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Wellington's turn to press high and pin Western back now, and they win back possession on halfway. It comes all the way back for Hughes and Wootton, as they slow play back down. Barbarouses gives it away with a hopeful pass forward though, and Leonard intercepts. 

CHANCE! Hughes gives the ball away on the edge of his own penalty box, and again the Phoenix play themselves into trouble. Vickery opens up for a shot on his left foot from a tight angle down the left-hand side of the penalty area, forcing Kelly-Heald to tip away at his near post. The rebound falls back for Najjarine near the top of the box, but he sends his follow-up effort just over the crossbar. 

Sutton plays the goal kick short for Leonard this time. The latter turns and hooks a long ball downfield, finding Botic. The striker's first touch is heavy though, and Hughes comes across to intercept before clearing. 

The contest has really opened up now, with both sides after more goals. The Phoenix have scored just five times in nine games, so even though getting one back wouldn't propel them back into the contest, it could boost some confidence heading into future fixtures. 

SHOT! Western United drop back behind the ball now, as the visitors continue to knock it from side to side. Rojas and Sheridan combine near the top right corner of the box, before the former turns and opens on his left foot for a shot. He can't get it on target though, and the ball rolls wide of the right post for a Western goal kick. 

Thurgate picks up a yellow card from the restart for a challenge in midfield. 

Yet again it's been tough going for Giancarlo Italiano's men, and they've struggled to contain the likes of Botic, Danzaki, and Ibusuki going forward. Their defending of set-pieces has been troublesome too, not helped by some shaky hands from Kelly-Heald in goal. The Phoenix have persisted with playing out from the back at every opportunity, but have struggled to play through the press, and have got themselves into some pretty sticky situations. They did start to show a little more attacking intent towards the end of the half, but Barbarouses and Rojas have struggled to get involved, and they're headed for a fourth consecutive defeat as it stands. 

SHOT! Geraldes comes forward down the right, trying to inspire a response for the Phoenix. His delivery into the middle is cleared, but the rebound falls for Piper on the left, who finds Rufer at the top of the box. The captain hits it first-time on his left foot, only to sky the ball high over the top of the crossbar. Poor final product in the end. 

The Wellington Phoenix have fallen to a fourth consecutive defeat, shipping four goals in a heavy loss to Western United. Make sure you switch over for live commentary of the final A-League Men's game tonight, between Melbourne Victory and the Central Coast Mariners. It's been a pleasure bringing you all the action from ironbark Fields in Tarneit. For now, Harrison Ryburn signing out. 

SAVE! Thurgate comes across to take the corner off the left, and causes problems for Wellington again with the in-swinger, dropping it right on top of the keeper. Kelly-Heald is blinded by the sun, but does enough to get up and tip away from the top of the net. 

Western press again, forcing an error from Piper and winning a throw on halfway. Russell advances down the right, before finding Grimaldi in midfield. The latter turns and picks out Botic inside the box, but he slips before he can get a shot off, and the Phoenix scurry away. 

It's worth a reminder that the Phoenix didn't get a shot on target last week, and they're yet to register one here in this first half. They're certainly showing a lot more attacking intent though, and Barbarouses sends it wide down the left for Sutton as they come forward again. The latter's delivery into the back post leaves a lot to be desired though, and Western let it bounce away. 

Possession comes back for Leonard, who looks up and sends a searching pass down the left for Shamoon. Payne gets in the way to clear away over the sideline, and Western send the throw back for Imai. 

Into four minutes of injury-time at the end of this one, and Shamoon makes a rare lapse with a poor pass straight over the sideline. Wellington respond with a mistake of their own though, as Kelly-Heald sends a wayward ball over the sideline on the opposite flank. 

Possession comes all the way back for Imai on halfway, and Western reset. Barbarouses leads the press, forcing it deep for Sutton. The hosts play around it though, and Russell bursts onto a long ball in-behind down the right wing. He tries a delivery into the middle, but it doesn't find Botic, and the Phoenix hurriedly clear again. 

The throw comes all the way back for Wootton, who switches play for Brooke-Smith down the left. The substitute does well to win a throw off Imai, and the Phoenix retain possession with Piper in midfield. 

Sutton plays the goal kick short, and Russell advances down the right flank. He links up with Thurgate in support, who finds Botic at the top of the box. The striker opens up on his left foot for a shot, but it deflects off Wootton and rolls past the left post for a corner kick. 

The hosts give it away down the right, and Sutton sends the throw back for Wootton. Good period of possession here for Wellington, but they continue to lack the final product when they get any go-forward. It comes wide for Sutton on the left again, who links up with Geraldes in support. The latter opts against a delivery into the middle though, and the Phoenix are patient with possession. 

Payne has gone to ground with a bit of cramp as Wellington take their time with the goal kick. Eventually he makes his way back to his feet though, and Kelly-Heald launches long up over halfway. 

CHANCE! Ruhs holds up play as the hosts win back possession again. Russell makes a run down the right and links up with Lauton in support, who powers a low delivery into the near post. Wootton lets it run through for Ruhs, but the striker flicks it over the top of the crossbar from point blank range. That should have been five!

CHANCE! Ishige wins a throw high up the right wing near the corner flag. They end up settling for a corner moments later, and it's whipped into the back post. Rufer throws his head at it, but he can't direct the ball on target, and it flies wide of the left post for a goal kick. 

A statement victory from Western United in contrast. Everytime they got the ball forward they looked a threat, with Danzaki pulling the strings. He was superb in driving forward, before picking apart the Wellington defence with a number of pinpoint passes in-behind. Grimaldi, Botic, and Ibusuki all asked questions too, with Thurgate providing the base in midfield. It marks their first victory over Wellington since 2022 and pushes them back up into the top two, but they didn't have to work very hard for it tonight, and will be happy with some of their clinical finishing to put the game to bed. 

Sutton and Retre trade passes in midfield, before Payne also gets involved. They turn it wide for Brooke-Smith, but he can't get any go-forward, and settles for a throw on halfway. It comes back for Retre again. 

Thurgate pushes up over halfway as Western United come back at their opponents again. He holds up play in midfield, but Imai loses possession and Geraldes sprints away on the counter. He tries to find Barbarouses near the top of the box, but his final pass is poor for the striker, and the hosts clear away downfield with Leonard. 

Imai finds Grimaldi down the right, who strides forward down the right. He tries to switch play for Danzaki, but the initial pass is intercepted. Western manage to keep hold of it, and the ball comes back for Thurgate and Imai to control near halfway. The Phoenix drop back. 

The Phoenix get us back underway! And they try and hold onto possession to start the half, with Wootton and Hughes trading passes across the back. Western sit off and let them have it, drawing Rojas into a run down the right. He loses the ball in a strong challenge from Shamoon though, and Western turn it over. 

Piper and Payne trade passes on the right as the Phoenix reset. Western try to intensify the press though, forcing it all the way back for Kelly-Heald. The keeper launches it up to halfway, where Leonard intercepts. 

Into two minutes of injury-time at the end of this first half. The Phoenix launch a hopeful ball forward for Barbarouses, but Shamoon does well to get in the way and shield it back for Sutton in goal. 

SAVE! Russell turns and concedes a throw under pressure from Geraldes on the right flank this time. The Phoenix send it all the way back for Kelly-Heald, only for Western to respond with a press of their own. Thurgate wins it back on the left flank, before finding Grimaldi at the top of the box. The latter turns and takes aim at goal on his right foot from long range. It looks an easy save for Kelly-Heald, but the keeper fumbles, and almost lets it roll through his legs before nervously holding onto the rebound.

Thurgate and Bozinovski reset with possession in midfield, before spreading it across for Grimaldi on the left. The latter makes a run to the byline, and settles for a corner off Hughes. Thurgate will take again. 

Retre gets a hold of possession, and directs it wide for Brooke-Smith on the right. The teenager takes on Shamoon, and wins a corner for the Phoenix. 

CHANCE! Botic dances around a defender and drives forward through the middle, finding Danzaki down the left-hand side of the box with a pinpoint pass. The latter opens up on his left foot for a shot, but Kelly-Heald holds his ground at his near post to get down and parry away. 

WONDERFUL CORNER DELIVERY! HORROR START FOR THE PHOENIX! Bozinovski gives Western United an early lead! Thurgate comes across to take the corner off the left, and whips it into the centre of the box with a dangerous in-swinger. It falls onto the head of Bozinovski in front of goal, who nods the ball past Kelly-Heald into the bottom right corner of the net for the opening goal. Not great set-piece defending from the Phoenix in retrospect, and the hosts are up and running early inside the first three minutes. 

A good night for Rhys Bozinovski, scoring the opener for his second goal of the season. Jordan Lauton comes on the field in his place for the final half hour. 

Half-time in Tarneit and Western United hold a two-goal lead over the Wellington Phoenix. An in-swinging corner from Angus Thurgate found the head of Rhys Bozinovski for the opener inside the first three minutes, before the Phoenix defence collapsed again for Hiroshi Ibusuki to add the second just after the half-hour mark. 

Full-time in Tarneit and Western United have jumped back into second on the ladder with a convincing win over a disappointing Wellington Phoenix outfit. Leading by two goals at the break, the hosts sealed the three points with a second half double from Matthew Grimaldi. Nathan Walker added a late consolation for his first A-League goal, but it was far too late for the Phoenix. That makes it four defeats in a row for Wellington. Forget the calculators, it's safe to say they won't be playing finals football this season. 

Thurgate holds up play inside the attacking half, sending it wide for Vickery on the left. The substitute hooks a delivery into the back post, but it doesn't find a teammate, and Sutton clears off his left foot. 

The ball comes all the way back for Imai, and now the Phoenix push up and apply the press. it forces a hurried long ball from Leonard downfield, which Kelly-Heald meets with a hoof of his own on his left foot. 

Thurgate comes across to take the corner off the right, and floats it into the near post. Wellington get up to heds away though, and Sheridan tries to get a counter-attack going down the right flank. He's taken out by a shoulder from Leonard, and the Western defender picks up a yellow. There's a little bit of blood spilling from the nose of Sheridan too, so he'll come across to recieve a new shirt. 

Ibusuki trades passes with Danzaki near the top of the box, before seeing his pass into the box for Botic collected by Kelly-Heald. The keeper is quick to launch it away downfield, and Barbarouses runs in-behind. He cuts onto his right foot for a shot near the top of the box, but goes down under contact from Leonard, and the Phoenix win a free kick for Geraldes in strong set-piece position. 

Payne pushes back up to halfway, trading passes with Geraldes and Rufer in midfield. The Phoenix slow it down this time, but the high press comes on once more, and forces them deep. Kelly-Heald gives it away with a long ball to halfway, and Ibusuki runs back down the left.

Danzaki and Thurgate combine down the left as Western United come forward yet again. The latter tries a delivery into the box, but it deflects off Rufer and runs over the byline for another corner. 

Shamoon pushes forward down the left, but gives possession away with a wayward pass through the middle. Wellington are hurried in quickly trying to counter, but it's messy from Geraldes, and he gifts the ball straight back by knocking it over the sideline. 

TEAM NEWS: Wellington Phoenix - With the return of former All Whites international and hometown hero Marco Rojas, the Phoenix are pretty much back to full strength after a long list of injuries throughout the season. Rojas makes just his second start of the campaign, partnering Kosta Barbarouses up front, whilst the other change sees Corban Piper come back into the starting eleven for Nathan Walker. 

Western United get us underway! And they look to keep possession from the off, with Imai and Russell picking up a couple of early touches across the backline. Wellington press high and steal possession with Rufer, who finds Rojas in support. The latter threads a searching pass into the box for Barbarouses, but it's got too much on it and runs through for Sutton to collect in goal. 

Hello and welcome to Tribe’s live commentary of this A-League Men’s clash between Western United and the Wellington Phoenix. Without a win in five, Wellington’s finals hopes appear to be dashed, but they’ll at least be out to keep those faint dreams alive against a high-flying Western United outfit. I’m Harrison Ryburn and I’ll bring you all the action from Ironbark Fields in Tarneit. 

It feels as though Wellington have just settled down a little bit after a very shaky start. They continue to look vulnerable when playing out from the back though, and are struggling to keep Danzaki and Botic contained. Italiano is going to have to find a way to get Rojas involed down the other end, if they are to really test Sutton in goal. 

Retre gets the ball under control inside his own half, but he doesn't find a teammate, and Thurgate intercepts on halfway. He settles for a throw, and Western slow it down across the backline. 

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