Two
goals in a frenetic 12 minute period of an action-packed second half
has earned the Wellington Phoenix their first draw of the A-League
season in Auckland on Saturday night.
Trailing
the Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 after the visitors doubled lead in
the 56th minute, the hosts first match at Mt Smart Stadium and the
second match in charge for interim managers Chris Greenacre and Des
Buckingham looked set to end in disappointment.
But,
thanks to Gui Finkler's first goal in a Phoenix jersey from the
penalty spot and the head of Roy Krishna, the home side were soon
back on level terms and the three points was back on offer to both
sides.
An
open and entertaining final quarter followed and while neither was
able to strike a vital third blow as the contest ended in a 2-2 draw,
another lack-lustre crowd of 5,702 left having well and truly
received their moneys worth.
The
result meant the Phoenix remained eighth on the 10-team A-League
ladder, with the Melbourne derby still to be played on Saturday
night.
Basking
in the warmth of a sun-drenched eastern stand, the home crowd found
their voice as quickly as their team found the energy so key to their
3-0 rout of the Mariners in Hamilton.
Lanky
right back Jacob Tratt glanced a pinpoint Finkler corner narrowly
across the face of goal in the fourth minute and while appeals for an
early penalty were also unsuccessful after left back Adam Parkhouse
went down inside the area, there was little doubt who was on
top.
After
his team had been forced into several early fouls, Wanderers' Kearyn
Baccus picked up the opening yellow card.
All
that endeavour went unrewarded and in the 19th-minute, totally
against the run of play, the visitors capitalised on almost their
first foray into the Phoenix red zone.
Nicolas
Martinez whipped in a corner and as several Wellington defenders
watched on from close range, Santalab nipped in front to drive a
classy first time volley low past helpless goalkeeper Glen Moss.
The
goal only briefly silenced the Yellow Fever and the Phoenix continued
to press forward, a charging Finkler driving low past the left post
from just inside the penalty area in the 34th minute.
But
the confidence of the Western Sydney outfit had been visibly boosted
and they too threatened in the closing stages of the half, Moss
forced into a smart low save to deny an increasingly dangerous
Martinez.
The
opening moments of the second spell went by with little action of
note before the contest burst into life in a frenetic 12 minutes of
play.
Lazy
Phoenix defending gifted Nichols a relatively simple finish to double
the Wanderers lead in the 56th minute and, at that point, the hosts
looked on track for an seventh loss of the season.
But
only six minutes later Wellington grabbed one back when Krishna was
felled in a needless tackle by Jaushua Sotirio and Finkler calmy
converted from the penalty spot, drawing a huge roar from a
reinvigorated crowd.
Sotirio
looked to have made up for his mistake only moments later when he
drew what was perhaps a debatable penalty from an Andrew Durante
challenge.
However,
Moss guessed correctly and comfortably saved the spot kick, the
Phoenix also getting out of jail just moments later when their
gloveman was caught well beyond his area and defender Marco Rossi
made a timely block from a Nichols shot heading towards an open goal.
Both
teams did their utmost to bag maximum points as the ball whizzed up
and down the pitch in the final 25 minutes, chances coming frequently
at either end as a vocal crowd was kept on the edge of their seat.
A
winner, though, was not forthcoming and two weary teams departed with
what was probably a deserved share of the points.
Wellington
Phoenix 2 (Gui
Finkler 61 (pen), Roy Krishna 68) Western
Sydney Wanderers 2 (Brendon
Santalab 19, Mitch Nichols 56). Halftime: 1-0.
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