Football: Wellington Phoenix steal three points with late win

NZ Herald·

17 Feb, 2018 08:45 AM3 mins to read

Phoenix keeper Tando Velaphi pictured moments before a knee to the head. Photo / Photosport

Their present fortunes may be grim, but the Wellington Phoenix got a glimpse of a positive future tonight.

A 2-1 win over the Perth Glory was notable for two reasons – the Phoenix escaped off the bottom of the table for the first time since November, and 18-year-old Sarpreet Singh scored a stunning debut goal.

Starting his first game for the club, Singh took just three minutes to rifle home a superb strike from outside of the penalty area, confirming his much-anticipated status as a rare young Kiwi to watch in this Phoenix side.

While his goal was cancelled out by a Diego Castro free-kick, a late own goal from Shane Lowry saw the Phoenix earn all three points, and provide a rosier tint on their future prospects.

The Phoenix came into the clash off back-to-back 4-0 defeats in Sydney, which had zapped all hope of a late-season revitalisation – a turnaround which looked possible after they had strung together a three game winning streak in the New Year. However, Perth offered a way to pick up much-needed points, with the Glory having lost six of their last seven games, and languishing in eighth on the ladder.

The Phoenix came into the clash with a new look, with new recruit Tando Velaphi in goal against his former team, All White Monty Patterson getting a home debut, and Singh earning his first start.

Singh's impact was the greatest, with his goal supplementing a promising display in the central midfield, while Velaphi put in a much more confident showing than his predecessors in the Phoenix goal.

In all truth, a Phoenix victory looked unlikely for most of the match, especially after Castro's equaliser. 1-1 at the break was probably a fair reflection of an even half, with Perth calmer in possession and looking to build structured attacks, while the Phoenix looked friskier, sending direct forays into the Perth area, and making the Glory defenders scramble to clear their lines.

That Phoenix innovation slowed after the break, with Perth ramping up the pressure and bossing possession in the Phoenix half. The hosts were sitting too deep, inviting Perth attacks, but they had their moments on the counter, with Roy Krishna – introduced at halftime – blazing over the bar, before Andrija Kaluderovic sidefooted wide from close range.

After gaining the ascendancy, Perth looked to have sealed a deserved victory in undeserved fashion, after being awarded a questionable penalty after Castro collided with Phoenix defender Scott Galloway.

Hilariously, Castro's attempted 'Panenka' penalty – a deft chip straight down the middle – didn't fool Velaphi, who stood static to make the easiest save of his career.

That looked like it had saved the Phoenix a point, but in the 91st minute, Krishna was released down the left, and Lowry turned the resulting cross into his own net to gift the hosts all three.