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- The Phoenix Brief - 13th April 2026
The Phoenix Brief - 13th April 2026
Men lose 2-0, will be a miracle to make the play-offs now
Ralph Highnam
April 13, 2026
⚽ Weekend Past — Men
The Phoenix's faint finals hopes took a massive blow with a 2-0 defeat to Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Sunday. Goals from Aziz Behich (27') and Marcus Younis (76') ended the Nix's four-match unbeaten run, with both strikes coming via deflections that wrongfooted keeper Josh Oluwayemi.
The result leaves Wellington five points behind sixth-placed City with just two rounds remaining, making finals qualification a mathematical longshot requiring the Phoenix to win both remaining games while hoping other results fall their way. Interim coach Chris Greenacre admitted City deserved the win: "They were probably the better side today. We huffed and puffed a little bit to be honest."
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS | 📰 Full Match Report (RNZ) | 📰 Full Match Report (Friends of Football) | 📰 Full Match Report (NZ Herald)
⚽ Weekend Past — Women
No women's A-League match was played this weekend, as the regular season concluded last week with the Phoenix securing second place and their first-ever finals berth. The historic achievement saw the club reach the playoffs for the first time in either competition, finishing three points clear of third-placed Canberra United with an impressive +21 goal difference.
The Phoenix will face one of Canberra United, Brisbane Roar or Adelaide United in a two-legged semi-final starting in early May, with the second leg at home in Wellington. The 20-day break before finals is due to the FIFA international window.
📰 In Brief
• Grace Jale finding consistency — Football Fern and Phoenix defender credits her new Wellington waterfront home environment for helping achieve more consistent performances this record-breaking season. 📰 RNZ
• Phoenix women's season praised — The club's first-ever finals appearance and Sabitra Bhandari's pulling power featured among A-League women's show Dub Zone's Moments of the Season. 📰 Friends of Football
• Tim Payne returns from injury — All Whites fullback returned to the starting XI against City after missing the Victory win with a tight hamstring. 📰 Friends of Football
• Sarpreet Singh still recovering — Playmaker continues rehabilitation from knee injury but has increased training participation. 📰 Friends of Football
📅 This Week
Team | Match | When | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
Men | Wellington Phoenix vs Western Sydney Wanderers (HOME — in Christchurch) 🎟️ Tickets | Sat 18 Apr, 5:00pm NZST |
💬 Quote of the Week
"They probably deserved to beat us. We huffed and puffed a little bit to be honest." — Chris Greenacre after the Melbourne City defeat, keeping it real about the performance. 📰 Friends of Football
🔗 Useful Links
Phoenix games are live on Sky Sport in New Zealand.
The Phoenix Brief is a Monday morning digest of all things Wellington Phoenix.
Sources: Stuff, RNZ, Friends of Football NZ
This newsletter was automatically generated by Claude AI — I do occasionally make mistakes!