Horror start to season for Phoenix
The Wellington Phoenix have made a dismal start to the new A-League season, beaten 2-1 by a 10-man Newcastle Jets and losing captain Andrew Durante to a calf injury, at Westpac Stadium yesterday.
The Phoenix fancy themselves as a playoff side this season and most would agree with that. But the club won’t achieve that without being able to win at home against modest opposition, such as the Jets.
Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession, the Phoenix rarely threatened Newcastle’s goal and have significant work to do.
David Carney for Newcastle, in the 30th minute, then the Phoenix’s Roly Bonevacia in first half added time, scored goals. But the most important moment in the opening 45 minutes came when Durante went down clutching his right calf.
The skipper barely trained last week, as he sought to rest the injury.
Durante required attention and carried on, although only for another 17 minutes. His departure meant a defensive reshuffle, with Manny Muscat joining Ben Sigmund in the middle of the Phoenix’s back four and Tom Doyle coming on to play in Muscat’s vacant left fullback spot.
It’s anyone’s guess how long Durante might be out for now. But injuries of this nature are notoriously niggly and can hang around for weeks.
Ideally, the makeshift defensive unit he left on the pitch would’ve gelled instantly. Instead they were all left looking at each other as an unmarked Carney nodded home Ki-je Lee’s cross at the near post.
It was one of only two chances Newcastle created all half, but was expertly taken by Carney. The former Socceroo and English Premier League player hadn’t endeared himself to Westpac Stadium, after an early clash with Vince Lia.
The Phoenix continued to have all the ball but looked less and less likely to do anything with it. Speculative shots from distance became popular, as the team ran out of ideas.
Finally a Michael McGlinchey run and cut back saw the ball finish at Bonevacia’s feet. The Dutchman opened his body beautifully to steer the ball past Newcastle goalkeeper Mark Birighitti and make it 1-1 at the break.
Two minutes into the new spell the Phoenix ought to have been 2-1 up. Striker Blake Powell was brought down in the box and referee Shaun Evans pointed to the spot.
Roy Krishna stepped up but, just as he had in Wednesday’s brief practice match on Westpac Stadium, he was was unable to convert.
As the second half wore on Newcastle and the ball continued to be strangers, while the Phoenix were unable create anything meaningful. Something vastly different was going to have to occur to prevent a 1-1 draw.
Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick hoped that might be the introduction of new signing Jeffrey Sarpong. He came on for Powell and immediately looked lively, along with McGlinchey.
Fat lot of good it did. Come the 71st minute, a delightful Carney ball put Milos Trifunovic through on goal and Newcastle led 2-1. Noone was booing Carney now.