Wellington Phoenix visit Tassie for the second time in a few months

Photo:  Yan Sasse shoots and opens the scoring for Wellington Phoenix against Western United on Friday night.  Wellington met Devonport Strikers in the FA Cup at Valley Road last season.  [PlessPix] 

Last Friday’s A-League game in Launceston (17 February 2023) was poorly attended.

I saw one figure of 2,500 mentioned, and another of 2,000.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it was less than 2,000.

There were plenty of empty seats.

Photo:  Half-time in Launceston, with Wellington Phoenix leading Western United 1-0. [PlessPix] 

The attendance was much less than at North Hobart, when Western United beat Sydney FC 1-0 on 21 January 2023.

Friday’s game was the first that Western United has lost in Tasmania in six outings.

Photo:  A section of the crowd at UTAS Stadium. [PlessPix] 

Wellington Phoenix was the better side, a fact readily acknowledged by Western United’s coach, John Aloisi.

Ufuk Talay has transformed Wellington since he took the reins in 2019.

His transfer policy has been sensible and he has signed some useful recruits.

Photo:  Ufuk Talay issuing instructions to his Wellington team during play. [PlessPix] 

Brazilian Yan Madeiros Sasse, Bulgarian international Bozhidar Kraev, and the Pole, Oskar Zawada, have been important and influential signings and they scored the three goals on Friday night.

The pitch at UTAS Stadium was in perfect condition.

I know it’s an oval, and some reckon the spectators are too far from the action, but it’s not the only such A-League venue.

And, there are plenty pf circular or oval stadiums overseas, with running tracks around them, so what’s the problem?

It would be lovely to have a rectangular stadium in Tasmania for football, but in the meantime, let’s just get on with it.

Photo:  Wellington's Bulgarian international, Bozhidar Kraev, gets past Western United's Neil Kilkenny.  Kraev scored a brilliant goal to put his side 2-0 ahead. [PlessPix] 

I hope there will be more A-League games here in coming seasons.

Our last attempt to get a Tasmanian A-League team was rejected because we don’t have a rectangular stadium.

That was a bit disingenuous, especially given the fact we had the money.

When you’ve got the money and they still don’t want you, it smells of bias.

Anyway, let’s hope future bids will have greater success.

Photo:  Wellington's Oskar Zawada (left) confronted by Western United's Japanese defender, Tomoki Imai. [PlessPix] 

In the meantime, there has been talk of a second division in Australian football, with the possibility of eventual promotion and relegation between the A-League and this proposed second division.

I am intrigued whether any Tasmanian clubs will put their hands up.

Photo:  Wellington's Alex Rufer tries to get past Western United's Tongo Doumbia. [PlessPix] 

The conditions are demanding.

For example, a club would have to have a suitable venue available for 12 months of the year, and the players would have to be paid 12 months of the year.

There will be many a potential slip between the cup and the lip, but let’s see what happens.

Photo:  Wellington's Callan Elliot (left) takes on Western United's James Troisi. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  A close shave for the Wellington defence. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Western United's James Troisi (left) attempts to cut off a pass by Alex Rufer. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Western United's James Troisi tries to keep pace with Wellington Phoenix's Bozhidar Kraev. [PlessPix] 

Photo:  Yan Sasse is congratulated by his Wellington Phoenix team-mates after his excellent opening goal. [PlessPix] 

Photo:  Western United's James Troisi (left) tries to outwit Wellington Phoenix's Callan Elliot. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Western United's Alessandro Diamanti (right) warms up before coming on as a substitute. [PlessPix]