Soccer: Phoenix suffer narrow loss

The Wellington Phoenix head to Australia high on confidence despite a narrow loss in a pre-season soccer tour match in China overnight (NZT).

The Phoenix were beaten 3-2 by Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals in Changsha, with British striker Chris Greenacre scoring his first goal in Phoenix colours and captain Andrew Durante also getting on the scoresheet.

The loss came after the Phoenix's 2-2 draw with Tianjin Teda in the opening match of their two-match visit to China.

They now head to Australia for their final pre-season match against A-League rivals Central Coast Mariners in Dubbo on Saturday.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert again used the match against Guangzhou to give all members of his squad some game time, with two trial strikers - Brazilian Anderson Potty and Chinese under-23 international Jiang Chen - also taking part.

"Overall, it was a good opportunity for us to take a close look at the two trialists in a game context against very competitive opposition," Herbert said. "Jiang, in particular, was very good and showed he definitely has the potential to do well in the A-League."

The final pieces of the recruitment jigsaw are slotting into place, with confirmation yesterday that former Millwall, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace striker Paul Ifill would join the Phoenix on a two-year deal.

After going 1-0 down on the 30-minute mark, the Phoenix hit back after the break when former Tranmere Rovers marksman Greenacre scored his first goal for the Phoenix in the 56th minute.

Troy Hearfield seemed to have given the Phoenix the lead not long after but the goal was disallowed, the referee ruling that Diego's swinging corner had gone out of play before Hearfield's successful strike.

Guangzhou that snatched the lead back, capitalising on a mistake by young Phoenix keeper Reece Crowther from a free kick. However, the Phoenix levelled in the 81st minute when skipper Durante nodded in Costa Barbarouses' cross to level the scores in the 81st minute.

With time almost up, Guangzhou secured the win with a goal scored from an unstoppable free kick.

- NZPA