One down - three to go

The Wellington Phoenix have successfully completed part one of their four-stage mission to finish the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 season on a high after scoring a 3-2 win against the high-flying Newcastle Jets on Sunday night.

With four rounds of the regular season left prior to Sunday night’s match, the Phoenix had set their sights on grabbing maximum points from their remaining matches and they negotiated the first step courtesy of goals to Shane Smeltz, Michael Ferrante and Kristian Rees at EnergyAustralia Stadium in Newcastle.

The win consolidates the Phoenix’s sixth spot on the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 table and keeps their top-four playoff chances alive, though coach Ricki Herbert reiterated that his focus remained solely on ensuring the Phoenix continued their recent good form.

“Our tack hasn’t changed – there are three games to go and whatever happens happens,” Herbert said of the Phoenix’s playoff aspirations.

“I’ve said it many times before – this season is about building the club, ensuring we play good, attractive football and continuing to move forward.

“We’ll leave talk of making the playoffs to others. Our focus in these final four games was to get as many points as possible and we’ve achieved part of that [against the Jets]. If we make the finals, great, but our primary goal is about good, consistent performances and we’re starting to see that happening now.”

Herbert was particularly pleased with the manner that his side achieved the win – their fifth of the season – against the in-form Jets.

“I think we’ve continued on from there we left off in terms of our form. We got what we needed against one of the best defensive sides in the league, scoring three goals in the process, in a tough match away from home.

“For us it was about winning. We took our goals well, defended well at key points and were good value overall. I’ve always believed that we’re a better team than our results have shown and there have been quite a few games this season where we’ve been a little unlucky or let ourselves down with silly mistakes at crucial times. So I’m pleased that we were able to turn in a more complete performance [against the Jets].”

Smeltz gave the visitors the lead after 16 minutes when he pounced on a Vaughan Coveny shot that cannoned off the crossbar, the Phoenix goal-scoring dynamo slamming the ball into the top of the net from close range. Smeltz’s strike saw him draw level with the Jets’ Joel Griffiths, who missed Sunday night’s match on suspension, at the top of the Hyundai A-League's goal-scorer's list with his ninth of the season.

A sweetly struck second half score by Ferrante and Rees’ looping header – both players’ first goals of the season – gave the Phoenix a 3-1 lead after Mark Bridge had equalised with a penalty midway through the first half. Despite a goal to Scott Tunbridge nine minutes from fulltime, the Phoenix held firm to secure their first win against the Jets.

The Phoenix’s attention now turns to their final home game of the season, against red-hot Sydney FC, at Westpac Stadium on Friday night. The Phoenix are undefeated against the Hyundai A-League’s glamour boys, winning a 2007 Pre-Season Cup match 3-0, securing their first ever competition away win 2-1 in round four and drawing 1-1 at home in round thirteen.

However, the Sydneysiders are in a rich vein of form under coach John Kosmina and are close to securing their top-four playoff spot.

Herbert said the Phoenix’s confident approach would continue against Sydney FC.

“They’re another top-four side we’re looking forward to testing ourselves against. They’re going well at the moment but so are we, and we’ll be looking to make life difficult for them.”

* IN CELEBRATION of the Phoenix’s final home game of the season on Friday night (January 4), a special ticket deal has been launched by the club. Children under the age of 16 (maximum of three) will receive free admission to Friday night’s match between the Phoenix and Sydney FC when accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Further details on the ticket deal are available from www.wellingtonphoenix.com and www.ticketek.co.nz.