It was supposed to be a Melbourne Victory celebration, but Wellington Phoenix spoiled the party with a stunning 3-2 win at AAMI Park.
Kevin Muscat’s men had the opportunity to move to the top of the table with a win in Archie Thompson’s 200th A-League appearance, but the never-say-die Phoenix had other ideas, coming from behind twice before Nathan Burns tapped in the winner in the 77th minute.
“I don’t think there’s any shortage of spirit in this team,” Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick said.
“Their tenacity, their determination to achieve … it’s a very strong group of players who get on extremely well off the field and on it.”
Phoenix moved into fourth spot with the win – equal on points with Victory and Adelaide United.
Muscat lamented costly lapses from his players at both ends of the ground.
“We had enough clear-cut chances to be a few goals ahead,” Muscat said.
“Having said that, the way we defended as a team it possibly wouldn’t have been enough anyway.”
Both sides showed a willingness to get players forward in an entertaining high-tempo contest, but Victory had the better of the early exchanges and were left to rue their failure to convert several gilt-edged scoring opportunities, including a penalty.
Besart Berisha did brilliantly to chest a high ball down and volley a powerful shot that drew a an excellent save from Glen Moss in the eighth minute, but the Albanian striker hit the left post with his low spot kick after Ben Sigmund’s clumsy tackle on Mark Milligan drew a yellow card and a penalty with 17 minutes played.
Gui Finkler hit the crossbar and Kosta Barbarouses had only the advancing Moss to beat and couldn’t, as the frustration of the home crowd grew, before Scott Galloway finally released the pressure in the 34th minute.
The 19-year-old followed his own cross from the left into the box and lashed his low shot through the legs of a defender and an unsighted Moss to give his side a deserved lead.
Phoenix had been playing with great endeavour without giving Victory keeper Nathan Coe too much to do and their work was rewarded with a brilliant free kick from Rolieny Bonevacia in the 42nd minute.
With the Victory wall standing on the edge of the box, the Dutchman curled his shot into the top left corner to send the sides into halftime deadlocked.
Victory turned up the heat after the break and deserved to go ahead once more in the 53rd minute when Barbarouses coolly converted from close range after being set up by Carl Valeri.
Muscat’s men were inexplicably unprepared for a set piece in the 68th minute when Michael Boxall wandered in behind their defence to head home a Bonevacia free kick.
The scene appeared set for Thompson when he was subbed on in the 73rd minute, but a quick counter-attack by Phoenix again caught Victory napping with Boxall squaring the ball to Burns who did the rest.
Victory pressed hard but couldn’t find a way through as Merrick’s side held on for a memorable win – their first against Victory in Melbourne in A-League history.
Uncle Junior
Guest
I think finals are all about who performs during that 90 or 120 minutes. In 2013, Wanderers entered the Grand Final with 12 wins and a draw from their previous 13 matches. You can't get better momentum and form than that but they lost. The Premiership will be decided by form in the final third of the season. Since the Asian Cup break, Sydney has the best form but they have 2 away trips to New Zealand in the run home and Wellington have already beaten Sydney in Australia. Wellington have 5 home matches out of the final 8, so a home final is theirs to lose.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
Glory have been very consistent since the Asian Cup break, consistently drawing. In all seriousness does anyone want to win this years premiers plate Perth Glory haven't half tried to hand top spot to somebody.
Franko
Guest
It’s going to be all about form when the finals roll around with a hint of achieving home ground advantage. Adelaide have lost to CCM and Melbourne City in the last couple of weeks, hardly has them as title favourites. Victory and Perth struggle with consistency as do Sydney, so it really is a lottery. Nix v AU this weekend (at Hutt Recreation Ground, a more picturesque place you’ll struggle to find) promises to be a beauty. Adelaide have been able to play well for 20-25 mins each game for the last month whereas the Nix really have put in some solid shifts.
Ian
Guest
Good game. A lot of talk at the end about all the things Victory could have, would have, should have done better. But there were two teams out there. Wellington played very well as they have shown for most of the season and came up with all 3 points. Victory still have a game in hand to grab 1st place but a lot of big games coming up to decide the premiership.
Davo
Guest
Was a big win for Phoenix. Makes the title race so much more interesting. All 5 clubs could win it. I don't think Perth will win it at this stage. I think Phoenix, Adelaide and Sydney FC are in for a real shot of the title.
britesparke
Roar Rookie
Good to see a tight finals race! I was surprised with Victory's performance at home and the Phoenix played smart football to be hanging in there to claim a victory over Victory! Well done.
Uncle Junior
Guest
I haven't watched a lot of Wellington this season but they were superb yesterday. They worked for 90 minutes to close down the Victory players. Victory also had some good moments and should have been at least 2 goals up at half time. Missed penalty, Finkler beats the keeper but hits the crossbar, Barbarouses butchering at least 3 one-on-ones with the keeper and putting his square ball either to far to the front or too far to the back. Having said that, a 2 goal lead at half time is hardly a winning buffer the way Victory have defended leads against Perth and Sydney in recent matches. This will be the tightest Premiership race in A-League history with 4 points separating the Top 5 teams and that's bound to narrow with 9 matches to play.
tezza
Guest
I`ve never seen the Victory play as bad a half as they did in the second half of this match, the defending was abyssmal and they couldn`t hold on to the ball in their attacking third which just let the Phoenix back into the game.I wonder what Mr Muscat had to say to them after the game?
langou
Roar Guru
Great win Phoenix. You made plenty of Perth people happy with that one.