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    Friday, April 17, 2015

    Wellington Phoenix come back from 0-2 to win 3-2







    Wellington Phoenix have ended their three-game goal-scoring drought in spectacular fashion on Friday with a 3-2 win over Central Coast Mariners in Wellington.

     Wellington 3
     Central Coast 2
    First-half goals to Nick Fitzgerald and Eddy Bosnar gave the Mariners a 2-0 half-time lead before the Phoenix stormed back through Roly Bonevacia and a Kenny Cunningham brace.

    The match looked destined for a draw, but Cunningham's second goal in the 95th minute secured an invaluable win.

    Fourth on the A-League ladder, Wellington had gone nearly a month without a goal or a win, and desperately needed both to keep the pressure on with only one game remaining before the finals.

    But after keeping a clean sheet in last week's scoreless draw with Melbourne City, it again conceded early as it had against Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC and Brisbane.

    After just 11 minutes, one-time Phoenix midfielder Isaka Cernak slipped a sweet pass through to Fitzgerald, who timed his run perfectly and slotted the ball home for his second goal of the season.

    Wellington regathered but, although there was no shortage of opportunities, a clinical finish continued to prove elusive.

    Newly confirmed coach Tony Walmsley had promised a more attacking style, and the Mariners showed plenty of endeavour as the first half wore on.

    They built pressure from the midfield with a sharp passing game, and turned a distinct advantage in possession into a 2-0 lead in the 35th minute.

    Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund, back after a two-game break for injury, was unlucky to earn referee Peter O'Leary's ire with a strong tackle on Anthony Caceres.

    Eddy Bosnar's resulting free-kick from 25 metres out found its way through Wellington's poorly set wall, and the Mariners - who had scored just 23 goals all season - took a two-goal lead into the break.

    Bonevacia hauled one back in the 64th minute, Burns's pass finding him on the edge of the box where he took a touch before slamming home the Phoenix's first goal in more than 300 minutes.

    The Dutch midfielder featured in Wellington's second in the 78th minute, offloading a pass from Louis Fenton to Cunningham, whose left-footed finish levelled the scores.

    Wellington kept pressing, and Bonevacia finished a stellar game with one final assist, his pass finding Cunningham, whose right foot buried the winner
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