Phoenix earns first point in Melbourne
THE Wellington Phoenix earned its first point of the 201920 ALeague football season, digging deep to draw 11 with Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.
The Phoenix took an early lead, but an Ola Toivoneninspired Victory roared back to collect a share of the points.
Wellington spent large periods of the game without the ball, but defended manfully to emerge with its first tangible outcome of the new campaign.
Having been embroiled in a controversial VAR penalty decision a week ago at the same venue, the Phoenix was on the right side of a technologyaided call this time.
After just four minutes, a leftwing corner struck Victory captain Toivonen on the arm. Following a review on the pitchside TV screen, referee Adam Kersey pointed to the spot and Mexican playmaker Ulises Davila coolly converted his third goal of the season.
The early goal allowed Wellington the luxury of sitting deeper and soaking up the inevitable opposition pressure.
Indeed, the home side enjoyed the greater share of possession, but the Phoenix’s defensive system proved watertight. Alex Rufer and Matti Steinmann played crucial spoiling roles in front of the back four, anchored superbly by captain Steven Taylor.
Victory’s best firsthalf chance came from Danish midfielder Jakob Poulsen whose low drive was repelled by a strong right hand from Stefan Marinovic.
The theme continued in the second half, as Victory searched for an elusive equaliser.
As frustration grew in the stands, Toivonen headed wide with the goal at his mercy just before the hour mark, but five minutes later the classy Swede scored a superb goal, jinking past two defenders in the penalty area before fashioning a sublime finish beyond Marinovic with the outside of his right foot.
Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay was forced into a late change when English striker Gary Hooper was scratched from the matchday
squad after picking up a quad injury in training.
Leftback Liberato Cacace returned from his twogame ban and there was a starting debut for Tim Payne in place of injured rightback Louis Fenton.
There was also a tactical tweak, as Davila played centrally, as opposed to the wider role he has fulfilled in the first month of the season.
In the dying moments, Rufer had the chance to win Wellington the game in spectacular fashion, but his curling leftfooted effort was clawed away by Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas.
The Phoenix has a bye next week and faces Brisbane Roar at home on November 23. —