Pre-Season Friendly - Wellington Phoenix 1-0 Wrexham - 19/07/2025.

Photo highlights from the recent pre-season friendly between the Wellington Phoenix and newly promoted AFC Wrexham which was played at the Sky Stadium in Wellington in front of just over 25,000 people.

On the day Wrexham signed All Whites left back Liberato Cacace from Italian side Empoli, the next generation of New Zealand Football stunned the Hollywood backed club edging the encounter by a goal to nil after Luke Flowerdew's close range effort at the beginning of the second half. A youthful Phoenix side stunned the newly promoted Welsh side on the last game of their Tour Down Under looking largely comfortable throughout with Wrexham failing to create any real clear cut opportunities.

Flowerdew who was on the field for less than five minutes fired home close range after Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo's mistake sent the home fans into rapture scoring the most important goal of his career to date. Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano selected eight players at 21 years of age or under in his starting eleven making ten changes at halftime which proved to be a masterstroke from the Phoenix coach with the youthful Phoenix players being more match fit after playing throughout the winter in the central league.

The goal itself came after a dangerous whipped delivery into the six yard box which Wrexham goalkeeper failed to deal with despite getting his finger tips to the ball an alert Flowerdew however fired home to give the Wellington Phoenix a memorable victory. The homeside had several other opportunities but could not double the lead to make victory more comfortable.

Wrexham striker Ollie Palmer did however have the ball in the back of the net in the 80th minute but was whistled for a handball first much to the displeasure of the forward.

Wrexham controlled large parts of the match but wasteful finishing came back to haunt them after Luke Flowerdew's close range effort gave the Phienix another memorable victory which they can add to other memorable victories against the likes of Argentinian side Boca Juniors and Premier League side West Ham United.

The Phoenix were given little hope of beating Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s backed Wrexham, who are only a couple of weeks away from their first ever Championship fixture away to newly relegated Southampton on August 9th at St Mary's.

Result:

Wellington Phoenix 1-0 AFC Wrexham

Photo's were taken for Speed Media AU / Iconsportswire

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