Wellington’s winless run continued while Brisbane failed to win for the first time in four matches, as a match of excitement and endeavour, with no end product played out at Westpac Stadium.
In a match that many predicted would be a walkover for the away team, the game proved to be anything but, as an even contest of few clear-cut chances played out. The Nix were clearly relieved to be back in Westpac, after a sapping run of matches in Australia during the festive period that yielded two straightforward defeats.
The first-half set the tone early, as John Aloisi’s Brisbane kept a high defensive line, and looked to put together some silky passing moves, while holding the majority of possession. Merrick’s Nix were set up to stifle the high Roar back four with high-pressure, as Wellington’s front three worked hard to shut down their space, and attempt to force a turnover.
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The second-half continued in similar fashion to the first, as a scratchy contest of over hit passes by the Roar, and offside decisions against the Nix culminated in a grandstand final five minutes plus stoppages, in a period where both sides just couldn’t find the net, despite working themselves into decent positions on multiple occasions.
So, after the goal fests of a 3-2 Wellington win at home in week 3, a 2-1 Roar win at home in week 10, this third and final match between these two sides finished honours even, with no goals scored. And the Roar remains top of the league.
Formations
Phoenix Starting XI (4-1-2-3): Moss, Fenton, Durante, Muscat, Doyle, Riera, Rodriguez, McGlinchey, Bonevacia, Lia, Krishna
For the Phoenix, custodian Glen Moss was between the sticks as usual. Justin Gulley returned to the squad at right-back after a long period out with a hamstring injury, while Troy Danaskos kept his place at left-back ahead of Tom Doyle. Dylan Fox made his debut in a Man of the Match centre-back performance, partnering captain and mainstay Andrew Durante, with both contributing to the clean sheet.
It was all change in the midfield as accrued yellow cards saw Roly Bonevacia and Alex Rodriguez drop out of the squad, Albert Riera and Matthew Ridenton were the starting central pair, with Vince Lia playing more defensive just behind them.
The front three had been given orders to put pressure on Brisbane’s high back four, and with Roy Krishna out for a long period, Jeffrey Sarpong, Michael McGlinchey and Blake Powell were the trio preferred up top by Merrick.
The Phoenix strikers have been incredibly fluid this season, and this game was no different, as Powell, McGlinchey and Sarpong all swapped wings, and took turns at being the central striker. However, Powell and Sarpong (who is yet to score for the Nix) did not look confident in front of goal, with Powell spooning over a glorious chance late, after the Nix’s high pressure of Brisbane’s back four finally paid dividends and Bowles was dispossessed by Phoenix sub Kwabena Appiah-Kubi in his own box.
Roar Starting XI (4-3-3): Young, Stefanutto, North, Bowles, Hingert, Mckay, Corona, Petratos, Broich, Solorzano, Henrique
In the long-term absence of Michael Theo, Jamie Young once again started in goal for the in-form Roar. Shane Stefanutto started at left-back alongside the centre-back pairing of veteran Jade North and 24-year-old Daniel Bowles. Ex-Phoenix player North was booed throughout the match by the home fans after diving under challenge from Ridenton early on in the match, but his resolute defending for the majority of the match showed that the crowd had little effect on the 34-year-old. Completing the Roar defensive line was right-back Jack Hingert.
Brisbane’s three-man midfield was comprised of Matt McKay, Corona and Dimitri Petratos. This combination have been showing their class recently, and their abilities were on show again in this game, they couldn’t produce a goal however, Corona came closest, with a curling free-kick being well saved by Moss late in the game.
Without Jamie Maclaren or Brandon Borrello, the front three of the Roar was made up of Thomas Broich, Jean Carlos Solorzano and Henrique. Brazilian Henrique has scored against all A-League sides apart from the Phoenix, and despite scoring against Perth off the bench in round 13, he once again couldn’t score against the NZ side. Broich came closest, hitting the crossbar on 30 minutes, but his wasteful crossing, as well as Solorzano’s poor conversion rate, meant that Brisbane finished the game without a goal.
No in-form strikers = no goals
Clearly, the Roar were missing their in-form duo, strikers Maclaren and Borrello, who did not travel to Wellington. While the Phoenix will rue the news that their leading goal scorer this season, Roy Krishna, is out for an extended spell after injuring his ankle against the Mariners on New Years Eve.
Another controversial refereeing decision
After half an hour of back-and-forth between the two sides the games most controversial moment arrived, as referee Stephen Lucas pointed to the spot, adjudging that Phoenix defender Durante had handballed the rebound clear, following the crossbar-hitting effort of Brisbane’s Broich. However, after huge protests from the Nix and a conversation with the assistant referee, as well as a review of the big screen replay, Lucas overturned his original decision, instead handing the Phoenix a free-kick for a Henrique push in the back on Durante in the lead-up to the handball. This was an unprecedented move by the refereeing team, and one that was to ultimately ensure that the match remained goalless.
Conclusion
In a match between a side who had the opportunity to win five in a row, playing against an injury ravaged team struggling in seventh position, this has to go down as a missed chance for the Brisbane Roar.
Despite being the away side, they should have won this match against Wellington, but the New Zealand side did enough (with the help of a controversial overturned penalty) to earn a point and some pride back at home. Merrick out-thought Aloisi here, and the Phoenix put enough pressure on the Roar to just shade the tactical battle on the pitch, though no side won the war on the scoreboard.
Next week Wellington will have Bonevacia and Rodriguez back from suspension and can use this draw against the league leaders as motivation when they face the Newcastle Jets away. Brisbane face a tough trip to the Etihad and will hope that their game in New Zealand was an off-day rather than a complete loss of their table-topping winning momentum.
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