Tobias Bertsch got the visitors off to a cracking start with a goal just two minutes into the game, but slack defending allowed Daniel Saric and Emiliano Tade to turn the deficit around inside a minute.
Wellington Phoenix ‘A’ coach Chris Greenacre was pleased with the performance, if not the result.
“We shot ourselves in the foot conceding two sloppy goals and we created one or two opportunities ourselves. The second half was more even. It wasn’t about the result it was more about the performance,” Greenacre says.
The former Phoenix striker also had a high opinion of Auckland City’s performance.
“It’s great for our players to play against the quality of player that Auckland City has got,” he says. “It was a great opportunity for our players to test themselves against the best players in New Zealand and that’s what they’ve done tonight.”
Auckland dominated the match for long periods and grabbed their third just before the halftime break when Tade broke through and lobbed goalkeeper Scott Basalaj.
The result gave Auckland City its second win in four days after an ASB Charity Cup defeat to rivals Waitakere.
Coach Ramon Tribulietx was pleased with the exercise just a month out from the FIFA Club World Cup play-off in Yokohama on December 6.
“We tried to make sure we played our patterns of possession and – against very good opposition – I think we did that,” he says.
“It’s great for us to have an opportunity to play against the Phoenix ‘A’, they’re a professional club with some good players from the ASB Premiership and for us it was a great chance to exercise and practice our style against a top side.”
Despite the win, Tribulietx may have an injury concern over FIFA Club World Cup appearance record holder Daniel Koprivcic who picked up a knock.
Ivan Vicelich – selected for the All Whites for the away friendly in China – was rested for youngster Simon Arms.
The Phoenix ‘A’ side was comprised of mainly current or past ASB Premiership players including Luke Rowe, Hamish Watson, and Tom Biss, while first teamers Tyler Boyd, Benjamin Totori and Dani Sanchez also got game time.
“We haven’t had much of an opportunity to work with the team and it is difficult because we haven’t worked with the group for a week due to circumstances, but we would never use that as an excuse,” Greenacre says.
Auckland City’s next match is away to Otago United in the ASB Premiership at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Sunday at 2pm.
The next Phoenix Challenge match sees Chris Greenacre’s team take on Canterbury United at ASB Football Park in Christchurch on November 28.
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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