The Wellington Phoenix need three points against Sydney FC to keep their A-League playoff hopes alive. Photo / Getty Images
With hopes of making the A-League soccer playoffs still alive for Wellington Phoenix, all eyes tomorrow are on their make-or-break game against Sydney FC in Wellington.
In phoenix-like style, the team rose again against the Newcastle Jets last week, entering the match just one point clear of cellar
dwellers Perth Victory, and pulling off a 3-2 win to move up the table to within five points of the fourth-placed Jets.
In order to make the top four, the Phoenix must now win all of their remaining games, which captain Ross Aloisi admitted to NZPA was a tall order.
"We're going to take it one game at a time. Obviously it's everyone's ambition to make it to the top four, but it's going to be pretty hard, (we) pretty much have to win all three of our games."
Tomorrow night's game against Sydney is set to be the most difficult of those three crucial games.
Sydney, who have won their last six games, did appear to be on somewhat of a roll, but Aloisi said Wellington were was excited about the game, having done well against Sydney in the past.
"We're in front of our home crowd and it's our last home game for the season if we don't make the finals, and we want to put on a good performance and get a great result for our fans."
Wellington's performance could hampered by the absence of three suspended midfielders, with Tim Brown and Vince Lia sitting the match out after each received their fourth yellow card against Newcastle, and Daniel serving the second week of a two-week suspension.
Adding to those concerns, there is also doubt surrounding Aloisi, who has missed the last five games due to injury.
Coach Ricki Herbert shrugged off the pressure of the team's need-to-win position and was positive about his team's prospects at nabbing a top four placing.
"Everyone's got excited about that now - yeah we've got a chance."
With the season drawing to a close, Herbert said he was pleased with how the season had gone for the Phoenix.
"I think it's been very successful - I think it's put professional football in New Zealand where it needs to be, and across the Tasman they're very pleased with what we've done.
"We're an integral part of the league now," he said.
- NZPA
