KEY POINTS:
VICTORY 1
PHOENIX 1
The Wellington Phoenix will not be in any hurry to see an opposing player sent off again.
For the second week in succession, and against another of the A-League's glamour clubs, the Phoenix found themselves playing against 10 men. On neither occasion have they been able to ram that advantage home finishing the games against Sydney FC and, on Saturday night against Melbourne Victory 1-1.
And, on both occasions the goals the Phoenix conceded were from set play after giving away a needless penalty or free kick.
The game at the Telstra Dome, in front of 20,938 spectators - the Victory's smallest home crowd of the season - pitted the team with the worst attacking record [Melbourne] against the team with the worst defensive record [Wellington].
While there was much to admire in the battling effort from Ricki Herbert's side, he must be concerned the goals have dried up.
Since they put four past Perth Glory in their round six home game on September 30, the Phoenix, in their last seven outings, have managed a solitary goal a game while conceding 12.
It was nevertheless what Herbert tagged "a decent effort" against the defending champions and followed their first-up 2-2 draw with Ernie Merrick's side.
"I probably thought we did enough to get all three [points]," said Herbert later.
"I was pleased with what we showed. We are not a one-year wonder."
Of his team's failure to take full advantage of their numerical advantage when Victory captain Kevin Muscat, in his first game back from suspension, was yellow and then red-carded in the 34th minute, Herbert said: "Even when I was playing we found it tough against 10 men."
Indeed, it was the under-strength home side who broke the deadlock just seven minutes after referee Peter Green was left with no option in sending Muscat off for a second challenge - just 70s after the first - on Phoenix captain Tim Brown.
Former Melbourne player Michael Ferrante gave up a silly freekick to earn himself his team's only booking of the game and hand a set play opportunity to the home side.
The ball was played to Archie Thompson who weaved into the penalty area and pushed a pass to Danny Allsopp. It appeared to take a slight deflection thereby wrong-footing the Phoenix defence who gave Allsopp a simple tap-in finish.
Despite a healthy advantage in the possession stakes and a narrow lead in shots on goals and corners, the visitors' sole reply came in the 57th minute when, following a strong run on the right flank by Ahmad Elrich, the ball was played into Daniel who chested down to Vince Lia, another of Melbourne pedigree, who hammered home from long range.
Both coaches rang the changes in their pursuit of the elusive, and in terms of playoff hopes, much-needed goal. There were half chances but little else as goalkeepers Glen Moss and Michael Theoklitos further enhanced their reputations as the best in the league.
Po-faced Merrick, who had earlier grumbled at having to make himself available for a halftime chat, lauded his players for playing with "vigour and passion".
He complemented Herbert's team by saying this is "not the old New Zealand Knights. This is the Wellington Phoenix" and added given that, "this was a good point with 10 men. It was a reasonable performance".
The Phoenix now have three games at home, the first against Adelaide United on Friday night - 24 hours before the festival match against David Beckham and the LA Galaxy.
