Vidosic in doubt for encounter with Sydney
WELLINGTON: Wellington Phoenix will sweat over the fitness of key forward Dario Vidosic ahead of its showdown with the ALeague’s dominant club.
The lastplaced Phoenix endured a night to forget when it went down 10 to the Glory in Perth on Saturday in a clash of two cellar dwellers.
While the result lifts Perth out of the basement, from ninth to fifth, it leaves the Wellington outfit languishing four points adrift of its nearest rivals.
On top of that, influential Australian international Vidosic is under an injury cloud ahead of Saturday’s home match against defending champion and runaway league leader Sydney FC.
Standing in as captain for the injured Andrew Durante, the 30yearold was forced off early after clattering into Glory defender Shane Lowry, suffering apparent damage to his right knee, which had required surgery in the offseason.
Coach Darije Kalezic will keenly await the result of earlyweek assessments.
‘‘I have a feeling he is not so bad but obviously not good enough to play further, so we have to wait,’’ he said.
‘‘With Dario, we lose exceptional quality.
‘‘Everybody knows that he, with [Michael] McGlinchey and Roy Krishna, they are the players that give the right attacking impulse for our team.’’
Krishna and Durante are both decent chances to return from injury against Sydney FC but there is less certainty around McGlinchey.
They may also be issues arising from an apparent calf niggle that ended centre back Marco Rossi’s night in the closing minutes.
Kalezic was proud of a ‘‘solid’’ Phoenix display in the absence of key figures and said a draw could have been secured with an ounce more luck.
He pointed to midfielder Matthew Ridenton’s strike, which struck the post — in a rare attacking foray — moments before Diego Castro scored Perth’s 59thminute winner.
‘‘If the ball was one centimetre to the right then it’s a goal and obviously we’d be at an advantage and control more the game.’’
Wellington’s 52 dissection of Perth five weeks ago remains its only win this season.
It has picked up one point from five matches in Australia. — NZN