The Wellington Phoenix ended a three-game losing streak with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Newcastle Jets in Wellington, marking their first home victory of the A-League season.
Kosta Barbarouses opened the scoring with a stunning long-range strike in the third minute, and Paulo Retre doubled the lead in the 59th minute with his first goal for the Phoenix in his 199th A-League appearance.
Despite Ben Gibson pulling one back for the Jets in the 73rd minute, the Phoenix held firm to secure three vital points. Captain Alex Rufer praised the team’s resilience and highlighted the importance of the win as they aim to rebuild momentum after a challenging run.
The victory moved the Phoenix up two spots to seventh on the table, with their next challenge against Melbourne City on New Year’s Eve.
