Offside call costly for frustrated Phoenix
A dodgy offside call has cost the Wellington Phoenix their first goal and point of the season.
Roy Krishna looked as though he had sprung the offside trap in the 42nd minute of the 1-0 loss to Sydney FC, but assistant referee Sarah Jones had her flag up as he rounded Danny Vukovic in the Sydney goal to score.
Replays showed it was the incorrect call.
It was the last thing the Phoenix needed.
Their slick passing and fast tempo, led by Gui Finkler, in the first half was good enough that they deserved a goal, so to have it taken away was a cruel blow.
That blow became even crueler when Milos Ninkovic latched onto Matt Simon’s header back across goal to score a 90th-minute winner.
Sydney came into the game off two 4-0 wins, but were second best for most of the match in Wellington last night.
The Phoenix kept the red-hot duo of Bobo and Filip Holosko very quiet, to the point where the latter was dragged by his coach, Graham Arnold, in favour of Alex Brosque after 60 minutes.
Bobo followed him to the bench 10 minutes later as Simon came on. Both cut frustrated figures as they took their seats.
The Phoenix caused that frustration by starving Sydney of meaningful possession, which pushed Holosko and playmaker Ninkovic deeper and deeper as the game wore on.
The Phoenix’s passing was incisive in the first 45 minutes and should have helped end their threegame Hyundai A-League goal drought.
Michael McGlinchey had the ball in the back of the net from a cross in the 14th minute, but was correctly adjudged as offside by Jones.
The signs were positive though, with plenty of chances falling the way of Kosta Barbarouses and Roy Krishna in the first half.
Both Vukovic and his Phoenix opposite, Glen Moss, had made several great saves to keep the sides scoreless at the halftime interval.
The Phoenix’s passing also dropped off appreciably in the second 45 as both teams struggled to create decent chances.
That was until David Carney found himself clear on goal in the 77th minute, only to turn onto his less-favoured right foot and fire his curling shot agonisingly wide of the post.
The Phoenix had another close offside call go against them with six minutes to play.
Hamish Watson flicked on a long ball to send Barbarouses clear one-on-one, but James Tesoriero’s flag was up.
It appeared another tight call, but one which could have gone either way.
It was then left to Ninkovic to break the hearts of Phoenix fans with his late winner.
The dismayed look on Phoenix captain Andrew Durante’s face after the goal went in said it all.