Singh sinks a stunner
A starring starting debut from Sarpreet Singh and some brotherly love from Shane Lowry have helped lift the Wellington Phoenix off the bottom of the A-League ladder.
Singh, and 18-year-old midfield livewire, scored a stunning goal after just 135 seconds, before Perth Glory defender Lowry, the brother of injured Phoenix defender Ryan Lowry, conceded a 90th minute own goal to hand the Phoenix a 2-1 win last night in Wellington.
Lowry might have been ultimately responsible for the Phoenix getting all three points, but a lot of the focus should go on Singh, who provided a rare ray of sunshine in what has been a dark Phoenix season.
He opened the scoring with a superbly taken goal. He received the ball 30 metres out from goal, turned, took two touches before producing a top-drawer strike to send a left-foot shot from just outside the box to the top-right corner.
It was the sort of goal he has become known for at New Zealand national league level, but to produce it in the A-League was another proposition entirely.
And it warmed the hearts of all 4806 fans inside Westpac Stadium.
His inclusion in the starting team happened because of Goran Paracki picking up an ankle injury at training on Friday.
Of course, one goal does not make a career, but such was the class on display there was a sense of frustration afterwards that it has taken 20 games this season for the youngster to be given a chance in the starting XI, when others have been chronic underperformers.
The lead lasted until the 36th minute when one of the established midfield stars of the A-League, Diego Castro, powered home a freekick from the edge of the box which beat debutant Phoenix goalkeeper Tando Velaphi at the post he was covering, although it did go in off the upright. The half had limped along in fits and starts up until then, with neither side really able to grab full control of the match.
Roy Krishna replaced Monty Patterson at halftime to make his first appearance in three weeks and looked lively, flashing a shot over the bar after a typical surging run eight minutes into the half.
Velaphi copped a strong knee to the head from Joel Chianese in the 63rd minute, which required treatment. He was somehow allowed to continue, seemingly cleared of concussion after a few questions from the team doctor, despite his head snapping back upon impact. In most other contact sports he would have been required to leave the field for a proper assessment.
Michael McGlinchey replaced Singh in the 68th minute to register his 200th A-League appearance. Substitutes don’t come much more symbolic.
The result could have been disastrous for the Phoenix had Castro not fluffed his lines from the penalty spot seven minutes GETTY IMAGES from time. The penalty win was a touch controversial, as he surged into the box and laid off for Andy Keogh, only to be clattered late by Scott Galloway.
Keogh still got his shot away, but referee Alex King called play back and pointed to the penalty spot. Castro then dinked a shocker of a penalty straight into Velaphi’s arms.
Then Lowry scored his own goal, deflecting a Krishna cross into his own net.