‘We’re happy to have him in Auckland’: Wellington footballer Jesse Randall returns to haunt Phoenix in explosive New Zealand derby
Sunday, 9 November 2025
Wellington’s own Jesse Randall returned to haunt his hometown on Saturday night, playing a starring role in Auckland FC’s 2-1 victory to inflict more derby misery on the Phoenix.
Overlooked by the Phoenix after starring for local club Wellington Olympic, the 23-year-old forward was picked up by Auckland ahead of their inaugural A-League Men season.
Randall was instrumental in Auckland’s win with only nine men at Sky Stadium, using his speed to exploit the Phoenix’s high defensive line.
The left winger gave Auckland the dream start in the first derby of the season, setting up the opening goal for English striker Sam Cosgrove after just 27 seconds.
Randall beat the offside trap following a ball over the top from left back Francis de Vries, sprinted in behind the defence and slid a pass for Cosgrove to score with an easy tap-in.
After Ifeanyi Eze’s spectacular equaliser, Randall then restored Auckland’s advantage in the 34th minute after scoring himself in almost identical circumstances to the Black Knights’ opening goal.
Rather than square the ball to Cosgrove, Randall opted to shoot the second time around.
The early goals proved crucial as Auckland lost both Dan Hall and Logan Rogerson to red cards in the second half, leaving the reigning premiers to defend their lead with only nine men on the field.
Auckland coach Steve Corica was full of praise for Randall after overseeing his fourth straight derby victory and said he was surprised the Phoenix never offered him a contract.
“We’re obviously very happy to have him in Auckland. He’s finding his feet after last season, it being his first year in the A-League,” Corica said.
“He’s doing a great job for us defensively, working hard, and now he’s starting to pop up with some very important goals for us.”
As well as the Phoenix, Randall’s performance also sent a message to All Whites coach Darren Bazeley after he was left out of the squad for upcoming matches against Colombia and Ecuador.
Though there is a lot of competition out wide, where he is against European-based players Elijah Just, Callum McCowatt, Ben Old, Matt Garbett and Sarpreet Singh.
At the very least, Randall’s early form for Auckland is keeping his name in the conversation for next year’s FIFA World Cup.
He has made the left wing position his own at his club in recent weeks, relegating Marlee François to the bench, and has two goals and one assist in three starts.
“It might be a little early yet [with regards to the All Whites] but he’s got time to keep working away and doing what he’s doing. Come the World Cup, you never know,” Corica said.
Auckland had identified the Phoenix’s high defensive line as an area they could exploit with Randall’s pace, though Corica didn’t expect it would happen as early as the first minute.
Auckland’s very first attack resulted in a goal – the fastest in the short history of the New Zealand derby.
“It worked out perfectly. The timing of the run was good, the ball over the top was great, Sam was in a great position also to tap in.
“We got a little bit sloppy because sometimes scoring so early can be a hindrance and we let them back into the game but then we came good again after that.”
Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano defended his high line in the wake of the defeat and felt the two goals they conceded were down to a lack of execution.
The Phoenix were forced to field an inexperienced back line, featuring two 20-year-olds and two 21-year-olds, for the second week due to injuries to senior defenders Manjrekar James and Tim Payne.
“I was very disappointed. It felt like we actually gave them the two goals,” Italiano said.
“Look at this way. If we execute and the line gets beaten because our players are still in sync then that’s on me, but when we don’t execute or the players are going away from what we instruct then it’s more about correcting that.”