Alex Rufer (C) of the Phoenix celebrates after scoring a goal during the A-League. Photo: Masanori Udagawa
Wellington Phoenix managed to throw away three points at the death over the weekend - but at least it sets up a Waitangi bonanza in Wellington this afternoon.
Corey Brown's stoppage-time header earned Brisbane Roar a 1-1 draw with the Nix on Friday night. Giancarlo Italiano's men now face an in-form Central Coast Mariners in a top-of-the-table clash at Sky Stadium today at 4pm.
To say the Mariners are in form is actually an understatement. The reigning A-League champions have not lost a game since November and to make things more complicated for the Nix, star striker Oskar Zawada is back on the treatment table. However, two of their sure hands - Alex Rufer and Tim Payne - are back in contention after a spell on the naughty step. Their curmudgeonly doggedness will be crucial to halting the Mariner's moniker-appropriate swashbuckling attacking agency.
The Phoenix will be hoping that a public holiday can attract a bumper crowd to Sky Stadium. Those that forgot to book Monday off work and are therefore stuck in the capital might decide to come along, with kids go free an added incentive.
Nix general manager David Dome said ticket sales have been "slow" on Twitter or X or Neuralink - whatever Elon Musk's manifestation of madness is called these days. Dome recently told the press that a 25,000 attendance at the Ring of Fire would fund the club for a year - so hopefully walk-ins help the number creep up by 4pm.
Speaking of money, the January transfer window closed across most of the footballing world this week. The Phoenix added Youstin Salas to the ranks, but the Costa Rican international has pesky paperwork to sort out, delaying his debut until later this month.
The big news out of England, usually the biggest spenders at this time of year, is that frivolity has dried up. Spending had dropped 88 percent, a figure totalling a massive £750 million (roughly NZD$1.5 billion). The Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules have handcuffed most clubs to the squads assembled at the start of the season. Although, saying that, even the Saudi Pro League had a quiet spending season, indicative of the lack of movement across the globe and the lukewarm response to last year's mercenary recruitment process.
One Kiwi on the move was Marco Rojas. The winger has turned up at the Roar after a period of time out of contract after leaving Chilean side Colo Colo. Rojas is tipped as a potential no-brainer for the upcoming Auckland A-League franchise. With his deal in Queensland only until the end of the season, that still seems likely for a talented player who is nonetheless ambitiously dubbed the 'Kiwi Messi'.
Marco Rojas Photo: PHOTOSPORT
In other footballing news
The Wellington Phoenix women played out a 3-2 thriller with the Newcastle Jets over the weekend but two stunning second-half goals meant another winless trip over the Tasman. Brianna Edwards again picked up the headlines. After last week's penalty heroics the second-choice stopper pulled off arguably the save of the season in the first half.
In the Premier League, Arsenal blew the title race open with a scintillating 3-1 victory against Liverpool. Their players and manager then celebrated as if they had won the crown already, setting off a cacophony of ex-pros turned pundits in uniform criticism. "Don't kill the joy," said Ian Wright in response and he's right, although Mikel Arteta and his crew's frolicking did feel provocatively performative.
But if you do want joy, look no further than Luton Town. Tipped by some to be the Premier League's worst ever team they are taking it to the big boys in a week where they thrashed Brighton 4-0 and played out a 4-4 draw with Saudi-backed Newcastle United. You basically walk through someone's front garden to get into Luton's Kenilworth Road stadium and their captain Tom Lockyer is currently recovering from a cardiac arrest suffered earlier this season so this is all very much against-all-odds territory. There's a feel-good survival story brewing there and I'm here for it.
Gabriel Osho of Luton Town celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Luton Town at St. James Park. Photo: Matt McNulty
Meanwhile, Emerse Fae looks like taking Ivory Coast from lucky losers to hometown heroes at the African Cup of Nations. The interim coach, who once called his manager stupid in an ill-fated Premier League stint at Reading, is galvanising a team who perhaps thought the same thing about their ex-boss, Jean-Louis Gasset, who was sacked midway through the competition. They now face DR Congo in the semi-finals, with Nigeria or South Africa awaiting in the final.