Phoenix rise from ashes to set new record
The Wellington Phoenix have fought back from two goals down to stun 10-men Central Coast Mariners 3-2 in a wild A-League game at Westpac Stadium last night, with the dismissal of defender Kye Rowles turning the game on its head.
The Phoenix have now set a new club record by going eight games without a defeat, achieving that unbeaten record in captain Andrew Durante’s 300th A-League appearance and in front of a season-high 10,186 spectators.
But they were certainly made to work hard for the three points.
The Mariners, who had not won an A-League game since February 23 and came into the match on the back of nine consecutive defeats, shot out of the blocks with an eighth-minute penalty to captain Matt Simon and a 21st-min goal to Andrew Hoole rewarding the visitors for a dominant opening half.
Simon won the penalty when he was brought down by Steven Taylor with his back to the goal, while Hoole provided the finishing touch after Jacob Melling pick-pocketed Mitch Nichols on halfway.
Hoole’s shot even managed to beat fullback Tom Doyle, who scrambled back to the line, but awkwardly mistimed his attempted clearance.
But, just like against Sydney FC in their most recent game, the winless Mariners were unable to keep their composure and crumbled under the immense second-half pressure as Phoenix coach Mark Rudan unleashed new striker Cillian Sheridan to good effect.
The capitulation started when Rowles shoved Roy Krishna in the back just two minutes into the second half. The defender was shown a straight red card by referee Alex King, who also pointed to the spot.
Ben Kennedy managed to get a touch on the ball, but the Mariners goalkeeper was ultimately unable to keep out Krishna’s penalty attempt.
Melling was the next offender, clipping Krishna as he charged into the box 10 minutes later. Again, Krishna’s penalty was successful.
The Fijian international, who is off contract at the end of the season, now has nine goals in 13 games and is on track to beat his A-League record of 12 goals across a single season.
He also played a huge part in the Phoenix’s match-winner, dribbling at speed towards the retreating Mariners defence before freeing up David Williams, who calmly slotted his third of the season.
The Mariners were left to rue a couple of missed opportunities earlier in the game, when they had the Phoenix on the ropes, with goalkeeper Filip Kurto denying a Simon header from closerange and tipping away a scorching effort from Conor Pain.
Rudan made one change to his starting XI, with Nichols replacing the suspended Alex Rufer. Nichols failed to make the most of a rare start though, dragged for Sheridan at halftime.