Phoenix draw in season opener
The Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United have provided serviceable performances for their fans in a opening round 1-1 draw.
A pair of early headed goals provided early fireworks for the 8154 fans at Westpac Stadium in Wellington yesterday, before a tactical stalemate dominated the rest of proceedings.
Both clubs underwent big changes in the off-season under new coaches, so should take a lot of improvement from the game as they search for their best gameplan.
There was a professional debut for 18-year-old Phoenix goalkeeper Keegan Smith, while young Kiwi midfielders Alex Rufer and Matthew Ridenton combined with Croatian Goran Paracki in the midfield three after Brazilian Gui Finkler was ruled out with a knock to his knee.
Any late-arriving fans might have missed one or both of the goals.
The Phoenix started well and took the lead in the fifth minute when Dario Vidosic sent a looping header back across goal, out of the reach of Adelaide goalkeeper Paul Izzo.
It was a good cross from Roy Krishna to the back post, with Adelaide captain Isaias no match for Vidosic in the air.
But that good work up front was cancelled out five minutes later by some sloppy Phoenix defending.
Adelaide’s Nikola Mileusnic whipped a good ball into the near post, but Phoenix centre back Marco Rossi was caught slightly out of position, leaving Scott Galloway trying to out-muscle Johan Absalonsen. That was never a fair fight, as the Dane nodded home past Smith.
From there, the first half was a bit of an arm-wrestle.
Smith had a few hairy moments when trying to punch clear, while he also had a miscommunication with
Ali Abbas which led to the left back touching a ball past him towards the Phoenix goal. Luckily, the ball went out just before Mileusnic could hook it home.
The Phoenix’s best chance for the remainder of the half fell to Anrija Kaludjerovic, but his 39th-minute shot was well saved by Izzo up high at his near post.
Both teams were organised in defence and cautious in attack, looking to prise open quality chances through patient buildup.
A similar pattern continued in the second half, with half-chances and long shots the order of the day.
The match was screaming out for a moment of individual brilliance to break it open, but instead it was Smith who came up with the heroics, making a great save with his leg to deny a George Blackwood header from close range 14 minutes from time.
That was as good as it got in the closing stages as both teams looked content to settle for the point, rather than risking going away emptyhanded.
Of concern for the Phoenix was Vidosic appearing to pick up a groin injury before he was replaced by Adam Parkhouse in the 78th minute.
The Phoenix should only get better as they welcome back All Whites Andrew Durante, Michael Mcglinchey and Tom Doyle, although they face a tough away trip to defending champions Sydney FC next weekend.