A pulsating early display and a second-half of endurance saw Western Sydney outlast the Wellington Phoenix at home to stretch their winning run to four games in a row.
The Wanderers hosted the Phoenix at a raucous Pirtek Parramatta stadium packed with over 14,000 fans, both teams in-form after impressive wins in their previous matches. Western Sydney were looking to extend their impressive winning stretch to four games, and they started the match as the dominant force, putting the Phoenix defence under pressure with pinpoint long balls over the top.
The first goal came in incredible circumstances with Michael McGlinchey striking the crossbar from a free-kick in the eighth minute, the Wanderers broke as the Nix stood admiring. Mark Bridge was played through in his own-half and squared for Federico Piovaccari to score his second tap-in in consecutive games. It was the 10th game in a row that the Phoenix had failed to keep a clean sheet and continues their run this season of failing to shutout their opposition.
Following the goal, the Phoenix struggled to maintain control of the ball and the Wanderers onslaught continued. Chances were at a premium for the side in the red and black hoops, with Piovaccari fouling to deny teammate and local Western Sydney boy Scott Jamieson a wonder goal on the 15 minute mark, as his drilled half-volley found the net after the refs whistle had already clearly been blown.
Despite the early Wanderers onslaught, it was 1-1 in the 17th minute and a surprise goal for the Phoenix left-back Manny Muscat against the run of play. An unlikely goal from the unlikeliest source, and a fabulous finish by the defender as he was given time by Dario Vidosic to cut onto his favoured right-foot to dispatch the chance into the side netting, past the unsighted Wanderers custodian Andrew Redmayne. There was a hint of an offside in it, as McGlinchey jumped out of the way of Muscat’s drive, but the goal stood. It was a crucial moment for the Yellow and Black and was Muscat’s fourth goal in over 150 A-League games for the Phoenix.
As the game wore on Wellington began to warm to their task, as possession was shared between the two sides rather than bossed by the hosts. As the sides traded fouls and free-kicks the match was delicately poised come the 30th minute mark, with either side looking capable of grabbing the next goal.
Alex Rodriguez became the first player to go into the referee’s book in the games 32nd minute, then another Phoenix player, Albert Riera, was booked for obstruction soon after, in a game relatively devoid of any malicious edge. The resulting free-kick routine almost paid immediate dividends but the routine was denied by a good save by Moss.
This galvanized the Wanderers who mounted more dangerous attacks and it was only desperate defending by the Nix that denied the Western Sydney side from re-taking the lead. The visitors barely managed to cling on for the half-time whistle and a level scoreline.
After the restart Ernie Merrick made the tactical change of bringing Jeffrey Sarpong off for kiwi youngster Alex Rufer. Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund was also replaced after collapsing early in the second-half due to a virus contracted earlier in the week. Louis Fenton came in on the left, with goal-scorer Muscat shifting to centre-back to partner skipper Andrew Durante in the middle of the defence.
Come the 60th minute, Wanderers fans continued to sing and dance in the stands as their team played all the football and imposed themselves on the contest. But it was the Nix who came closest to the next goal, with McGlinchey being denied at close range by Redmayne, before Alex Rufer smashed a half-volley against the post from the resulting corner. Next it was the Wanderers turn to go close from a corner, as Justin Gulley cleared an Alberto header-off the line.
The game lost its first-half flow and the latter stages saw a noticeable drop in quality as passes began to go astray and tiredness became an issue for both sides. The deadlock was finally broken in the 85th minute, when Wanderers veteran Bridge delivered again for his side, finishing a corner in devastating fashion to make it 2-1 to Western Sydney.
The tired Phoenix could not muster the strength to find another equalizer, and the Wanderers held out to ensure they secured the victory.
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