Phoenix pair injured in loss
The Wellington Phoenix’s season is going from bad to worse with a pair of injuries to key players to go with their sixth loss of the season.
As tough as it was to lose 1-0 to a depleted Perth Glory side at Nib Stadium in Perth on Sunday (NZ time), the potential upcoming absences of attacking midfielder Dario Vidosic and centre back Marco Rossi were of even more concern.
Vidosic went down clutching his right knee in the sixth minute after it twisted during a strong challenge from Shane Lowry. It was the same knee which the 30-year-old had arthroscopic surgery on in the off-season, although the post-match picture painted by Phoenix coach Darije Kalezic was reasonably positive.
Seven minutes from the end of the game, Rossi was replaced by striker Hamish Watson as the Phoenix chased the game, but a Phoenix staff member could be heard saying ‘‘it’s his calf’’ as Rossi limped back to his position about a minute before he was taken off.
Both are important figures for the Phoenix. Vidosic is their second-leading scorer with four goals, while Rossi has been a rock at the back in his seven games so far this season.
Fortunately, winger Roy Krishna and centre back, and captain, Andrew Durante are expected to be fit for next weekend’s game against leaders Sydney FC, but if the other two miss time it will mean the sparse squad depth will continue to be tested.
Vidosic battled on for eight more minutes after his initial injury before he was substituted for Ali Abbas and was said to not need crutches to be moving around on the sideline in the second half.
‘‘It is difficult to say in this moment. I believe that it’s not very bad, but everything I say in this moment is not 100 per cent,’’ Kalezic told reporters about the severity of Vidosic’s injury.
‘‘I have a feeling it’s not so bad, but obviously not good enough to play further [in this match]...we’ll wait until tomorrow and then we’ll know more.’’
The fact Abbas was brought on instead of Sarpreet Singh was (Diego Castro 59’) HT: 0-0. interesting given the latter is more of a like-for-like swap, but Kalezic went for experience over youth. It appeared to be vindicated when Abbas was solid, if unspectacular, in the unfamiliar role, defending well from the front.
The rest of the first half was easily forgotten.
Adam Parkhouse flashed a shotcross across goal in the fourth minute which failed to find either the bottom corner or an open Andrija Kaludjerovic at the back post.
Kaludjerovic teed up Matthew Ridenton for a golden chance from 10 yards out in the 25th minute, but Lowry did well to slide in and block his shot which look destined for the back of the net.
The best feature of the Phoenix’s play was their press, but every time they won the ball high up the field they did nothing with it.
Perth had the majority of possession, but that was mainly deep in their own half and had only a couple of half chances to show for it.
Glory coach Kenny Lowe dragged Joe Knowles at halftime for Andreu to try give his side a spark at the attacking end.
Instead, it was the Phoenix starting the brighter, with Ridenton hitting the post with a shot from the edge of the box after his team-mates had again won the ball high up the field.
It set off a reasonably entertaining spell of play from both sides, which Castro capped in the 59th minute by opening the scoring.
The Phoenix had been playing with a dangerously high defensive line throughout. They combined that with a lack of pressure on the ball and it was all too easy for Mitch Nichols to beat the offside trap down the right and square for the Spaniard to beat a man and apply his finish.
The remainder was a see-saw affair, but probably a game the Glory deserved to win.
The three points lifted them to fifth on the A-League ladder, while the Phoenix languish in last, meaning they are guaranteed to be bottom at Christmas.