Phoenix break season’s duck with big win

Lift off. Wellington Phoenix have notched their first win of the A-League Men season, crushing Macarthur 4-1 at home on the back of a second-half goal-scoring blitz.

After three draws and a defeat, the Phoenix snapped their win drought in style, netting three goals in quick succession midway through the second spell.

Clayton Lewis, Ben Waine and Bozhidar Kraev found the back of the net within a 10-minute period, the Phoenix roaring home after Ben Old’s first-half header had been cancelled out by Macarthur’s Lachlan Rose.

Lewis’ goal was the pick of the four, the All Whites midfielder scoring off a spectacular longrange free-kick.

The ball even brushed the underside of the crossbar for good measure.

The Phoenix opened the scoring via an Old header on the stroke of halftime, the young midfielder flicking the ball past former Nix goalkeeper Filip Kurto after making an intelligent run to the near

post to connect with Callan Elliot’s cross. The goal was made possible after Kosta Barbarouses kept the ball from going out of bounds following an initial cross from Kraev aimed for the back post.

Australia’s eyes were on Macarthur winger Daniel Arzani, who had one last audition for a spot in the Socceroos World Cup squad.

And it was the World Cup hopeful who sparked Macarthur’s 59th minute reply.

The tricky Arzani squeezed between Old and Steven Ugarkovic and threaded a pass for substitute Lachlan Rose to run onto.

Oli Sail sprinted off his line but Rose won the race to the ball and was able to poke it past the Phoenix shotstopper.

Lewis restored the Phoenix’s advantage with a stunning setpiece strike in the 65th minute.

The Phoenix made it 3-1 two minutes later when substitute Waine tapped home from closerange after being set up by leftback Sam Sutton.

Kraev’s fourth came eight minutes after that. Barbarouses broke free down the right wing, played a lovely pass to David Ball, who then found the Bulgarian with a pass to the back post.

Combined with their three draws, the Phoenix have now made their best start to an A-League season since 2015-16 after banking six points from the first five games.