Normally an A-League clash with three points on offer is meaningful enough, but with a new ‘Long Distance Derby Cup’ set-up in collaboration between the two clubs to acknowledge the 5255km distance between the two cities, much more is at stake than just mere points.
If there wasn’t already enough of a burden on each of the teams, this fixture has taken on a completely new significance, as the Cup will be decided over the three games between the two clubs.
The captains of both teams welcomed the move to create a trophy. Wellington Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante was quick to state the importance of getting a win in the first derby match-up.
“I think it is a great initiative to get it up and running and we will be aiming to get off to a winning start in Perth on Sunday,” he told the press.
The opposing skipper, Perth Glory captain Richard Garcia, also supported the initiative, saying it would serve as extra motivation for fans and players of the New Zealand and Australian A-League competitors.
“The distance between our two teams is something that needs to be honoured and celebrated in the competition and I think it’s fantastic that both clubs have put their heads together and have come up with something the players and fans can get excited about.”
With both teams suffering first round losses, the pressure is well and truly on for each of the sides to bounce back with a win in the derby. The 2-1 home loss for the Phoenix against the Jets was arguably more damaging, as they now face the daunting journey to Perth’s nib Stadium, to face a Glory side that lost 3-2 away from home against the Central Coast Mariners.
A Perth Glory side looking to put last season’s off-field turmoil behind them, with a new look-team of players, employed a 4-4-2 formation and scored two goals against a determined Central Coast Mariners, with new Glory captain Garcia leading the way. However, for all their solid attack, the Glory gave away two penalties that were duly dispatched by Mariners left-sided-striker Fabio Ferreira. The only other bright spot for the Glory in a disappointing game was Hungarian Gyorgy Sandor registering a consolation goal moments before the final whistle.
After the salary cap breaches and disappointment of being banned from the playoffs last year, fans of Perth Glory will need Kenny Lowe and his charges to regain their faith this season. Their first performance at home in Round two this season is a chance to put together a run similar to the first half of last season (albeit one within in the rules) to get fans back onside with the club.
Despite dominating all of the stats in their opener, the Phoenix, playing an attacking 4-3-3 formation, were also undone by defensive mishaps, failing to deal with crosses in their match with the Jets. Far from being outplayed, the Nix were on-top for the majority of the match, until the key moment just after the half-time break when chief penalty taker Krishna missed from the spot and the momentum shifted to the opposition.
An injury worry for the Nix is Durante, who limped off in the 26th minute of the opener with the recurrence of a calf injury to be replaced by Tom Doyle. The extent of the injury can only be speculated on, but the Nix were already moving to cover their ageing centre-backs with the news that the club have bolstered their defensive stocks by signing 21-year-old Dylan Fox from New South Wales team Bonnyrigg White Eagles on a two-year contract, in addition to confirmation of Justin Gulley’s professional contract offer earlier in the week.
READ MORE – Wellington Phoenix 1 Newcastle Jets 2
With so much at stake for these international opponents and now derby rivals, expect a tense and tetchy encounter. It will be interesting to see how the Glory line-up at home against the Nix, with two big home games to follow within the week (an FFA cup semi-final against Melbourne City on Wednesday and then another Sunday encounter with Adelaide United).
And so, the A-Leagues newest “derby with a difference”, according to Durante, will begin this Sunday in Perth and history will be created as world football christens the longest distance derby in any professional league.
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