Jets gift Phoenix nervy win as Talay aims for home playoff
WELLINGTON Phoenix have set a target of playing finals football in Wellington after claiming a crucial win over Newcastle Jets.
Their 2-1 win at Sky Stadium yesterday has opened up a fourpoint gap between the fifthplace Phoenix and the chasing pack, boosting their push for a top six A-League Men finish.
But coach Ufuk Talay wants his team to aim higher and finish in the top four, which would come with the reward of a home playoff.
‘‘The goal is to push as high as we possibly can go. The reality is we’re a good squad, a top-four squad and we’re going to push for the top two but we need the results for that to happen,’’ Talay said.
‘‘We’re pushing as high as we can go and we’d love to have a home final. We haven’t been able to play [one] in New Zealand, even in my first season when we finished third, we didn’t get the opportunity.
After a flat first 39 minutes, the Phoenix awoke from their slumber to score two goals during a crucial 10-min period right before halftime.
Right back Callan Elliot scored his first A-League goal on his return from suspension and in-form striker Oskar Zawada converted a spot-kick to take his career-best season tally to 11.
The Phoenix’s goals were the result of a goalkeeper howler and a generous penalty decision.
Elliot seized on the loose ball
to open the scoring in the 40th minute after Jets goalkeeper Jack Duncan dropped a routine catch under pressure from Bozhidar Kraev, following a Yan Sasse free-kick from the right sideline.
Zawada doubled the Phoenix’s lead, blasting a penalty straight down the middle in the sixth minute of additional time.
The Phoenix were awarded
the penalty via VAR intervention after Jets midfielder Angus Thurgate was judged to have handled the ball while competing for a header.
The Jets pulled one goal back early in the second half through new Japanese signing Manabu Saito and were the dominant team from there.
Saito marked his starting debut with an easy tap-in after evading Elliot in the 51st minute.
Trent Buhagiar got in behind the Phoenix defence and delivered a cross for his teammate to put away at the back post.
But despite being out-shot 18-11 at home, the Phoenix managed to hold on.