Fourth loss in six games for Nix
AUCKLAND: The Wellington Phoenix's stuttering start to the ALeague season continued yesterday as it lost 20 to the Central Coast Mariners in Wollongong, a fourth defeat in six matches to begin its new campaign.
The Phoenix was forced to play over an hour of the game with 10 men after striker
David Ball was sent off for a reckless studsup challenge on Mariners veteran Matt Simon in the 27th minute.
To make matters worse, everpresent centre back Josh Laws was substituted at the same time having picked up a knock, and defensive partner Luke
DeVere also limped off with a quarter of the game remaining.
The Phoenix actually started the game strongly, forcing a succession of corners without seriously testing Mariners goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.
Ball's dismissal changed the complexion of the game. Ulises Davila was left to feed off scraps in the attacking third and the leagueleading visiting side exploited its oneman advantage.
Simon opened the scoring five minutes before halftime, latching on to a precise throughpass from Costa Rican attacker Marco Urena and finishing neatly past Marinovic.
Shortly after the break, Te Atawhai HudsonWihongi brought down Daniel De Silva in the penalty area, allowing Oliver Bozanic to beat Phoenix keeper Stefan Marinovic from the spot.
While Wellington stayed gamely in the contest and prevented any further scoring, it barely threatened Birighitti's goal, registering just a solitary shot on target in the entire match.
The Mariners deservedly earned a sixth win to remain top. — The New Zealand Herald