Sydney FC 3 Wellington Phoenix 1
The result matched the bleak surrounds as the Wellington Phoenix crashed to a 3-1 loss to Sydney FC tonight in a heavy blow to their A-League soccer campaign.
Basic defensive mistakes saw the Phoenix squander an ideal chance to climb to fifth place, instead letting the defending champions record a morale-boosting home win to lift what has been a disappointing season to date.
Played in steady rain in front of a small Sydney Football Stadium crowd, the scenario only made the mood more sombre for a Phoenix side who remain caste in seventh place, just one point and one spot ahead of the Sydneysiders, who have a game in hand.
Up 1-0 at halftime, two controversial second-half goals proved the difference for Sydney in what was an even encounter between two sides who have struggled to match pre-season expectations.
Both goals came from counter-attacks, the first to impressive striker Mark Bridge even though he appeared to be fractionally offside when Terry Antonis made the decisive pass.
Three minutes later Alex Brosque scored Sydney's third although the Phoenix players were incensed that referee Gerard Parsons had missed a blatant handball from home town defender Sebastien Ryall when he won possession off Ben Sigmund.
It sparked recollections of last year's preliminary semifinal between the sides at the same venue when Sydney FC defender Chris Payne controversially scored with his hand in his team's 4-2 win.
Wellington threw numbers forward over the final 15 minutes and were rewarded when substitute striker Dylan Macallister scored off a slick Vince Lia pass but they couldn't add to it and always remained vulnerable to the counter.
They certainly had their share of opportunities, with striker Paul Ifill crafting a number of shooting chances but he was often foiled by inaccuracy or Sydney goalkeeper Ivan Necevski.
Sydney scored first when Bridge easily beat Phoenix captain Andrew Durante on the left side of the box and sent a curling cross that was smartly nodded home on the far post by Brendan Gan.
The sharpest Wellington player was teenage winger Marco Rojas, who produced some delightful touches after replacing Daniel for the last 35min.
He may have done enough to earn a start when they host second-placed Adelaide in Christchurch on Sunday, a match that has taken on greater importance as the Phoenix seek to breathe life into a stuttering campaign.
- NZPA
