Ninja A-League Round 5 match preview
Wellington Phoenix head coach Paul Temple is looking to build momentum in Round 5 of the Ninja A-League against Brisbane Roar.
The Phoenix are back at Porirua Park on Sunday afternoon for their first home game in a month, and are looking to build on the 1-0 victory over Adelaide United last time out.
The Roar started the round top of the table, winning three of their first four, and have impressed under former Phoenix midfielder Alex Smith.
“He’s doing a great job,” Temple told media on Friday afternoon.
“Brisbane are obviously top of the league, but they’ve been playing some good football. I look forward to doing battle at the weekend.
“Last season we had a good chat on the pitch about the Phoenix, and I think he has pretty fond memories of the club.”
However, the Roar will be without two key players, as Tameka Yallop and Sharn Freier are on international duty with the Matildas.
“It’s part of it. Yallop and Freier have been big players for them, and are some of the best players in the A-League, hence why they’re in the Matildas squad and doing well.
Photo credit: Cam McIntosh/Photomac“Sometimes you have to deal with that. Last year we had six in that situation against Western, so it’s nice to be on the other side.
The Phoenix will also be refreshed by an international break, which Temple sees a positive for the team’s development.
“In a way it was a good time overall. It’s allowed us to do more work.
“We really improved against Adelaide, and we were very strong, especially first half with the ball, and good defensively second half.
“We’ve built some really strong foundations.”
The break has also allowed import signing Alivia Kelly time to settle into her new environment, and she could make her debut on Sunday.
“It’s given us time to get Alivia in, introduce her to the team, get her working.
“She’s an amazing athlete, that’s for sure. She’s got good size, strong, good in the air.
“I think it complements what we have as well. Tiana (Jaber) and Mack (Barry) are also strong athletically so it’s good, fits the mould that we’re looking for.
“She’s comfortable on the ball, wants to build out from the back, which is why she was in the group we were looking at to bring in.
Photo credit: Cam McIntosh/Photomac“She’s settled in really well and I think she’ll be a big addition.”
There is more good news on the personnel front, with captain Annalie Longo ready to return after a nasty collision in round three.
“Annalie is good to go. She was physically good last week, and she wanted to play. It was still painful at that point, but that tenderness has gone away in these two weeks.
“She’s trained all the way through, even into the Adelaide game, so she hasn’t really missed a bit in terms of fitness. She played 90 minutes last week in an internal game, so she’s good.
While the opening rounds of the competition have not produced the results that Temple was looking for, he is confident in the team’s process.
“We’re still blending as a team. We know that with a short pre-season, we are still finding out about each other.
“It’s not going to be perfect at the moment, but it’s something that will evolve as the season goes on.
“That’s the biggest challenge, because people want results here and now, but the reality is that you’re still piecing all your parts together, it’s a bit of a moving jigsaw at times.”
Photo credit: Cam McIntosh/PhotomacOne player who has impressed through the first four weeks is Maya McCutcheon, who scored the winner against Adelaide.
“She’s settled in really well. She’s a really good person, and has settled into the Kiwi culture.
“We haven’t had to wait for her to come up to speed with the performances and the league, which is a sign of a good professional.
“She’s come in as a 6, played that position and done that really well, but she’s also adding value on attack.”
The fifth round Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane Roar is scheduled to kick-off at Porirua Park in Wellington at 4pm Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 1 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 7 January 2024 – Brisbane Roar 2 Wellington Phoenix 1
All-time A-League head to head: Phoenix 1W, Roar 2W, 2D
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 12. Ella MCMILLAN, 13. Brooke NEARY (gk),14. Mebae TANAKA, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 19. Liv INGHAM, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk).
Unavailable: 18. Ella MCCANN (injured), 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk) (injured), 23. Rebecca LAKE (injured). Brisbane Roar squad (two to be omitted): 1. Keeley RICHARDS (gk), 2. Leia VARLEY, 3. Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE 6. Holly MCQUEEN, 7. Momo HAYASHI, 8. Mariel HECHER, 10. Grace KUILAMU, 12. Tamar LEVIN, 14. Zara KRUGER, 16. Chelsea BLISSETT, 17. Evdokia POPADINOVA, 18. Emily PRINGLE, 19. Laini FREIER, 20. Tanaye MORRIS, 22. Ruby CUTHBERT, 23. Isabela HOYOS, 32. Alicia WOODS, 33. Olivia SEKANY (gk). Unavailable: 4. Kijah STEPHENSON (injured), 9. Danelle TAN (injured), 11. Sharn FREIER (international duty), 13. Tameka YALLOP (c) (international duty).
Main image: Cam McIntosh/Photomac
