Soccer: Late-strike seals Phoenix draw

Paul Ifill of the Phoenix celebrates his goal to level the score at 2-2. Photo / Getty Images

Wellington Phoenix were rewarded for a never-say-die second half effort with a 2-2 draw against Melbourne Victory in their A- League soccer clash at Wellington Stadium today.

In perfect summer conditions, in front of a vocal 7000-strong crowd, the Phoenix started strongly, and finished with power but looked to have paid the price for mid-match lapses as they trailed 1-2 with less than 10 minutes to go.

But striker Paul Ifill fired home the equaliser after superb run in the 84th minute, standing up gritty defender Kevin Muscat in the process, and the Victory were lucky to hold off a wave of Wellington attacks as the game drew to a close.

Phoenix went into today's game in seventh place with 18 points from 16 matches. They had five wins for the season, but were looking happier following last Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Melbourne Heart in Wellington.

The Victory, who downed Central Coast Mariners 2-1 last week, were sixth on the table with four wins but ahead of the Phoenix on goal difference.

A rejuvenated Wellington started strongly, and threatened in the sixth minute when Tim Brown came close after a Victory error at the back.

Grant Brebner stumbled in front of goal, and Melbourne stopper Michael Petkovic would have been grateful to see Brown's strong shot rifle into the side netting.

Seven minutes later, lone striker Ifill forced Petkovic into a sharp save as he ranged wide down the right.

Ifill was running strongly, boosted by two well- taken goals against the Heart which shot him to six for the season but it was Brown who provided the finish to a well-worked move in the 18th minute, when Leo Bertos and Jade North combined for the All Whites midfielder to pick up his third goal of the season and give Wellington the early lead.

It lasted barely three minutes though as Victory stalwart Archie Thompson provided the perfect finish to some good work by last year's A-Leauge MVP Carlos Hernandez, who in the process picked up his 50th A-League goal, just three weeks after returning from knee reconstruction surgery.

The Phoenix's rejigged defence was caught flatfooted again as halftime neared, Hernandez featuring in a superb build-up which ended when Robbie Kruse latched on to a pinpoint Billy Celeski pass which left Phoenix keeper Mark Paston no chance in the 40th minute.

More commonly seen at centre back, Wanganui 18-year-old James Musa looked a little hesitant at left back in a new-look defensive line-up following Ben Sigmund's one-match suspension for his fifth yellow card of the season against the Heart on Wednesday.

Jade North partnered skipper Andrew Durante in central defence, with Troy Hearfield switching to right back, and the new combination lacked cohesion under increasing pressure as halftime closed.

The Phoenix started the second half with promise, with some good work from Ifill in the box before his cross flew just too high for Brown to nod in.

But from then on, it was the visitors who dictated terms, forcing Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert into a 53rd minute substitution.

Bertos was benched for midfielder Nick Ward while Chris Greenacre -- unwanted against the Heart -- joned Ifill up front as a replacement for midfielder Daniel in the 60th minute.

The Phoenix tightened up at the back as the second half progressed, Musa growing in confidence as the game progressed and looking solid in the air against some vastly more experienced opposition before he was replaced in the 80th minute by another youngster in Marco Rojas.

It was the Phoenix who finished stronger, pounding the Victory goal in injury time, but just unable to find the vital final finish.

Melbourne Victory 2 (Archie Thompson, Robbie Kruse) Wellington Phoenix 2 (Tim Brown, Paul Ifill). Halftime: 2-1.

- NZPA