Phoenix even more pumped up

• Published date: 04 May 2024
• Author: Football Jonty Dine
• Publication title: Daily Post, The (Rotorua, New Zealand)

The Wellington Phoenix head into their finals series in second spot on the A-League ladder following a dramatic conclusion to the regular season

The Phoenix’s fate was decided Wednesday night as minor premiers Central Coast Mariners defeated Adelaide 2-0 to claim top spot.

Phoenix fullback Sutton said it was a painful watch for the side seeing the minor premiership slip away.

The team was gathered on Courtenay Place watching the game together and obviously not the result they were after but, as Sutton says, it has only fired them up more ahead of the finals.

“Gutted at the result but it happens. Obviously after that first goal went in, it was definitely a rough moment but there’s there’s still heaps to play for so we’ve forgotten about that. We’ve had a good regular season and now we’re moving into the finals with confidence and we’re raring to go.”

The team will enjoy a week off due to finishing second but Sutton said it will not stall their momentum.

“That result has pumped us up even more, now we’re just looking forward to that semifinal, whoever we come up against, we’re going to be ready and we’ve come into training and worked really hard. The boys are in good spirits.”

In terms of a preferred opponent, he said they do not fear anyone so it did not matter who they faced. “Obviously each team brings different things. They’ve all got their pros. They’ve all got their cons.”

It will be a bit of a wait...