Ten-man Wellington Phoenix bounce back with 3-0 win over Brisbane Roar in tense match

A melee broke out during the Wellington Phoenix's win over the Brisbane Roar. Photo / Photosport

The Wellington Phoenix have defied the odds, playing the entire second half with 10 men, as they got their A-League season back on track with a comprehensive 3-0 win over the Brisbane Roar in Redcliffe.

Heading into the match off back-to-back defeats, including their biggest of the season in their last outing just five days ago – 5-1 at the Melbourne Victory – it was paramount the Phoenix got all three points to remain within striking distance of the top-six playoffs places.

And that’s what they did, claiming their biggest win of the season over the third-placed Roar, while young goalkeeper Eamonn McCarron helped keep their first clean sheet in nearly a year.

The win did come at a cost though after Carlo Armiento was given a straight red card for a dangerous tackle, which sparked a melee.

The red card means Armiento will miss at least one match for the Phoenix.

The Phoenix only needed six minutes to hit the front when Ifeanyi Eze pounced on a mistake by the Brisbane defence to score the opening goal, his fifth of the season.

It starts with a spicy tackle and ends in an all-in brawl 😳🌶️💥

Wellington Phoenix's Carlo Armiento receives a straight red card following this incident 👇

📺 Watch #BRIvWEL live now on 10 Drama, Paramount+ or stream free on 10. pic.twitter.com/AWV4re1ugU

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) January 3, 2026

Both sides created chances, but couldn’t convert, although it seemed the pendulum would swing back in the Roar’s favour just before halftime after Armiento’s tackle.

Brisbane keeper Dean Bouzanis and Eze both picked up yellow cards, as the Phoenix held on to lead 1-0 at the break.

The hosts kept on pressing for an equaliser, but the Phoenix capitalised on a counter-attack push which resulted in Kazuki Nagasawa scoring their second in the 59th minute.

Paulo Retre sealed the win in stoppage time, tapping home their third after Luke Brooke-Smith made a break down the wing.

The result leaves the Phoenix just one point outside the A-League’s top six and they will return to the pitch next Sunday to face Adelaide United in Wellington.