Uncharacteristic defending has cost the Wellington Phoenix in the second New Zealand derby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Auckland FC have beaten the Phoenix 2-1 at Go Media Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland to extend their lead at the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League.
The competition newcomers went ahead in the 31st<\/sup> minute from an own goal, and doubled their advantage midway through the second-half from a set piece before Kosta Barbarouses scored his fourth goal of the season to set up a frantic finale.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano paid credit to Auckland for claiming all three points, but expressed his disappointment with the two goals his side conceded, \u201cespecially the first one\u201d.
\u201cI\u2019ll have to look at it again closely, but I thought it was uncharacteristic,\u201d Italiano told media post-match.
\u201cI think we had one player step out when they shouldn\u2019t have\u2026and probably should have defended that better.
\u201cAnd then the set piece I thought was pretty weak. It wasn\u2019t much of a challenge at the back. Very uncharacteristic. We defend the set pieces quite well.
\u201cBut\u2026I\u2019m pleased because at two-nil usually the game is done. We showed some fight and scored and maybe a little bit more time we probably would have got the equaliser.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n