Phoenix slump to stalemate
Neither side really looked like scoring in a dour, somewhat sloppy New Year’s Eve contest that leaves the Wellington Phoenix dead last and likely wishing the newly returned Nathan Burns had been available a few days earlier.
Despite their more defensive set-up and significantly less possession, the Phoenix fashioned far more opportunities in the first half of their goalless draw away to the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday, going into the break with 11 shots to two.
The Mariners had Ben Kennedy to thank for preserving their clean sheet, the man-of-the-match shotstopper denying Roy Krishna and Matt Ridenton, among others.
Wellington’s strongest chance came on the half-hour mark, when Krishna squared up for Andrija Kaluderovic.
The top-scoring Serb considered attempting to curl it in on an angle but decided to flick the ball to Ridenton, who missed a sitter from point-blank range.
Up the other end, Phoenix goalkeeper Lewis Italiano was confident when Connor Pain rounded on goal and sharp off his line to punch clear an Andrew Hoole corner, while Andrew Durante got a boot between Asdrubal and the ball at the near post.
The result is also a blow for the Mariners, with their finals push at risk of slipping away as they end the year in eighth place.
Goals are also becoming a particular problem for the Central Coast side, who have now gone four games without a single one and, should they fail to score away to Melbourne Victory on Saturday, will equal the club’s five-game drought of 2006.
Compounding a busy January is the departure of starters Danny De Silva and Trent Buhagiar and back-up goalkeeper Tom Glover to the Olyroos. The Mariners were guilty of moving the ball too slowly but picked up the pace in a more open second half.
As soon as Storm Roux was brought on, they found their opening down the left flank, the Kiwi taking a shot from outside the box that veered wide.
Kwabena Appiah’s introduction further helped matters as the fleet-footed forward went on two solo runs that fizzled at the final frontier.
● Manchester City’s record
18-game winning run in the Premier League ended with a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace, with the leaders dealt a further blow with injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne.
It needed a penalty save from Ederson Moraes off Luka Milivojevic in injury time on Sunday (Monday NZ Time) to preserve City’s unbeaten run after 21 games and leave Pep Guardiola’s side 14 points clear heading into the New Year.
Despite being in a commanding position with 17 games remaining, City will be concerned in particular with the injury to Jesus, who limped off in tears with a left leg injury midway through the first half after falling awkwardly.