The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website | home
09Oct22 | 16Oct22 | 22Oct22 | 30Oct22 | 06Nov22 | 13Nov22 | 10Dec22 | 17Dec22 | 24Dec22 | 02Jan23 | 07Jan23 | 14Jan23 | 22Jan23 | 28Jan23 | 03Feb23 | 12Feb23 | 17Feb23 | 24Feb23 | 04Mar23 | 12Mar23 | 17Mar23 | 01Apr23 | 10Apr23 | 16Apr23 | 21Apr23 | 29Apr23 | 05May23
17Feb23
Sweet Revenge For Wellington Against Champions
by Jeremy Ruane
Wellington Phoenix gained sweet revenge for bottling a two-goal lead against reigning Isuzu Ute A-League champions Western United in November by battering the title-holders 3-0 in front of 2690 fans at the Tasmania University Stadium in Launceston on 17 February.
After cagey opening exchanges, Wellington was the first to threaten, Yan Sasse and Bozhidar Kraev working a one-two from a free-kick which sent the Brazilian scooting through with just Jamie Young to beat.
The goalkeeper stood his ground well and did just enough to divert the ball past the post, then smothered a twenty-yarder from Kraev soon after as Wellington took charge of proceedings, despite United threatening via a fourteenth minute raid in which Tomoki Imai, James Troisi and Noah Botic combined neatly, only for the last-mentioned to overhit his pass to Aleksandar Prijovic.
Wellington responded instantly, Sasse releasing the overlapping Callan Elliot, whose low cross for David Ball was cut out by Tongo Doumbia, only for the ball to fall kindly into the stride of Steven Ugarkovic. His shot sizzled past the post.
Greater reward was gained from Wellington's next attack - the lead after nineteen minutes. And it was thanks in part to referee Daniel Elder, who played a good advantage after a foul. Ball latched onto the loose ball and fed Kraev, who slipped the ball to Sasse and ran round his team-mate, allowing the Brazilian to exploit the extra space which the Bulgarian's movement had created. A twenty yard shot duly arrowed past Young into the bottom left-hand corner.
Five minutes later, a sumptuous Alex Rufer through ball was the catalyst for a Wellington corner, from which Kraev's shot on the turn was deflected to safety. This shot roused United into action, with Troisi going close with a twenty-five yard free-kick before his 29th minute corner was punched skywards by Oli Sail under pressure from Doumbia.
The ball bounced kindly for the 'keeper on this occasion, and fortune favoured Sail again four minutes before half-time, Doumbia heading a Neil Kilkenny corner over the bar from six yards, concluding a passage of play in which defences at both ends of the park had held firm.
Wellington started the second spell in threatening fashion, Ugarkovic working a one-two with Kraev before bringing Lucas Mauragis into play. The fullback's cross was met by Kraev at full stretch and rocketed into the side-netting.
|
Back came Western, Imai leading the charge deep into Wellington's half before bringing Jacob Tratt into play. The overlapping fullback picked out Botic with a measured cross, but the striker couldn't direct his header on target.
Sail sparked a counter-attack from the resulting goal-kick which culminated in Elliot picking out Oskar Zawada, who rattled the stanchion with his shot. And after Sail had confidently dealt with a stabbed shot from Prijovic, Wellington doubled their lead in the 58th minute.
Kraev set sail from halfway before thundering home a twenty-five yard rocket into the far corner of the net - there was no stopping that one, and no stopping Wellington, who now had the bit between their teeth.
Victory was confirmed six minutes later. Kraev was brought down from behind by Doumbia, prompting referee Elder to point to the penalty spot - 'twas inside the area that the offence took place! Zawada drilled the ball home under the diving figure of Young - 3-0.
Western looked to reduce the arrears immediately, Lachlan Wales slicing an effort wide of the target after Elliot had been caught in possession by Connor Pain, while Doumbia lobbed an effort onto the roof of the net following a 68th minute corner.
Wellington weren't for wilting, however, and looked to build further on their lead two minutes later. Ball sent Zawada racing through on goal, but he was thwarted by Young's fine one-handed save. The Wellington frontrunners combined again six minutes later, although on this occasion, Zawada just failed to get on the end of Ball's measured cross.
United knew the game was up for them twelve minutes from time. Alessandro Diamanti picked out Wales with a pass which invited a volleyed attempt, only for Sail to pull off a stunning one-handed save, tipping the ball over the bar.
Both Ball and Zawada had chances to bolster Wellington's goal difference still further in the final minutes, but they were comfortable and deserving 3-0 winners in a match which saw them arrest their recent form slump on the road.
Western: Young; Tratt (Bayew, 80), Imai, Lacroix, O'Toole; Wales (Ruhs, 80), Doumbia (Bozinovski, 80), Kilkenny. Troisi (Pain, 60); Botic (Diamanti, 60 (booked, 79)), Prijovic (booked, 9)
Wellington: Sail; Elliot (booked, 27), Payne, Laws, Mauragis (Sutton, 59); Sasse (Old, 82), Rufer, Ugarkovic, Kraev (Wootton, 90); Ball, Zawada
Referee: Daniel Elder
|