Soccer: Herbert prepared for international juggle

The Phoenix face a disrupted build-up to their A-League playoff match against Newcastle. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert faces a juggling act of mammoth proportions to get his team fit and coherent for their second A-League playoff match.

Moments after his team's dramatic 4-2 defeat of the Perth Glory on penalties in Wellington last night, Herbert was contemplating the frayed nature of their preparation for the minor semifinal at home to Newcastle on March 7.

International commitments mean at least five of the likely Phoenix starting 11 will barely kick a ball in Wellington ahead of the match.

"It's pretty disruptive, if I'm honest," said Herbert, who himself leaves today for a four-day World Cup reconnaissance trip to South Africa with All Whites management.

More problematic from a Phoenix perspective is the New Zealand friendly against Mexico in Los Angeles on March 4 (NZT). Herbert and four key Phoenix players - Tim Brown, Leo Bertos, Ben Sigmund and Tony Lochhead - will return to the capital one day before the playoff on March 6.

Central defenders Andrew Durante and Jon McKain also face an Asian Cup qualifying match for Australia against Indonesia four days out from the match. McKain, at least, is unlikely to face Newcastle unless the Phoenix can successfully appeal his sending off last night following a second yellow card offence.

Assistant coaches Luciano Trani and Jonathan Gould will take charge of the remainder of the Phoenix squad while Herbert and the international players are away.

"There's always going to be a compromise with international players in your team," Herbert said.

"I think it's great, I'd rather be balancing it than not. Who wouldn't want World Cup players at an A-League club?"

Herbert couldn't suppress a smile after the dramatic end to the club's first foray into playoff football.

After 120 minutes of bone-crunching action, relatively bereft of goalmouth colour, the scores were locked 1-1 courtesy of a first half strike by Phoenix poacher Chris Greenace. Perth's response came in the second spell via the head of impressive winger Scott Neville.

Buoyed by a club record crowd of nearly 25,000, the Phoenix responded superbly to the pressure of the penalty shootout.

Goalkeeper Liam Reddy was the hero when executing two sharp saves of decent shots from Naum Sekulovski and Scott Bulloch.

Herbert said penalties hadn't been a focus in the leadup to the match, backing his players' experience to handle the occasion.

"What pleased me is that we went into that extremely strong and focused. It was four quality penalties and we never missed," Herbert said.

"The right people had to step up, captains (Durante), vice captains (Brown), quality imports (Paul Ifill) and they delivered for us.

Adrian Caceres was the fourth player used, with his winning penalty sparking celebratory scenes in front of the deafening "Yellow Fever" section of the crowd.

Herbert said defender Troy Hearfield was in line to take the fifth penalty if needed.

The Phoenix have extended their unbeaten run in Wellington to 18 matches and Herbert believed that could play on Newcastle's psyche in the leadup.

"Probably the last team they want to play now is us. That's four (wins) on the bounce and we're a strong side doing things well and winning football games," Herbert said.

Perth captain Jacob Burns, who played 118 minutes in the midfield while nursing a hamstring strain, voiced disappointment at his team's inability to finish their chances.

"We kind of played them off the pitch but if you don't put the ball in the back of the net, it normally comes back to bite you It's a hard way to go out."

- NZPA