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12Apr24
Late Surman Winner Secures Home Semi
by Jeremy Ruane
A headed winner deep in stoppage time from Finn Surman guaranteed Wellington Phoenix a first-ever top-two finish in the Isuzu Ute A-League and, with it, a home semi-final at Sky Stadium in May, as they edged third-placed Melbourne Victory 1-0 at the venue on April 12.
In typically dreich Wellington weather - driving rain, howling wind … everything one associates with New Zealand's capital city weather-wise, the 6360 hardy souls who braved the elements were treated to a closely fought contest dominated by the respective defences, with chances at a premium throughout proceedings.
The home team enjoyed the better of it, Mohamed Al-Taay and Youstin Salas both drawing saves from Paul Izzo inside the first quarter-hour, while Ben Old spurned a glorious chance to open the scoring in the sixteenth minute, opting to pass when the shot was on, having been played in by the back-from-suspension Alex Rufer.
Melbourne counter-attacked immediately, Rufer blocking a shot from Zinedine Machach on the edge of the penalty area. This was one of several such efforts from the visitors which were thwarted by Wellington's resolute defensive efforts, affording goalkeeper Alex Paulsen a relatively easy night at the office - given the challenging playing conditions, that's some achievement!
Fine defending by Damien Da Silva denied Old in the penalty area in the twentieth minute, while the same player was outwitted by Jason Geria in the eighteen yard box five minutes later. Wellington's "Yellow Fever" fans howled for the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee, but as is so often the case, their efforts to influence the match officials weren't worth tuppence!
Further evidence that it wasn't Old's night was witnessed in the 34th minute, when Tim Payne and Costa Barbarouses combined to play in the energetic attacking midfielder. But from ten yards he butchered another great chance to open the scoring.
Five minutes before half-time, Melbourne finally got the chance to see the whites of Paulsen's eyes after Bruno Fornaroli played Ben Folami in through the inside left channel. He got around the covering defender, Surman, before unleashing a shot which rattled the near post side-netting.
Wellington enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the second spell also, first threatening in the 52nd minute when Bozhidar Kraev tangled with Fabian
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Monge on the edge of the penalty area. It looked a foul, but referee Daniel Elder waved play on.
This allowed Melbourne to launch a counter-attack, Da Silva leading the charge before picking out Fornaroli, whose shot was blocked. The striker latched onto the rebound and slipped the ball into the stride of Adama Traore, whose swerving drive deflected off Surman and arced narrowly past the far post.
Back came Wellington, a Payne corner being headed down on the far post by Kraev. Surman's deft flick was grabbed by Izzo, who was relieved to see Kraev just fail to get on the end of David Ball's delightful ball over the top on the hour.
Old then invited the Bulgarian to attempt to break the deadlock, but the combined efforts of Traore and the indefatigable Da Silva snuffed out those prospects halfway through the second spell.
After Kraev had sent a twenty yard curler narrowly past the far post fifteen minutes from time, Melbourne enjoyed their best spell of the contest, with Nick Pennington blocking Fornaroli's shot on the turn before the prolific striker drew a parried save by Paulsen with twelve minutes still to play.
Ten minutes later, Melbourne substitute Eli Adams nearly clinched the contest, shooting narrowly past the post from six yards following the promptings of fellow substitute Chris Ikonomidis.
This was the signal for Wellington to mount a final surge, during which Barbarouses' free-kick struck low round the wall forced Izzo into a parried save which Old was unable to capitalise upon.
But with seconds remaining, Wellington were rewarded for their endeavours when substitute Oskar Van Hattum fired in a free-kick from the right. Heads galore went up for it, but that of Surman got the vital touch, the defender's header ricocheting into the net off Miranda to clinch a 1-0 win for the home team, ensuring their season will extend well into May as a result.
Wellington: Paulsen; Payne (booked, 31 (Pennington, 63)), Surman, Wootton, Sutton; Al-Taay (Ball, 57 (booked, 65)), Rufer, Salas; Barbarouses, Kraev (Van Hattum, 82), Old
Melbourne: Izzo; Geria, Da Silva (booked, 90), Miranda, Traore; Monge (booked, 33 (Bonevacia, 63)), Machach, Brimmer; Arzani (Adams, 86), Fornaroli, Folami (Ikonomidis, 63)
Referee: Daniel Elder
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