Wellington Phoenix humiliated as own goal sparks 5-0 thrashing by Auckland FC
Saturday, 21 February 2026
At Sky Stadium, Wellington: Auckland FC 5 (Josh Oluwayemi own goal 24’, Jesse Randall 30’, 40+5’ Guillermo May 41’, Lachlan Brook 74’) Wellington Phoenix 0. HT: 4-0.
Wellington Phoenix have been humiliated by Auckland FC yet again, thrashed 5-0 at home in a brutally one-sided sixth New Zealand derby after goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi scored one of the most comical own goals in A-League Men history.
The 24th-minute howler triggered an immediate collapse. The Phoenix conceded three more before halftime to equal their heaviest defeat at Sky Stadium – and given the opposition, it felt even worse.
The result ended up costing coach Giancarlo Italiano his job. He confirmed his resignation to Stuff in his post-match press conference.
The Phoenix have now lost all six meetings with Auckland, are winless in five and sit 10th, four points outside the top six.
Auckland, meanwhile, moved to within a point of leaders Newcastle Jets and will believe the statement win can reignite their Premiers’ Plate push.
Steve Corica’s side arrived in Wellington second on the ladder but without leading scorer Sam Cosgrove and key midfielder Louis Verstraete, having won just two of their previous eight matches. They hardly looked ominous.
Then came the 24th minute. Jake Girdwood-Reich launched a long ball and Oluwayemi horribly misjudged the flight, somehow heading it into his own net from outside the penalty area. It was an astonishing error.
The Phoenix never recovered. Jesse Randall struck twice on his return to Wellington to draw level atop the golden boot standings, Guillermo May scored from a rare start, and substitute Lachlan Brook added further punishment after the break.
Remarkably, Auckland led 4-0 at halftime despite registering only three shots on target. Oluwayemi did not make a single save.
Rushed back from an ankle injury, the English-Nigerian import endured a nightmare. He was substituted at halftime for Alby Kelly-Heald and, with his contract expiring at season’s end, may have played his last game for the club.
His latest blunder follows the costly mistake he made in last season’s inaugural derby.
At the other end, Michael Woud was completely untroubled, watching efforts from Paulo Retre and Corban Piper drift wide.
The frustration was evident among the Phoenix squad. Striker Ifeanyi Eze booted the ball away in anger after being called for a foul and picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, which will now see him suspended for Sydney FC’s visit next Sunday.
Before the first meeting between these sides, the Phoenix declared “New Zealand is yellow.” Since Auckland’s arrival in the A-League, they have been battered black and blue.
What they said
Alex Rufer (Phoenix captain, on Sky Sport): 'We were beaten by the better team. We can make excuses for whatever you want. Not good enough. I just want to apologise to our fans. They deserve better“.
Francis de Vries (Auckland FC defender, on Sky Sport): 'Definitely beyond what we thought could happen“.
The big picture
Six games, six Auckland wins. Auckland FC own professional football in New Zealand after beating the Phoenix for the sixth game in a row. The 5-0 win was the second biggest of the six, behind only their 6-1 rout from the third meeting last season.
What’s next
The Phoenix are back at Sky Stadium next Sunday, hosting former coach Ufuk Talay’s Sydney FC in round 19. Auckland FC welcome Melbourne City to Go Media Stadium next Saturday.