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NEWCASTLE - Shane Smeltz savoured his revenge on Newcastle goalkeeper Ante Covic as he rescued the Wellington Phoenix and drew level in the soccer A-League's golden boot race yesterday.
Smeltz's dual penalties, the second in the 90th minute, saw the Phoenix snatch a 2-2 draw against the defending
champions after Leilei Gao was brought down by the Jets' Matt Thompson.
Goals number five and six for Smeltz saw him join Melbourne Victory's Danny Allsopp at the top of the scoring ladder as the Phoenix toasted their All Whites striker.
He was spurred on by bad memories of his previous joust with part-time Socceroos keeper Covic this year.
"You've just got to focus and stay cool. He saved one of mine in Pre-Season Cup so I've thought about that before I took it," Smeltz said.
"I changed it up, went low then high with the second one.
"The nerves weren't too bad. I knew it was an important kick at that stage of the game but I stayed relaxed and put it where I wanted it. If you do that nine times out of 10 you score."
Smeltz said there were mixed emotions for the seventh-placed Phoenix who claimed four competition points from their last two matches after a breakthrough 2-1 win over Sydney FC.
After a solid first half from the visitors, during which Smeltz hit the post, he put them in front in the 52nd minute when referee Craig Zetter ruled Vaughan Coveny was brought down by Daniel Piorkowski.
The Jets then stormed back with two goals in nine minutes, the second to Kaz Patafta carrying a strong hint of offside from Ecuadorian import Edmundo Zura.
"There's some good and bad things from today. We came away with a point which is not a bad thing, but at the same time we were 1-0 up and we need to shut games out," Smeltz said.
"Last week with the win against Sydney, we turned a bit of a corner. We came here wanting to win so if we can keep that belief and grow from today we'll be doing allright the next few weeks."
After this weekend's break, the Phoenix's next match is against fourth-placed Central Coast in Gosford on October 19 where they'll try to address their A-League away record of three wins from 14.
Three of their next four matches are on the road.
Smeltz meanwhile maintained his silence over contract negotiations, which had officially "stalled".
The Phoenix's prized asset, off contract next June, hadn't yet accepted their latest offer. He remained focused on the current A-League season and his newly-born daughter, and would leave negotiations to his agent Leo Karis.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was also torn about the result, but had no doubt the side had turned around their ordinary first five weeks.
"We were worthy of taking the lead and then we probably gifted a couple, but that's football and they took their chances as well," said Herbert.
"We got two points from a possible 15 at the start so four points from (a possible) six is pretty decent, that's good enough form to take you to the top-four if we can carry that on."
The Jets, without injured star brothers Joel and Adam Griffiths, remained just a point ahead of the Phoenix in sixth spot.
- NZPA
