Wellington Phoenix’s hopes of reviving their A-League men’s season were undone by a disastrous seven-minute spell in the second half, as Newcastle Jets surged to a 1–3 win in Wellington.
After a largely even first half that ended scoreless, the match swung decisively between the 50th and 57th minutes, when the Jets struck three times to seize control and climb off the bottom of the table. Deflections, defensive lapses and poor positioning proved costly for the Phoenix, leaving coach Giancarlo Italiano openly frustrated with his side’s second-half performance and defensive intensity.
Although Wellington pulled one goal back through Ifeanyi Eze’s well-taken header, the damage was already done. The result handed the Jets maximum points from their New Zealand road trips this season, lifting them to eighth on the ladder, while the Phoenix slumped to their fourth defeat and dropped to 11th, deepening concerns about their form and resilience.
