Australia Cup Rnd of 32 vs Devonport City Strikers | Wed 3rd Aug | 9:30pm | YouTube

Cant decide who i want to score next. Devonport are giving it a good fight. 

Tidy first half had some good chances, excited to see Kraev come on

We are miles ahead in quality but it's definitely not in the bag yet. Second half fitness might be an issue.

Pretty dominate half. 

Sutton looking full of confidence, knocking in some great crosses and taking on his man. Elliott still seems to be lacking confidence.
Not a fan of the Laws Pennington combo. Would like to see Lewis drop deeper and someone else take on that #10 role.

Outpost

We are miles ahead in quality but it's definitely not in the bag yet. Second half fitness might be an issue.

Devonport have the energy and cohesion, but cannot beat us in the midfield often enough (they have a few times). Laws and Pennington are OK as a mid-pair for this level of opposition, as not much creativity is required, just reliability.  They manage by playing it out wide, with the odd pass through the middle (like the one for the Waine goal). That is forcing Devonport to run up the sidelines all the time hoping to catch Sutton out of position when he goes forward.
Having said that, some of the Devonport guys are pretty useful upfront, and have been simply unlucky on a couple of occasions in the first half.
There is a lot of cautious play from the Nix, as nobody wants to pick up an injury, and I suspect that is the brief from the FFA officials to the ref too.

Im guessing Van Hattam would make way for Kraev when he comes on

Pretty crazy how a club from a town of a 20k can get a crowd like that. Bit disappointing no NZ club gets anything near that, not even in Auckland

carlind

Pretty crazy how a club from a town of a 20k can get a crowd like that. Bit disappointing no NZ club gets anything near that, not even in Auckland

Why, how big do you think the crowd is? Its a tiny stadium with a capacity of 5000 from what I heard.

carlind

Pretty crazy how a club from a town of a 20k can get a crowd like that. Bit disappointing no NZ club gets anything near that, not even in Auckland

Auckland is a city rivalling in size many AUS state capitals but with no clear overwhelming need for a football team like the Nix.  It is a niche sport in Auckland, which is why the Nix fits Welly so well (because Welly is a quirky niche city by definition).

3k crowd

Looks like Chillian is playing CB for devonport

Zappone's inability to get fairly established A-League players names right is infuriating. 'Shaun' Sutton, Scott 'Wotton', Lucas 'Maurangus' - yeeeesh 

That’s a decent mullet!

great header from OVH! and peach of a ball from Lewis. 

What a header from OVH.  I looked at it going in and thought "that can't possibly be going in".

What a goal Waine!! He's looking very clinical so far!

Ben Waine makes Keegan Smith blush with another perfect goal.

Nice bit of precision there Wainey! Shoukd great all locked up now!

Long ball from Wooton(?) and a great finish from Waine. Smith caught in no mans land

kwlap

Long ball from Wooton(?) and a great finish from Waine. Smith caught in no mans land

 Wootton been hitting some good long balls so far could be a feature in the upcoming season

Poor positioning by Smith, Waine was not in a dangerous position. Good finish though.

Time to bring on some of the Academy boys and Kraev?

Here comes Kraev.

Keegan Smith not exactly proving tonight that releasing him was a mistake

Wusty Wab

Here comes Kraev.

 Laws went off, Kraev came on, but is he in the same position or further up?

Kraev on debut!

beautiful corner from Pennington, Kraev with a nice headed finish

Kraev!! I was thinking he might be a set piece threat!

Good way to announce yourself! First of many I hope.

Kosta must be wondering if he signed up to the wrong club if he cannot be our star scorer against a NPL side.

That man Elliot’s been fantastic so far. Shades of his late season 19/20 form in his forward play

So happy for Waine, been waiting for him to score his first Phoenix brace.

Now Bidois has a chance to score his first goal.

The look of the Devonport #11 makes me wonder how they arrived at that shape. They went to the player warehouse, looked at our #11 (Kraev), and said "we'll have one like that, but exactly the opposite".  Short stocky and an impressive pot belly.

Should've been two for Kraev! Elliot has been fantastic tonight

A brave attempt by the commentators to pronounce our new sub name.... "Kanannaramay...."

Kanaranamay looks a player

Did Kosta hit the post?

Job well done. Kraev scoring on debut, Waine with his first Phoenix brace, a first goal for OVH, and a clean sheet. Can't wait for the A-League season, the two remaining import signings and who we will play in the Round of 16.

Played some really nice football looking forward to the season starting! And to think probably missing 5 starters from that starting 11 we are going to have a strong squad.

Wusty Wab

Job well done. Kraev scoring on debut, Waine with his first Phoenix brace, a first goal for OVH, and a clean sheet. Can't wait for the A-League season, the two remaining import signings and who we will play in the Round of 16.

All I wish for is a good looking big toe on David Ball.