Nix denied rare Victory
Phoenix 3 Victory 3
Roy Krishna became the first player in A-League history to score at least two goals in three consecutive games as the Wellington Phoenix came within minutes of a rare win in Melbourne last night.
The Phoenix led 3-1 at halftime but were forced to settle for a point when their former player Kosta Barbarouses equalised in the 88th minute. The draw did at least extend the club’s record unbeaten streak to nine games.
Pre-match, Wellington coach Mark Rudan refused to call this period season-defining, despite the fact his side play the league’s top four teams in a 13-day stretch.
But this performance reinforces their credentials as a growing A-League force. Home or away, they are a legitimate threat.
As for Krishna, he is now the joint Golden Boot leader and a genuine contender for the Johnny Warren Medal awarded to the A-League’s player of the season.
It was a frenetic start in the AAMI Park sunshine. The Victory went ahead inside five minutes with Swedish international Ola Toivonen played in by Barbarouses before lifting a delightful chip over advancing keeper Filip Kurto to open the scoring with his ninth goal of the season. But it took less than three minutes for David Williams to square the match for Wellington, tapping home Louis Fenton’s cross from close range to notch his fourth goal in six games.
Wellington were now enjoying the majority of possession and at the end of a flowing move which involved 24 passes, Krishna was tripped in the penalty area, making the most of minimal contact to win his side a spot kick.
The Fijian took responsibility, blasting home his tenth goal of the season to put the Phoenix ahead.
Eight minutes later, he was at it again. Another sweeping move from Wellington ended with Williams drawing a save from keeper Lawrence Thomas but Krishna pounced on the rebound to fire in the Phoenix’s third.
As well as bringing up Krishna’s individual scoring record, the goal also represented the first time the Phoenix have ever netted three goals in three straight games.
Late in the first half, Kurto pulled off a crucial stop to deny Barbarouses after he was put through one-on-one and preserve the two-goal advantage at halftime.
In front of a vocal 18,000-strong crowd, including the healthiest throng of Phoenix away fans in recent memory, Melbourne chased the game after the break.
It took just 10 minutes for James Troisi to reduce the deficit to 3-2, driving into the penalty area to latch on to Toivonen’s precise pass and finish clinically. Ten minutes later, Terry Antonis struck the post with Kurto stranded.
Wellington continued to soak up immense Victory pressure, with Kurto constantly called into action. In front of him, the Phoenix defence and the outstanding Alex Rufer stretched every sinew to keep the hosts at bay.
Wellington threatened on the counter-attack and Krishna put two good chances wide.
Just when it looked as though they would secure just a third win in 19 away games against the Victory, the ball fell invitingly in the box to Barbarouses, who scored his sixth goal against his former club.
The draw keeps Wellington fifth, one point behind fourth-placed Melbourne City and inside the top-six playoff spots by 11 points.
The Phoenix continue a busy week when they host third-placed Sydney FC on Wednesday night before Melbourne City visit Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
Melbourne Victory 3 (Toivonen 5, Troisi 56, Barbarouses 88) Wellington Phoenix 3 (Williams 7, Krishna 20 pen, 28)