History for coochiee

Felt in many ways like a win from the 2023/24 season.

Minimal possession (especially after the red), but not many big chances for the Roar until the end, Nix scoring on the counter.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/01/04/we-needed-this-phoenix-coach-giancarlo-italiano-after-upset-win/

An emotional Giancarlo Italiano says the 3-0 win by his Wellington Phoenix side against Brisbane Roar was “probably the best victory I’ve ever had as a coach.”

Down to 10 men for most of the match, after the sending off of Carlo Armiento in the 38th minute, the Phoenix overcame the odds to beat the third-place Roar at Kayo Stadium in Brisbane.

“We’ve had it very hard,” Italiano said after the match.

“I’m just immensely proud for the group. We suffered today.

“We spoke about it yesterday, and it was like a self-fulfilling prophecy. We talked about in order for teams to be successful, they need to learn to suffer, to grind, to be committed, to have courage [and] to be brave. They demonstrated everything today.

“It was almost like the football gods wanted Carlo to get sent off for us to go through this lesson.

“We needed this. It wasn’t so much the result, it was the performance.

“The boys showed a lot of character tonight. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Italiano praised the efforts of teenage goalkeeper Eamonn McCarron who showed experience beyond his years to secure the clean sheet in just his second league start.

“Eamonn is like an experienced goalkeeper caught in a young guy’s body.

“He’s fearless and what I really liked about him today was the reaction from conceding five goals against Victory. It didn’t faze him.

“In the air, he was fantastic, and the last-ditch, brave saves were amazing.

“He started as the number three at the beginning of the season and now he’s playing like a mature number one.”