Phoenix blow big lead against Roar
Top football teams don’t blow three-goal leads at home.
Sure, the Wellington Phoenix had some circumstances go against them. They were without first-choice centre backs Andrew Durante and Marco Rossi, and had to replace right back Scott Galloway with a centre back in Dylan Fox in the 25th minute due to injury.
But under almost no circumstances should a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes turn into a 3-3 draw as it did against the Brisbane Roar at Westpac Stadium in Wellington last night.
Especially against a Roar team setting a new A-League record for the oldest starting lineup with an average age of 32.27. The Phoenix should have been the ones finishing the stronger of the two teams. It all looked so positive when the Phoenix exploded out of the gates, with Andrija Kaludjerovic opening the scoring inside the first 62 seconds. He leapt highest to meet a Dario Vidosic cross to send a looping header over the outstretched hand of Roar goalkeeper Michael Theo.
It got even better for the Phoenix in the 18th minute when Roy Krishna gathered a pass 35 metres out, took two touches towards goal before unleashing a ferocious strike which gave Theo no chance at his near post.
Two minutes later it was sheer jubilation for the 7018 Phoenix faithful in attendance as Kaludjerovic tapped in an outstanding low cross across the face of the goal from Krishna.
Then Galloway got injured and all downhill from there. it was