{"id":323261,"date":"2024-10-25T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/?p=323261"},"modified":"2024-10-25T16:15:24","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T03:15:24","slug":"isuzu-ute-a-league-round-2-match-preview-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/news\/isuzu-ute-a-league-round-2-match-preview-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Isuzu UTE A-League Round 2 Match Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano is expecting \u201ca reaction\u201d from a wounded Perth Glory in the first distance derby of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two sides will square off at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday night, six days after the Glory were humbled 6-1 by Macarthur FC in the opening round.<br><br>Italiano expects new Perth coach David Zdrilic will have galvanised his team this week.<br><br>\u201cKnowing Zdrila I think he\u2019ll refocus them and I could even potentially see a formation change according to the players that he has,\u201d Italiano told media via zoom from Perth on Friday.<br><br>\u201cI can\u2019t see them dropping off or doing anything to contain a result. I\u2019m pretty sure they will continue and probably double down in their pressing, which has been a cornerstone of their whole pre-season.<br><br>\u201cBut I think primarily there\u2019ll be a reaction from the group, and I expect there will probably be changes to align with players that can do what he needs more consistently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Press Conference - Giancarlo Italiano speaks on RD-2 against Perth Glory FC\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OTxHLqhADnA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>He has read little into Perth\u2019s round one performance.<br><br>\u201cThese things can happen. If teams aren\u2019t switched on and you\u2019re playing a quality team like Macarthur, who have a lot of quality and experienced players, you can get punished.<br><br>\u201cLast week is last week. Our focus is on this week and I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll be a different team.\u201d<br>Giancarlo Italiano has been more concerned with building on the Phoenix\u2019s season opening 1-1 draw with Western United.<br><br>\u201cThe one thing that was probably frustrating was the lack of defensive discipline in the last 20 minutes that we were accustomed to from last season.<br><br>\u201cThere were a lot of positives. With the ball I thought we were very good for large parts of that game. Up until the 65<sup>th<\/sup> or 68<sup>th<\/sup> minute we had close to 65% of the ball and we made a lot of clear chances.<br><br>\u201cI\u2019d like to think that we\u2019re one week better, the cohesion of the team is a little bit improved and so on.<br><br>\u201cAgain, I still think we need time as a group. The make-up of the team compared to last year it\u2019s a relatively new team. We have maybe four\/five starters [returning].<br><br>\u201cThe gel, the cohesion, the chemistry takes a long period of time to build so I like to build on what we did against Western United.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"323272\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/news\/isuzu-ute-a-league-round-2-match-preview-2\/a-league-men-rd-1-wellington-phoenix-v-western-united-fc-6\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2179671220.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"4912,3275\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Getty Images&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 9&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - OCTOBER 20: Head coach Giancarlo Italiano of the Phoenix arrives for the round one A-League Men match between Wellington Phoenix and Western United at Sky Stadium, on October 20, 2024, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters\\\/Getty Images)&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1729431590&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;2024 Getty Images&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;A-League Men Rd 1 - Wellington Phoenix v Western United FC&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"A-League Men Rd 1 &#8211; Wellington Phoenix v Western United FC\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND &#8211; OCTOBER 20: Head coach Giancarlo Italiano of the Phoenix arrives for the round one A-League Men match between Wellington Phoenix and Western United at Sky Stadium, on October 20, 2024, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters\/Getty Images)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2179671220.jpg?w=300\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2179671220.jpg?w=1200\" height=\"800\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2179671220.jpg?w=1200\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-323272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2179671220.jpg 4912w, https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2179671220.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2179671220.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2179671220.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2179671220.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2179671220.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND &#8211; OCTOBER 20: Head coach Giancarlo Italiano of the Phoenix arrives for the round one A-League Men match between Wellington Phoenix and Western United at Sky Stadium, on October 20, 2024, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Phoenix have been in Perth since Tuesday, giving the players and staff extra time to get over the jetlag.<br><br>\u201cThere were a couple of reasons why we came in early. One is obviously acclimatisation and getting used to the time difference, which is always a significant factor.<br><br>\u201cI\u2019m not sure we\u2019ve hit the right balance in the six years I\u2019ve been here. We\u2019ve tried a week [lead-in], we\u2019ve also tried a shorter lead-in and so on.<br><br>\u201cThis time I\u2019ve decided to train according to the kick-off time to get the boys acclimatised. We\u2019ll see if that works on Saturday.<br><br>\u201cThe other reason why we came in early as well was so that the group could spend an extended period of time together, almost like a pre-season camp, which always helps the group and gels the group together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"323273\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/news\/isuzu-ute-a-league-round-2-match-preview-2\/24-10-18-alm-training-16\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/24-10-18-ALM-Training-16.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"3031,2024\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark III&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1729249513&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"24-10-18 ALM Training-16\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/24-10-18-ALM-Training-16.jpg?w=300\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/24-10-18-ALM-Training-16.jpg?w=1200\" height=\"801\" width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/24-10-18-ALM-Training-16.jpg?w=1200\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-323273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/24-10-18-ALM-Training-16.jpg 3031w, https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/24-10-18-ALM-Training-16.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/24-10-18-ALM-Training-16.jpg?resize=768,513 768w, https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/24-10-18-ALM-Training-16.jpg?resize=1200,801 1200w, https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/24-10-18-ALM-Training-16.jpg?resize=1536,1026 1536w, https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/10\/24-10-18-ALM-Training-16.jpg?resize=2048,1368 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Stefan Colakovski is all smiles at Wellington Phoenix training at NZCIS ahead of the team&#8217;s trip to Perth. Photo: Cam McIntosh\/Photomac.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Former Perth forward Stefan Colakovski and All Whites fullback Sam Sutton travelled with the extended Phoenix squad on Tuesday after missing the draw with Western due to a lack of match fitness and illness respectively.<br><br>\u201cThe advantage of the extra week\u2019s training means that he (Colakovski) has more loads in his legs, is less of an injury risk if he\u2019s involved, and that\u2019s something we\u2019re going to manage, but he\u2019s available to be used.<br><br>\u201cSutts\u2019 illness, knock on wood, is all gone. He\u2019s been running freely at training, is very mobile and back to his energetic best.\u201d<br><br>The second round Isuzu UTE A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory is scheduled to kick-off at HBF Park in Perth at 11:45pm (6:45pm AWST) Saturday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 1 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia.<strong><br><br>Most recent meeting:<\/strong> 24 February 2024 \u2013 Perth Glory 0 Wellington Phoenix 0<br><br><strong>All-time A-League head-to-head:<\/strong> Phoenix 20W, Glory 20W &amp; 12D.<strong><br><br>Wellington Phoenix squad <\/strong><em>(two to be omitted on matchday)<\/em><strong>:\u00a0<\/strong>1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI, 12. Mo AL-TAAY, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 19. Sam SUTTON, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 36. Xuan LOKE, 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER.<br><strong>Unavailable:\u00a0<\/strong>8. Paulo RETRE (injured), 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES (injured), 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD (injured), 21. Marco ROJAS (injured).<br><br><strong>Perth Glory squad <\/strong><em>(two to be omitted on matchday)<\/em><strong>:\u00a0<\/strong>1. Oli SAIL (gk), 3. Anas HAMZAOUI, 4. Luke BODNAR, 6. Brandon O\u2019NEILL, 9. David WILLIAMS, 11. Hiroaki AOYAMA, 12. Taras GOMULKA, 13. Cameron COOK (gk), 14. Nathanael BLAIR, 15. Zach LISOLAJSKI, 16. Adam BUGARIJA, 17. Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 18. Cristian CAICEDO, 21. Abdul FAISAL, 22. Adam TAGGART (c), 24. Andriano LEBIB, 26. Khoa NGO, 27. Will FRENEY, 28. Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI, 33. Luis CANGA.<br><strong>Unavailable:\u00a0<\/strong>5. Lachlan BARR (injured), 7. Nicholas PENNINGTON (injured), 8. Mustafa AMINI (injured), 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC (injured), 19. Josh RISDON (injured).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Press Conference - Fin Roa Conchie speaks on the upcoming match against Perth Glory FC\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/x-Lwq7W2Gag?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Main image:<\/em> <\/strong><em>Cam McIntosh\/Photomac.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":254,"featured_media":323271,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[329,330,338,356,343],"tags":[],"competition":[],"acf":{"match_card_embed_league":null,"match_card_embed_club":null,"match_card_embed_match":false,"match_card_embed_disable":false,"auto_publish_updates":true,"reference_article":null,"article_featured_video":"","article_featured_video_tagline":"","article_byline":"","article_media_type":"news","article_video":"","gallery":"","shared_ffa_source":"keepup","shared_hide_in_app":false,"article_player":"","article_team":"","article_competition":"","article_match":"","credit":"","related_articles":"","push_to_social":false,"priority":1,"sport":false,"language":"en","private_content":false,"access_level":"","article_id":"","app_featured_image":null,"article_content_group":"news"},"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/news\/isuzu-ute-a-league-round-2-match-preview-2\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Isuzu 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