Soccer: Draw sees Phoenix move to seventh place

Dylan Macallister of the Phoenix contests the ball with Mark Hughes of the Fury. Photo / Getty Images

Wellington Phoenix were lucky to come away with a 1-1 draw with North Queensland Fury in terrible conditions at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville last night.

The draw sees the Phoenix move into seventh place on 25 points, one point behind the Melbourne Heart who occupy the final playoffs spot and have a game in hand.

With free tickets on offer from the Fury's financial backer Queensland Nickel, a big crowd was expected, however only 5,107 hardy fans braved the heavy rain to see North Queensland take the lead in the 12th minute when striker Chris Payne latched on to a through ball from David Williams and slid the ball past keep Danny Vukovic to score.

The Fury continued to dominate for most of the game, as Wellington attacks repeatedly fizzled out, with players, particularly striker Chris Greenacre, getting caught offside.

North Queensland had a good chance to go two up after a hand ball by Wellington's Ben Sigmund just outside the 18 yard box on the half hour, but the free kick from Ufuk Talay drifted over the crossbar.

Wellington were not without chances, with Dylan Macallister blowing an opportunity to equalise close to half time when, unmarked in front of goal, he fumbled a shot that was easily taken by home keeper Justin Pasfield.

North Queensland should have had their second in the 60th minute with both Mark Hughes and Panagiotis Nikas having shots at goal from right in front but a frantic Wellington defence kept the ball out.

The Phoenix finally got their equaliser in 76th minute with Nick Ward making a break and getting a low cross to Macallister who smashed the ball past a diving Pasfield at the far post to score.

The game ended in controversy, first with a Fury penalty shout being turned down later in the game, and then with an injury time winner for the Fury disallowed as the officials ruled a Dyron Daal shot failed to cross the goal line.

- With NZPA