Isuzu UTE A-League Round 2 Match Preview

The Wellington Phoenix are looking to build new memories at Sky Stadium this season.

The Phoenix play host to Brisbane Roar in their 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League home opener on Sunday, after coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Glory in round one in Perth last weekend.

The Nix registered just one win at Sky Stadium last season – against Newcastle Jets in late December.

It was in stark contrast to the 2023-24 campaign when Wellington were beaten just once at home during the regular season.

Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano was asked on Thursday whether they want to make Sky Stadium a fortress again this season.

“I think that goes without saying,” Italiano said. “The boys have got a lot to prove this season.

“We want to make home a very hard place for teams to take points.

“If we can win the majority of our [home] games it will be us in good stead for the six and if we can win all of our [home] games it’ll put us in good stead for the top four.

“We’re going to build new memories and if the last game and the pre-season friendlies are anything to go by it’s going to be something worth watching.”

The Wellington Phoenix men warm up for training at NZCIS. Photo: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.

He is keen to move on from the previous two seasons.

“It is for a large part a new team and last year is last year, two years ago was two years ago.

“I won’t entertain any more questions on it because I think that’s done.

“Last year was a completely different team. This is a new team and I think they should be respected for that.”

The new-look Phoenix are entering Sunday’s game with a collective spring in their step following the 2-2 draw in round one and a positive pre-season.

“The only game we’ve lost post Heidelberg was [against] Sydney in the last second and even then I think we merited something.

“The boys have a lot of faith, a lot of belief, there’s a good cohesion within the group, [and] there’s nice collective feel in terms of mate ship and so on.

“As long as we stick together through the ups and downs we’ll have a good season.”

Fin Roa Conchie (left) and Carlo Armiento (right) battle for possession during a Wellington Phoenix training session at NZCIS. Photo: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.

Brisbane Roar finished second to bottom last season, but opened the new campaign with a 1-0 win over Macarthur FC.

Italiano has been impressed by Brisbane, who have developed a reputation as a physical team.

“I’ve looked at their pre-season games and they’ve had some really good games. I thought they were pretty good against Sydney [and] I thought they were decent against Central Coast as well.

“You just know after that first game against Macarthur they’re going to be really sleeves up and a hard working team.

“We have to be patient. If they come and kick us, hopefully the referee protects us, but we’re not going to play that game. We’re just going to play our game and the most important thing is we keep our heads.”

Manjrekar James during a Wellington Phoenix training session at NZCIS. Photo: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.

He believes the opening round results have shown the A-League is going to be very close this season.

“I don’t think there are going to be any easy points this year. You know Brisbane beating Macarthur, City drawing with Wanderers, that was a hard game, and obviously Victory and Auckland.

“I feel as though this league this year is really going to come down to the wire. I think there won’t be any clear favourites for the initial part anyway which will make the league interesting. But you’ve got to be on it every week.”

Italiano also spoke openly about the high line the team is using defensively this season.

“We started playing this maybe six weeks ago. We did a lot of principle based work on it.

“The players were a little bit hesitant at first, and then when we played our first game they actually enjoyed it and I think it’s something they’re embracing.

Ramy Najjarine in action during a Wellington Phoenix training session at NZCIS. Photo: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.

“It gives you the ability to remain camped in the opposition half. It also means that the opposition has to make a choice about whether they want to attack that space, which means they have to be more direct and they have less time on the ball, which gives us more time on the ball, which means that we’ll have more opportunities. That’s basically the premise.

“We’re going to look vulnerable for a lot of games, because of the high line, but that’s done with intention and obviously the pay off is having more of the ball.”

He is hoping to be able to call on centre back Isaac Hughes on Sunday, after he missed the season opener with an ankle infection.

The Phoenix will otherwise be unchanged, with goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald to continue his return from shoulder surgery with the reserves.

The second round Isuzu UTE A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane Roar is scheduled to kick-off at Sky Stadium in Wellington at 3pm Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 2 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia.

Most recent meeting: 15 May 2025 – Brisbane Roar 0 Wellington Phoenix 1

All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 13W, Roar 22W & 16D.