Phoenix loss opens door for Jets
Wellington Phoenix have presented Newcastle Jets with an opportunity to close the gap on sixth place after they suffered a 1-0 loss to Sydney FC last night.
The Phoenix, who handed Sydney the home advantage by moving the round 20 fixture to Campbelltown Stadium, due to the unavailability of Westpac Stadium, conceded in the 65th minute when A-League Golden Boot leader Adam Le Fondre smashed a penalty above the reach of goalkeeper Filip Kurto.
Kurto had conceded the penalty by throwing himself at the feet of substitute Alex Brosque as he charged towards goal.
The Jets sit six points behind the Phoenix in seventh, but could close the gap on the top-six playoff places when they play Adelaide United tonight.
After surviving an early Sydney onslaught, the Phoenix looked to have broken the deadlock in 26th minute when defender Michal Kopczynski poked home from a Sarpreet Singh free kick.
The ball fell kindly to the Polish import, after Sydney goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was blocked by a team-mate while attempting to punch clear.
However, Kopczynski was standing in an offside position as there was only one opposition player between him and the goal.
The linesman immediately raised his flag and a closer look from the Video Assistant Referee proved it was the correct decision.
Sydney spurned multiple chances in a dominant opening 45 minutes.
New signing Reza Ghoochannej had struck the frame of the goal and had an earlier opportunity denied by Kurto, who charged off his line and managed to collect the ball.
The Phoenix were dealt a blow prior to kickoff with defender Steven Taylor failing a late fitness after he was unable to shake off a calf niggle he picked up earlier in the week. His replacement, Dylan Fox, only lasted half an hour. He was taken from the field on a stretcher after injuring his leg in a collision with teammate Andrew Durante while attempting to block a shot from Anthony Caceres. Phoenix coach Mark Rudan said at halftime that he feared it could be seasonending injury, which would be a cruel blow to a player who was struggled for opportunities this season.
Rudan went to his bench again in the 55th minute, with Cillian Sheridan brought on for Singh.
He almost made an immediate impact, flicking on a ball that allowed David Williams to set up Roy Krishna. However, Krishna was unable to hit the target.
Daniel De Silva had a chance to double Sydney’s lead in injurytime when he sprinted towards a low cross from Le Fondre, but Phoenix defender Liberato Cacace managed to get to the ball first.
Le Fondre was then robbed of a chance to shoot on goal as referee Shaun Evans whistled for a foul on Brosque in back play.
Although the Phoenix were hoping for a bumper crowd in their first home game played in Australia, just 5115 spectators were in attendance.
The Phoenix now enjoy a twoweek break before playing bottom-placed Central Coast on March 9.