Soccer: Phoenix hold out against Roar power

Wellington Phoenix's Ben Sigmund. Photo / APN

Wellington 1

Brisbane 1

In one of their most courageous performances in five seasons of A-League soccer, the Phoenix defied all the odds to hold runaway leaders Brisbane Roar to a draw in front of 16,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium last night.

Low on possession and with few shots on goal, the under-strength Phoenix, who went into the game in last place, refused to yield against a team defending a 34-match unbeaten run and who had only dropped their first points of the season away to Melbourne Victory a week earlier.

But, determined not to be intimidated, the Phoenix, whose injury woes continued even before kick-off when Dani Sanchez injured himself in the pre-match warm-up, contested everything especially in the centre of the field after consistently handing possession to the Roar on the flanks.

Renowned for their attack-from-anywhere approach and keen to push as high up into the attacking third as possible, Brisbane went ahead in the 12th minute, cashing in on a poor call by referee Jarred Gillett who gifted the home side a freekick just outside the box from where Thomas Brioch picked out the league's leading goalscorer Besart Berisha, who headed home.

Ill-discipline, a continuing blight on any good they might manage, again hurt the Phoenix as Nicky Ward and Manny Muscat (for the fourth time in the first six weeks) were booked for over-zealous challenges. But the underdogs refused to give up, despite a shot count that was 9-1 against them by halftime.

That one shot was decisive. Leo Bertos broke on the left and fired a superb ball deep and wide to Ward who pulled it back nicely to a rampant Tim Brown who connected perfectly to thump home hard and low for his 20th A-League goal in his 100th outing.

Apart from one short period in the second half when they enjoyed a decent dollop of possession, the visitors rarely threatened to snatch a second.

At the other end of the pitch they defended relentlessly, goalkeeper Tony Warner making a couple of crucial saves when called upon.

Deep into added time - to which Gillett added 45 seconds - Warner pulled off another reflex save much to the frustration of the league leaders who rarely drop points at home.

This was a great fillip for the Phoenix ahead of their first journey to Eden Park on Sunday. And as a bonus, they clawed their way out of the cellar.