Phoenix look to break Auckland FC dominance in NZ A-League derby

Sport Nation • February 20th, 2026 2:42 pm

Auckland FC hung on with nine men to win a lively Kiwi derby against the Phoenix in Wellington | Photo: Masanori Udagawa/Photosport

With the sixth installment of the New Zealand derby set to play out on Saturday, the Wellington Phoenix are still hunting for their first win in the contest.

Auckland FC currently sit four points off the top of the A-League table in second, while the team from the Capital sit 10th - four shy of a place in the Finals.

The Managers of both teams, Steve Corica of Auckland and Giancarlo Italiano of Wellington, spoke to Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy about the grudge match.

“I think it’s so important,” Corica said about having a New Zealand derby.

“I’ve seen it with the Sydney derbies, the Melbourne derbies, it’s good to have.”

“With five wins out of five, we want to make it six.”

The two derbies so far this season have been cagey affairs, with a red card being branded in each, something Corica isn’t hoping for, although he does love the passion these games bring.

“It’s been feisty,” the Black Knights manager said. “I think that’s what you want from a derby. I don’t obviously want red cards from my team, but you want them to be up for the challenge and getting stuck in there as well.

“We’ve done well down there before and we’re hoping to steal the three points and take it home with us.”

NZ Derby from the POV of an Auckland FC fan | Studs Up!

The man in charge of stopping this one-sided run, Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano, just wants his team to put together a solid performance.

“I don’t think there’s a lack of belief in the group,” the gaffer said.

“It’s more about consistency. The league is so competitive this year and you really have to just knuckle down.”

With Auckland FC managing to score inside the first 10 minutes of the last two NZ derbies, Italiano isn’t trying to let that define his team.

“I don’t think any coach plans to concede early,” Chiefy said. “I think the worst thing you can do is always talk about it because then it becomes a thing.

“The negative is obviously conceding goals early, put you under the pump. But what it’s actually done for us in the long term is we’re actually quite resilient even when we concede.

“The boys have learned how to fight because of it so there is a positive. But if you ask me, I like clean sheets.”

The Wellington Phoenix play host to the reigning Premiers Auckland FC tomorrow at 5pm.

Listen to the full Steve Corica interview below: