Phoenix aim to put Melbourne hoodoo behind them

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Wellington Phoenix will have to banish their AAMI Park hoodoo if they are to keep alive their hopes of bringing finals football back to the capital.

The Phoenix visit leaders Melbourne City on Easter Monday in the final match of round 23.

The Nix are four points adrift of the fourth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers, who they will meet in the penultimate round of the season.

Head coach Ufuk Talay says a top four finish and a home elimination final remains their target, despite their disappointing home defeat to Melbourne Victory last weekend.

“It’s still in our hands with where we sit on the table and the points we can get,” Talay said.

“We haven’t had the opportunity due to Covid and being away to play a home final. We definitely have the opportunity.

“There are still 12 points up for grabs. We want to push as hard as we can.

“We play the team that is just above us. There’s another game in between that so it’s very important and very vital that we pick up maximum points in these next two games.”

Picking up maximum points at AAMI Park is easier said than done.

The Phoenix have yet to win at the venue since Talay took charge and have only beaten City once in 17 A-League matches in Melbourne. That came in December 2013 when the league leaders were named Melbourne Heart.

“It’s disappointing that we haven’t won there. I think we’ve gotten draws there previously.”

The Nix came back from two nil down to draw 2-2 with Melbourne City at AAMI Park in round four and relish playing the current standard bearers of the league.

“It’s a good opportunity playing against a good side that want to play football. We play a similar sort of brand in a different set-up.

“If all works well and if the players are focussed and aggressive with and without the ball it gives us a good opportunity to walk away with all three points.”

The sides last met at Sky Stadium on January 2, when Wellington gave up an early lead to lose 3-1 to a clinical City side.

All Whites midfielder Clayton Lewis is available to play 90 minutes for the first time since coming back from a fractured kneecap.

However, Talay will be without young attacking midfielder Ben Old who has an issue with a hernia.

– RNZ