KEY POINTS:
A dramatic penalty in the last minute denied the Wellington Phoenix victory in the A-League soccer match against Sydney FC in Wellington today.
The penalty by Ufuk Talay in the 90th minute gave the Sydneysiders a 1-1 draw just when it looked like they were ready to cop their first defeat under new coach John Kosmina.
Phoenix defender Steven Old resorted to a tackle from the back inside the box as a 10-man Sydney side caused more trouble for the home side than they did with the full team.
Their captain and fullback Tony Popovic had been red-carded in the 69th mminute.
The penalty came like a cold shower for Phoenix.
Along a rather gloomy run, fortunes were smiling on their mixed inaugural season until then and they looked set to humble the competition's form team.
A 29th minute goal from captain Ross Aloisi gave them a 1-0 lead over the competition's glamour before an enthusiastic 8000 crowd at the Westpac Stadium.
Despite the last-minute leveller, both Kosmina and Sydney must now regard Phoenix their bogey team, as they have not beaten them in three games this year, losing in a Pre-Season Cup and a league match.
For the Phoenix, Aloisi's goal following a corner kick was more than a welcome sight after they had won only one of their previous six matches.
Aloisi, the smallest player in the box when Daniel curled his corner from the right, didn't give goalkeeper Clint Bolton a chance when he tapped the winner into the net.
Apart from the goal, the home side had an upper hand in the first half and made at least three attempts at goal to Sydney's two.
Of the misses in that first spell, Sydney striker Michael Bridges' attempt perhaps looked the most lethal when he deflected a cross from the left which Glen Moss met and turned over the bar with great reflexes and agility.
That 26th minute close call was preceded by a Michael Ferrante attempt from 30m.
Though his right-footer lacked venom, the low shot was secured at a second attempt by Bolton.
Sydney's woes increased in the 69th minute when captain and defender Popovic was red-carded by referee Peter Green for a second yellow card offence.
To Sydney's credit they continued to trouble the Phoenix after starting the second half with some gusto.
Alex Brosque and Bridges combined to penetrate the box twice at least but some scrambling defence prevented the equaliser until the penalty.
- NZPA
