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SYDNEY - Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was left cursing the brain snap that dealt his side an A-League soccer playoff body blow here last night.
Midfielder Troy Hearfield became the second Phoenix player to be red carded in three matches when he was marched in the 64th minute by referee Ben Williams for an apparent headbutt during their 0-1 defeat to Sydney FC.
The match was well poised and the Phoenix rarely threatened on attack thereafter, as 17-year-old Ghana-born striker Kofi Danning compounded their misery with an 85th-minute winner at the Sydney Football Stadium.
A fortnight ago, Phoenix captain Andrew Durante was marched in stoppage time for a second bookable offence, a foul which led to the free kick which sank them 2-3 against Queensland.
Last night Hearfield and Sydney's Alex Brosque had a heated nose-to-nose clash after a heavy tackle but Hearfield appeared to make minimal contact with Brosque's head. Still, Herbert wasn't about to debate the merits of Williams' decision, rather the consequences.
"I was really disappointed with the lack of discipline, getting a player sent off at a critical time," a glum Herbert said.
"We'd really taken the ascendancy then, the second half was a lot brighter and I felt probably one goal would be enough to beat them."
The Phoenix backed themselves to grab three competition points from a young Sydney team, whom they'd beaten 2-1 in both previous meetings this season and were on a four-match losing streak.
Defeat didn't snuff out their hopes of a first playoff appearance, but left them relying on other results with two rounds remaining, three points behind fourth-placed Central Coast Mariners.
The Phoenix need at least a win and a draw against the top-two sides; Adelaide at home on Sunday and Melbourne away a week later, and hope the Mariners lose both against the same tough opponents.
"We can look down the tunnel and there is a bit of light still there, but it's probably a little bit dimmer than what it was coming into the game," Herbert said.
"We're all disappointed, it's been a hell of a year for us and to get this far and get so close, we all feel it.
"It's put quite a dent in (our hopes), to be fair. Two more big games, Adelaide and Melbourne away, so the task gets no easier. But we won't be giving up yet. " Hearfield will pay the price for his red card next weekend with automatic suspension, while Durante is also in some doubt with a hamstring strain. On the bright side, Herbert said defender Ben Sigmund would definitely return from a hip injury.
Durante suffered his injury late in the first half last night and was replaced at halftime by Daniel, with Jon McKain shuffling to the back.
Herbert admitted that change "broke up our shape a bit", and was crucial when the speedy Danning slipped clear to nudge the winner past goalkeeper Glen Moss.
Still, Herbert felt they had enough chances to beat Sydney, whose coach John Kosmina injected several youngsters with a view to next season.
Striker Shane Smeltz, the league's leading scorer with 12 goals, had only one definite chance from a 35th minute Hearfield cross, but got in a tangle in front of goal.
- NZPA
