Wellington Phoenix snapped the two-game winning streak of the Brisbane Roar to take the rewards at Westpac Stadium, with a Blake Powell close-range effort deciding the game in the final quarter of the match.
This 3-2 home victory makes it two wins on the spin for the Nix as they look to carry their form into a tough match against the Victory next week.
It was a battle between two teams who came to play expansive, open and attacking football. It was A-League champagne football.
For the third game running the Phoenix conceded first, falling behind to Dimitri Petratos’ magnificent curler in the 26th minute. That time seems to be cursed at the moment for Ernie Merrick’s men, as it was at this time in their last game at home that captain Andrew Durante departed due to injury. The Phoenix defence was more solid this time round, but once again they shipped two goals at home.
For all their defensive derision, the hosts were potent in attack, this time creating and finished their major chances. First it was Michael McGlinchey, who scored a stunning free-kick from 30 yards out in the 36th minute. Then it was Roy Krishna getting in on the act, after he and Jeffrey Sarpong combined to seize on a Jade North mistake, the Fijian applied the finishing touches on the opportunistic counter-attack to give the Nix the lead.
The second-half continued the open football, as both sides looked to switch play and use the flanks. The intensity was cranked up a few further notches in the ‘Ring of Fire’, as North atoned for his error by scoring a scrappy goal from a Roar corner in the 60th minute.
It was not enough for the Roar, however, as Blake Powell replaced an improved Sarpong showing glimpses of his pedigree to score the all-important winning goal with time almost at 80 minutes. The Yellow Fever then duly took-off their shirts, sung “ten more years”, and the Phoenix took all three points.
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