Blake Powell bagged four goals on a crazy evening in Parramatta, as the Wanderers shipped the most goals ever at Pirtek Stadium to lose 5-2 to ninth-placed Wellington Phoenix.
The Nix snapped a nine-game winless run, while the Wanderers capped a miserable week of off-field drama with a loss, never looking in the contest.
Somewhat amazingly, the Phoenix scored first, as the returning Albert Riera did well to break play down with Tom Doyle providing the perfect delivery for Powell to punch the ball home with a pinpoint diving header.
Following the goal, the shocked Wanderers looked to fight straight back. Romeo Castelen should have done better after Bridge’s driven cross found him at the back post, but he could only find that post and the side netting in the ninth minute. The Wanderers continued to strive hard to get back into the match as Dario Vidosic was denied by a fine fingertip save by Phoenix custodian Glen Moss.
Come the 20th minute, Powell had another. Doyle again provided a cross into the box that was flicked on to the ex-Sydney man and he buried the half-volley into the top corner with an instinctive finish past Andrew Redmayne.
READ MORE: How Twitter reacted to Blake Powell’s stunning display
As the game wore on, and despite all of Western Sydney’s possession, it got even better for Powell and the Wellington Phoenix as the Australian capped off an unbelievable perfect hat-trick 33 minutes in with a sumptuous chip over the advancing Redmayne. It was season 11’s first hat-trick of the season, and Wellington’s second ever.
As the game opened up with 20 minutes to go, astonishingly, Powell then scored a fourth, another header blowing out the scoreline to 4-0. But the scoring was not over yet, as Mitch Nichols struck back almost immediately with a long-range screamer finding the top corner.
A quarter of an hour to go and the Wanderers finally had something to celebrate. It was 4-1, the Nix waved goodbye to a cleansheet, and the Wanderers threw everything into attacking the Phoenix goal to try and get a result in the final 10 minutes.
It was not to be, however, and despite gamely trying to get the comeback going, despite Bridge adding a second when Louis Fenton gave the ball away at the back, the Wanderers succumbed to an agonising home defeat. The seal was set on the match when Michael McGlinchey tucked away a penalty after Jonathan Aspro brought down Kwabena Appiah as last man.
Blake Powell stuns the complacent Wanderers in the first half
An amazing three shots, three goals.
An open and exciting first half of football saw three excellent goals scored by the Phoenix and hat-trick hero Powell. In contrast, the Wanderers created plenty but could not find the back of the net.
In a stunning turnaround from recent events, it was the Phoenix taking their limited chances, while their opposition could not make their pressure count. The Phoenix looked to hold their defensive shape, and frustrate the Wanderers by defending deep. Powell’s perfect hat-trick and four goal haul was a welcome reprieve for a club and fans that have had nothing to cheer about in 70 days of winless football.
Phoenix defence finally shows up
Led by the outstanding Moss, the Phoenix defence shut down the Wanderers’ attack, denying them the space to create too many opportunities, and ensuring their large periods of possession were not converted into goals.
In the end, the clean sheet was not to be, but the defence did enough to provide a platform for Powell and co. to do the rest.
A goalfest in Parramata
The Phoenix had five shots on target, and every single one of them went in, as Wellington fans spent the afternoon in dreamland in Wanderland. The first half provided three stunners while the second half inconceivably gave four, as both teams played out a game that will live long in the memory.
This game reinforced the A League’s unpredictable nature, and served up arguably the shock of the season.
Outside90 Player of the Year Award
3 – Blake Powell
2 – Dylan Fox
1 – Hamish Watson
