Hideki Ishige in action for Wellington Phoenix Photo: Marty Melville / PHOTOSPORT
Wellington Phoenix are looking to make up for a poor season last time out in the A-League and they have about as good a start as they can hope for though against a Perth side tipped to finish bottom of the ladder.
Kickoff is at 11.45pm NZT.
The 21st edition of the A-League kicks off after a tumultuous off-season with two New Zealand teams chasing silverware for the second season in a row.
The long-awaited A-League schedule reveals Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC's fixtures for the 2025/26 season.
The club believes the time is not right to expand the A-League, with its plan to enter a women's team delayed by two years.
The Aussie football competition will go ahead without the Melbourne club for 2025/26.
Steve Corica had some fine words for the match officials after his side had a goal disallowed by VAR.
The minor premiers' stunning season has ended with an upset semi-final defeat in front of a record crowd at Go Media Mt Smart Stadium.
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