Well done Wellington Phoenix

When Newcastle United beat Sydney FC four-nil on Tuesday night, the gulf between the English Premier League and the A-League was there for all to see. So expectations were modest for the Wellington Phoenix when the side took on West Ham United at Eden Park last night.

But it was fairytale stuff for the 'Nix; Stuff reports:

West Ham United have had their Premier League bags sent packing, stunned 2-1 by the Wellington Phoenix in Auckland tonight.
Two goals in the first half-hour of the Eden Park exhibition saw captain Andrew Durante and Alex Rodriguez dispatch excellent finishes to give the Phoenix one of their most iconic victories in the short history of the A-League club - and one which will no doubt be remembered for years to come.
In fact, Wellington Phoenix captain Durante described it as a win for the entire country.
"First and foremost, beating a Premier League side is a huge achievement for this club," Durante said.
"It's great, it was a great feeling. The team are very excited. It was a big occasion for us and a big occasion for New Zealand. We're just glad that we contributed to a pretty good game.
"Credit to West Ham, they put us under the pump, especially toward the end of the game. Ernie spoke to us all week about just enjoying ourselves, not going into our shell and letting the occasion overawe us."
Phoenix coach, Ernie Merrick, said it was important to keep feet planted on the ground and the performance represented a positive step.
"You know me, I'm very careful not to get carried away with something like this," Merrick said.
"Glen Moss pulled off a couple of great saves, it could have gone the other way but there are a lot of good signs. I won't get carried away with it. West Ham were a wee bit unlucky today.
"It was crucial for us to put on a good performance, to win the ball and keep it. Our real strength was a rock-solid backline who were well protected by a bank of midfielders. 
"For the boys to perform like that, it was outstanding."
Merrick said the important thing was now for his side to re-focus for Saturday's game against Newcastle United.
"We want to play well there. My concern is getting them to recover for the next one." 

In a result which the Phoenix back office might have dreamed of, but would never have seriously considered, Saturday's double-header in Wellington has turned into a genuine series final. The two losers, West Ham United and Sydney FC will play for pride and third place. And the two Round One winners will be playing the main game, and the Phoenix players will have the unparalleled opportunity to claim two EPL scalps in the space of just a few days.

We heard last night from a Wellington friend there are just 4000 tickets left for Saturday's double-header. Unfortunately, we have a couple of commitments we can't break on Saturday, or we would be there. But we reckon those remaining tickets will be snapped up quickly, and the Ring of Fire will be packed to the rafters on Saturday.

The Wellington Phoenix organisation deserves lots of credit for taking a punt and organising the tour by Newcastle and West Ham. Here's hoping the financial results are good enough for them to make it, if not an annual at least a regular event on the footballing calendar. If nothing else, the 'Nix players have shown that the EPL sides venturing down to New Zealand will be given a good pre-season test.

Tweet of the Day - 23 July 2014

We blogged earlier in the week about the tragic death of Newcastle United football fans John Alder and Liam Sweeney in the MH17 disaster. As Dave Goosselink from 3News tweeted last night, Newcastle United and Sydney FC acknowledged the tragedy before they went head-to-head in Dunedin last night:

Tonight attention turns to Eden Park in Auckland for the match between West Ham United and the Wellington Phoenix. By a quirk of extremely bad timing, we will be arriving home FROM Auckland where we have been attending a computer conference just as the match kicks off! Had we twigged as to the dates, we would have extended our stay in Auckland.

This tour is a brilliant initiative by the Phoenix. Here's hoping the club is rewarded with a bumper crowd in Auckland tonight, even if we are not amongst it.

A sad consequence of MH17

Football supporters in New Zealand will acknowledge two of the victims of the MH17 tragedy this week; Football Australia reports:

The tragic deaths of Newcastle United fans John Alder and Liam Sweeney in the MH17 air disaster will be marked at the club’s games against Sydney FC in Dunedin on Tuesday and Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium on July 26.
Wellington Phoenix General Manager David Dome said the club’s thoughts were with the supporters’ families and everyone connected with the English Premier League club, players, fans, staff and owners as well as the families of everyone on the crashed aircraft.

There are all sorts of awful stories about victims of the terrorist attack on MH17. But this one struck us as especially poignant. That's because John Alder was not your average football supporter; read on:

“It is terrible that this should happen when John and Liam were setting out on an exciting adventure to support the club they loved,” Dome said.
“I believe John has only missed one Newcastle United game since 1973 and he was coming all this way to keep that remarkable record intact.”
Dome said both teams would wear black armbands at Newcastle’s games in New Zealand, and that the club was looking at other ways for those at the games to pay their respects.

To have seen every match that your side has played, bar one, over a period of 41 years is dedication on an incredible level. But his dedication to Newcastle United has cost him and his friend their lives.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy. But when Newcastle United plays its matches in New Zealand this week, we'll have a special prayer for John Alder and Liam Sweeney and their grieving families and friends. Arohanui John and Liam.