oops.snigger snigger. West Ham United have had their Premier League bags sent packing

Wellington Phoenix stun EPL giants West Ham


SIMON PLUMB


Two first-half goals have helped the Wellington Phoenix beat West Ham United at Eden Park in Auckland.



Alejandro Rodriguez
Getty Images

GO ON MY SON: Alejandro Rodriguez celebrates scoring for the Wellington Phoenix.

Matt Jarvis
Getty Images

BOUNCE OF A BALL: Matt Jarvis of West Ham chases the ball under pressure from Manny Muscat of the Phoenix at Eden Park.







West Ham United have had their Premier League bags sent packing, stunned 2-1 by the Wellington Phoenix in Auckland tonight.

Two goals in the first half-hour of the Eden Park exhibition saw captain Andrew Durante and Alex Rodriguez dispatch excellent finishes to give the Phoenix one of their most iconic victories in the short history of the A-League club - and one which will no doubt be remembered for years to come.

The New Zealand tour of West Ham United and Newcastle United had been billed as a Premier League experience for Kiwi fans. But so far, the reality has been pure, unadulterated FA Cup.


It was the multi-millionaire world stars against the underdogs, the have's against the have-nots - and reminders of the gulf between the teams were everywhere.

In contrast to the audacious, heated leather sports car seats at the Boleyn Ground, West Ham's substitutes and management had to make do with plastic garden furniture lined up on the side of the Eden Park pitch.

Instead of the intense atmosphere of a sold-out Boleyn Ground, it was a chant-free stadium with plenty of spare seats. And on the field with the multimillion dollar assets were also the likes of Albert Riera, who wasn't even playing for a professional club a matter of months ago. The stage was well and truly set.

And in just the 11th minute, the very essence of the FA Cup, the dream of a famous giant-killing, came to life.

When Mark Noble cynically hauled Nathan Burns to the ground by his shirt, the Phoenix earned a free kick close to the West Ham by-line and the edge of the penalty area.

Noticing his captain running unmarked into the near post, Rodriguez pinged his cross in for Durante to glance superbly past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Fifteen minutes later Phoenix fans were less pinching themselves, more slapping each other around the face when Rodriguez turned from provider to goalscorer and doubled the lead.

Winning a 50/50 ball 35 metres out, the West Ham defence invited Rodriguez on, he obliged, and after a couple of touches shot form the edge of the box and bustled the right of Jaaskelainen's net.

West Ham weren't without their moments, with their slick passing and rapid attacks incising the Phoenix almost at leisure. The pace clearly took the Phoenix by surprise out of the gate, with both All Whites captain Winston Reid and Cheikhou Kouyate receiving clumsy, potentially dangerous - though not intentional - tackles. The challenges were simply just late.

At the break, the faces of West Ham's players trudging off the field said it all. The giant-killing was well and truly on.

The size and strength of the Londoners saw them force possession but even through the second half, when they were trying to press the issue as Sam Allardyce made nine substitutions, the Phoenix stuck to their task and played with confidence and cohesion.


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To their credit, the A-League side refused to sit on the two-goal lead and just after the hour and could easily have been 4-0 up.

Nathan Burns had a powerful long-range shot drift just wide of the post while substitute Kenny Cunningham should have done better after Jeremy Brockie put him through with a deft, volleyed flick with the outside of his boot on the run.

The Phoenix frustrated West Ham, who even when they did break, couldn't bust the yellow and black wall on the edge of Glen Moss' area.

Moss, who has been in superb form for both club and country recently, also deserved mention. Had it not been for his reaction save from Carlton Cole in just the eighth minute, the momentum of the match would have been totally different.

Twenty minutes from time Moss was beaten, however, as substitute Mauro Zarate shot powerfully from range, teeing up a tense finish.

Zarate steered just wide eight minutes later and as the clock wound down, the Premier League outfit were finding more possession, more space and a lot more opportunities.

Five added-on minutes saw the crowd find voice, disgruntlement mainly at the extra time they had to hang on.

But hang on they did and the night was Ernie Merrick's, who will no doubt have learned a significant amount about his Phoenix squad. On that performance, the Phoenix will be ones to watch in the upcoming A-League season - with consistency now their biggest question.

 

Thank You West Ham & Winston for travelling so far out here to play.

To the many disappointed Hammers fans, we're sorry for the extreme disappointed caused to you last night but in truth we could have scored a few more, so if you can, please rejoice on this occasion for the underdogs as it means so much for the football community here in rugby dominated country.

Closer to my heart a win over Newcastle this Saturday would mean far more.

To those whom have traveled so far, I trust when you leave you’ll do so with memories of a lifetime to remember New Zealand by which you’ll share with your loved ones upon your safe return home.

Best wishes for your match against Sydney FC.