Nick Ward of the Phoenix and Scott Jamieson of Sydney in action at the Sydney Football Stadium. Photo / Getty Images
Sydney FC 3 Wellington Phoenix 1
The away blues hit the Wellington Phoenix yet again as they went down to Sydney FC in pouring rain across the Tasman last night.
In no way was it as one-sided as the final score might suggest.
The visitors, trailing 2-0 after being hit on the counter-attack in the 72nd
minute, were stopped in their tracks four minutes later as referee Gerard Parsons missed a deliberate hand ball from Sebastian Ryall which led to a third goal as the Phoenix stood and waited for the whistle.
From the outset the Phoenix took the initiative, but again, that early flurry came to nothing, with half-chances failing to put real pressure on the home defence.
After weathering that initial 10-minute burst, Sydney hit back and only two great saves in as many seconds from goalkeeper Mark Paston denied the Sky Blues as he blocked Mark Bridge's initial shot and then flung himself down to save again as Alex Brosque pounced on the rebound.
The reprieve was short-lived, as two minutes later Troy Hearfield not only failed to get his head to a cross but unsighted Paston, who was left helpless as Brendan Dan headed home his first goal of the season.
Coach Ricki Herbert's changes in the 55th minute - introducing Chris Greenacre and lively youngster Marcos Rojas - sparked life into the visitors' effort.
They went on an almost all-out attack, only to be undone by a Sydney counter-attack and a goal to Mark Bridge - again a first of the season.
The attack was still with the Phoenix but they failed to get the goal they deserved, and that third goal shocker killed them off.
They did deservedly get one back late when substitute Dylan MacAllister provided the stinging final shot from a defence-splitting Vince Lia through ball, but it was too little, too late and Sydney were left to celebrate a win over a team that had beaten them 2-1 earlier in the season.
