Josh Oluwayemi Own Goal Sparks Half-Time Sub and Coach Resignation After 5-0 A-League Rout
Josh Oluwayemi Own Goal proved decisive as Wellington collapsed to a 5-0 defeat at home, triggering a half-time goalkeeper substitution and prompting manager Giancarlo Italiano to resign immediately in the post-match press conference.
Josh Oluwayemi Own Goal: How a Misjudged Header Set the Tone
The match turned on a startling moment when Wellington goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi headed a long clearance into his own net from outside the penalty box. The clearance had been launched downfield by Jake Girdwood-Reich and, from roughly 75 metres out, Oluwayemi misjudged the flight of the ball and was forced to backpedal before heading it into his own goal. Observers noted that wind may have had an influence on the miscalculation.
That mistake acted as the catalyst for a first-half implosion. Despite Auckland having only three shots on target in the opening 45 minutes, they led 4-0 at the break, underlining how one error can rapidly alter the balance of a game and open the door for an opponent to convert limited chances into a sizable advantage.
Half-Time Change, Second-Half Goals and a Manager's Exit
Italiano reacted to the visibly shaken goalkeeper by removing Oluwayemi at half-time and bringing on Alby Kelly-Heald. The substitution appeared to restore a degree of calm for Wellington after the interval, but Auckland extended their advantage when Lachlan Brook struck in the 74th minute, marking his eighth goal of the season.
Earlier in the first half Guillermo May scored a well-taken finish in the 41st minute, and Jesse Randall produced a brace; Randall’s second goal came after he chipped the goalkeeper who had been left stranded in no-man’s land. The collective effect of those goals compounded the damage initiated by the early own goal.
Following the heavy loss at Sky Stadium, Giancarlo Italiano announced he had stood down as Phoenix manager with immediate effect. He framed the result as unacceptable with the season still to play for, and said he had tendered his resignation so someone new could bring energy and refocus the group. Italiano’s departure follows a period of declining league form: after a strong first campaign that finished second, the side slumped to 11th the following season and had failed to register a win in their previous five matches, leaving them placed 10th at the time of his resignation.
Wider Match Context and What Comes Next
Auckland’s victory extended their perfect record in the derby to six wins, keeping them in second place and narrowing the gap to the league leaders to a single point. The standings situation tightened further as the top side prepared to face Macarthur the following weekend. Wellington face the immediate challenge of finding interim leadership and shoring up defensive composure after an afternoon in which a single catastrophic moment snowballed into a comprehensive defeat.
Recent developments indicate the club will need to address goalkeeper confidence and managerial direction quickly; details about the club’s next steps were not provided at the time. The sequence — a high-profile own goal followed by a half-time substitution and a manager’s immediate resignation — leaves the club confronting urgent questions about stability and response as the season continues.
