Auckland vs Wellington Phoenix: What experts say each side needs to do to win

What does Wellington need to do?

Wellington needs to get off to a good start – that’s vital. If they can score an early goal, it will get the crowd into the game and make it even more difficult for Oakland. This is also important for their confidence with such a young squad. Everyone talks about how Oakland needs to find some cohesion in its first season, but this Phoenix team looks like a completely new team with all the changes it made in the offseason.

Their spines Scott Wootton and Costa Barbarouses will be crucial, while Tim Paine’s physical approach, as well as his ability to place precise crosses into the box, could make the difference in the match. New goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi will need to dominate his zone given the threat from Auckland and the number of crosses that will be coming his way. Finally, the young players will have to cope with this event, the most important of their entire short careers.

Forecast: Auckland 1 – 1 Wellington Phoenix

Jason Pyne – Newstalk ZB Weekend Sport presenter

What does Auckland need to do?

Oakland needs to find a cutting edge. Their three goals so far are an own goal, a centre-back backheel in the 97th minute and a neat goal from Logan Rogerson. Steve Corica will want his side to be more combative against a Wellington defense that concedes very few scoring opportunities.

What does Wellington need to do?

Wellington will have to feed off the energy of the crowd. There is no doubt that yellow fever will show up at the Sky Stadium and let visiting Aucklanders know they are in enemy territory. As much as players say they can’t hear the crowd, they can actually hear it. Crowded stands allowed Wellington to cross the line several times last season and it will happen again this weekend.

Forecast: Auckland 0 – 1 Wellington Phoenix

Bonnie Jansen – multimedia sports journalist

What does Wellington need to do?

Wellington must not bow down to the Black Knights – they must have confidence in themselves. They will have to cope with the pressure they will have as matchday hosts and experienced A-League opponents. They have a lot to lose, but also a lot to gain: they have the opportunity to silence their noisy little brothers in the north. This is their home game, their territory, they’ve been here before, and Oakland hasn’t.

Yes, the Black Knights have won two in a row in their first season, but this will be their toughest match yet as they take on last season’s semi-finalists in their first away game in the club’s history. Phoenix has the roster and coaching staff to help Oakland take its place—they just need to control their emotions and block out the noise. If Phoenix shirks or shows too much respect to their opponent, Oakland will punish them like they have punished every team they have played so far.

What does Auckland need to do?

Auckland can win this game by riling up the Wellingtonians as they have done since their launch last year. From the owners of Auckland FC to the staff, players and fans, they all arrived feeling like they had been here the whole time. They are not an A-League expansion team just to crunch the numbers, they want to win it from day one. From a billionaire owner to a streaker in the Knicks game in Oakland last season, to signing Alex Paulsen and other top All Whites, Oakland has gotten on Phoenix’s nerves – as David Dome’s comments before Derby: “It takes more than just money to succeed.”

Opening up some healthy banter to get into the Knicks’ heads might be all the Aucklanders need on Derby Day. With their status as underdogs and keeping the pressure on the hosts, the Black Knights were able to make a flawless start to their first season and go three out of three.

Forecast: Auckland 3 – 1 Wellington Phoenix

Alex Powell – sports editor NZ Herald Online

What does Auckland need to do?

Dominate, but be vigilant. With no disrespect meant, the Phoenix play very limited football; defend well and score when they can. Last season, no team in the A-League’s top six scored fewer regular-season goals than Phoenix’s 42. Conversely, no team conceded fewer than 26 goals.

They’ve more or less used the same game plan this season, with three of Phoenix’s goals coming from just four shots on target. This is why Oakland has to be ruthless and not give Phoenix the chance to play the game they want. Always keep them out of the way, don’t make mistakes and take risks when they come.

What does Wellington need to do?

Weather the storm. Last season we saw Phoenix get results against teams with better players and more cohesion than Oakland. They will have a better understanding of the game they want to play and will be able to take advantage of an Oakland team that is still trying to figure out how to operate as a cohesive unit.

However, depending on what form Giancarlo Italiano wants to play, Phoenix will have to be wary of Oakland’s offensive qualities. An early goal from Oakland could throw Phoenix’s entire game plan out the window.

Forecast: Auckland 2 – 0 Wellington Phoenix

Will Toogood – NZ Herald online sports editor

What does Auckland need to do?

In their first two games, Oakland masterfully destroyed the midfield. In particular against Sydney, the likes of Luis Verstraete and Luis Felipe Gallegos were able to snatch possession at key moments and were able to quickly turn it into an attack. The closure of the middle of the park forced the Sky Blues into dangerous areas on the flanks, and combined with Auckland’s press, it prevented the visitors from shooting primarily from outside the box.

Following the same theme, expansion will be key for those wearing blue and black. Rogerson and Gillion, with their dribbling and pace, have proven they are Auckland’s most powerful forwards in the two matches and Wellington’s stretch could then provide some space in the middle.

What does Wellington need to do?

Patience, patience and more patience. The hallmarks of Knicks’ victories last season were their ability to absorb pressure and take risks, but this is a new season and a new matchup. As I said above, the decisive battle is in the midfield, and Phoenix will have to fight in that space.

Despite what coach Italiano said this week, being at home will lift the Wellingtonians’ spirits and they need to capitalize on that, especially in the first half. Injuries mean their bench isn’t as strong as Auckland’s, but if they can score an early goal, their defense will be very difficult to break down.

Forecast: Auckland 1 – 1 Wellington Phoenix

Will Toogood is the magazine’s online sports editor. New Zealand Herald. He enjoys watching people kick a ball around on the grass so much that he decided to make a living from it.