Distance Derby #49 is locked and loaded for Saturday, with Glory poised to make a first ever A-League appearance at the Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North (kick-off at 10am WST).
So how do Wellington Phoenix and the men in purple match up when viewed through a statistical prism?
Read on to ensure you’re across all those key numbers and also to discover some fun facts about Palmerston North’s mini scenic railway which you may not even have realised you need to know.
Glory frontman Adam Taggart has scored five time in his 11 career appearances against Phoenix.
His favourite opponents are Melbourne City against whom he has found the net eight times in 12 games.
Of the 48 previous Glory – Phoenix clashes, the WA side have won 20 to the Kiwis’ 19, with the points being shared on nine occasions.
Glory’s last victory on New Zealand soil came in October 2019 when first-half goals from Chris Ikonomidis and Bruno Fornaroli helped the visitors to prevail 2-1.
Oskar Zawada is Wellington’s leading marksman so far this term with six goals.
Three of those goals have come in the former Polish Under-21 international’s last three appearances and he also found the net in last month’s draw with Glory at Macedonia Park.
There has never been a 0-0 draw in this fixture and the ten most recent meetings have produced an aggregate of 30 goals at, yes you guessed it, an average of exactly three per game.
Mustafa Amini and David Williams have taken the most shots for Glory this term (15), just ahead of Ryan Williams (14).
Amini has a 20% accuracy rate, while David Williams’ is 46.8%.
Between September 2007 and January 2012, Glory travelled to New Zealand to face Phoenix on eight occasions without registering a single win.
Phoenix’s Callan Elliot is the joint-leading provider of assists in the A-League this year with four.
The 23-year-old has started 10 of his side’s 12 games.
The Palmerston North Esplanade Scenic Railway was established in 1969 and runs on a 2.2km track through native bush and secluded areas of the Victoria Esplanade.
Tickets cost just $3 NZ.
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