamed AL-TAAY (Wellington Phoenix) – 14th