At a glance
soon back on level terms and the three points was back on offer to both sides.
An open and entertaining final quarter followed and while neither was able to strike a vital third blow as the contest ended in a 2-2 draw, another lack-lustre crowd of 5,702 left having well and truly received their moneys worth.
The result meant the Phoenix remained eighth on the 10-team A-League ladder, with the Melbourne derby still to be played last night.
Basking in the warmth of a sun-drenched eastern stand, the home crowd found their voice as quickly as their team found the energy so key to their 3-0 rout of the Mariners in Hamilton. Wellington Phoenix 2 (Gui Finkler 61 (pen), Roy Krishna 68) Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Brendon Santalab 19, Mitch Nichols 56). Ht: 1-0.
Lanky right back Jacob Tratt glanced a pinpoint Finkler corner narrowly across the face of goal in the fourth minute and while appeals for an early penalty were also unsuccessful after left back Adam Parkhouse went down inside the area, there was little doubt who was on top.
After his team had been forced into several early fouls, Wanderers’ Kearyn Baccus picked up the opening yellow card.
All that endeavour went unrewarded and in the 19thminute, totally against the run of play, the visitors capitalised on almost their first foray into the Phoenix red zone.
Nicolas Martinez whipped in a corner and as several Wellington defenders watched on from close range, Santalab nipped in front to drive a classy first time volley low past helpless goalkeeper Glen Moss.
The goal only briefly silenced the Yellow Fever and the Phoenix continued to press forward, a charging Finkler driving low past the left post from just inside the penalty area in the 34th minute.
But the confidence of the West- ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT ern Sydney outfit had been visibly boosted and they too threatened in the closing stages of the half, Moss forced into a smart low save to deny an increasingly dangerous Martinez.
The opening moments of the second spell went by with little action of note before the contest burst into life in a frenetic 12 minutes of play.
Lazy Phoenix defending gifted Nichols a relatively simple finish to double the Wanderers lead in the 56th minute.
But only six minutes later Wellington grabbed one back when Krishna was felled in a needless tackle by Jaushua Sotirio and Finkler calmy converted from the penalty spot, drawing a huge roar from a reinvigorated crowd.