Mandi sees red as Nix salvage draw
Phoenix midfielder Mandi provided the one moment on interest in an otherwise dour match between the Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United last night by kicking a player who was on his hands and knees.
It finished 0-0 at Coopers Stadium in what would have been a truly forgettable match had it not been for the Spanish midfielder’s moment of madness when he was sent off in the 67th minute.
A few minutes before the incident, former Phoenix midfielder Vince Lia had caught him with a studs-up challenge. Lia was then involved in a tussle and fell to his hands and knees on the ground. Mandi took his chance to boot him with the fullest of force in the ribs. The ball was there, but it looked an intentional, violent act. There were scuffles thereafter, but nothing on what Mandi had just delivered. Referee Stephen Lucas initially produced a yellow card, but upgraded it to a red after watching a replay after the video assistant referee advised him he should.
The match review panel may also see cause to extend the ban beyond the normal one match to two if they deem it to be violent conduct, instead of just serious foul play.
Outside of that, the second half was much more watchable than the first. Adelaide were the better side, but were far from dominant until playing against 10 men.
The Phoenix were unchanged from their 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory last weekend, while Marco Kurz made two changes to his side which beat Newcastle 2-1, bringing in Jordan Elsey and Ryan Kitto for Taylor Regan and Nicola Mileusnic.
It allowed Adelaide to set up in a similar way to when they beat the Phoenix on November 24 – the Phoenix’s last loss – with Craig Goodwin moved into a central role from his more favoured wide position. The tactics were effective in negating the Phoenix’s attacking weapons.
The Phoenix should have opened the scoring in the 52nd minute as Sarpreet Singh sent David Williams through on goal, but the forward shot his one-onone chance straight at Adelaide goalkeeper Paul Izzo.
Adelaide had a great chance of their own three minutes later when Elsey got free of his marker at a corner, but he thumped his free header from the penalty spot straight at keeper Filip Kurto.
Adelaide continued to create chances after Mandi’s sending off, including three desperate clearances from Phoenix defenders and a great Kurto save in the final 10 minutes.
Adelaide striker George Blackwood also scooped a chance over the bar from close in with two minute to go, but the Phoenix somehow managed to hold on for the draw. The first half was terribly tedious. It was summed up by Lia, who has scored six goals in 240 A-League matches, having the two best chances of the half.
Phoenix striker Roy Krishna touched the ball just 11 times in the first 45 minutes. The draw extended the Phoenix’s unbeaten run to six matches – one short of a club record – and they remain in sixth position.