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.
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