Phoenix 0 Mariners 0
KEY POINTS:
A huge lift in intensity was not enough to get the Wellington Phoenix up for their first win of the A-League season.
They ended a sometimes scrappy affair at Westpac Stadium 0-0 with Central Coast Mariners to claim their second point of the season - both from home draws - enough, temporarily at least, to lift them ahead of Perth Glory at the foot of the table.
Two top-class goalkeepers - Glen Moss for the home side and visiting Mark Bosnich - and their handful of outstanding saves kept the scoreboard attendant unemployed as the Phoenix claimed their first point in four battles with the Mariners.
While there was more steel in the Phoenix effort, that did not convert into too many scoring chances despite the best efforts of front-runners Shane Smeltz and Vaughan Coveny.
On the count shots at goal the Coasters were ahead 8-5. Given that, their 5-2 advantage in corners won and a 56 per cent share of possession, the visitors should have done better.
From the time Moss pulled off a dramatic one-handed reflex save to deny Sasho Petrovski in the fourth minute, the Phoenix defended bravely but with the fear that one lapse would prove costly.
It almost came after 16 minutes when Mile Jedinak crashed a free kick on to the post. The rebound fell kindly but two snap shots were somehow kept out by Moss as was a 41st minute Matt Osman rocket.
The home side came closest in the 63rd minute, when from a scramble in the Coast goalmouth Troy Hearfield fired a loose ball goalwards. Bosnich shot out a hand and somehow deflected to a defender who headed off his line.
