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The Wellington Phoenix moved a step closer to a home
berth in the A-League soccer play-offs with a grafting 1-0 win
over Gold Coast United at Skilled Park last night.
Ahead 1-0 at halftime courtesy of a Paul Ifill penalty, the
Phoenix showed composure under pressure and moved into fourth
place on the table with just one round remaining.
Gold Coast, after a patchy start to the season, have hit form
at the right time and went into the game in second place on
the table and on a high after toppling competition leaders
Melbourne Victory 1-0 last week.
In contrast, the Phoenix's form has looked a little patchy of
late, a 1-0 win over Adelaide United following back-to-back
losses to Melbourne and Perth Glory. But they knew a
play-offs berth was assured after Adelaide United downed
Brisbane Roar 2-0 on Saturday, and that a win over Gold Coast
would go a long way towards securing a top-four berth and a
first-up home match in the play-offs.
Striker Eugene Dadi started on the bench, still not 100
percent after a mid-week ankle injury but Wellington
benefited from the return of defensive midfielder Vince Lia
after serving a two-week suspension.
It had been a long time since the two teams met, back in
October last year, when the Phoenix were nothing short of
sublime in overwhelming Gold Coast 6-0. Last night's match
could not have provided a greater contrast, Gold Coast making
most of the early running before the Phoenix worked their way
back into the game.
Wellington keeper Liam Reddy was tested after 12 minutes, but
had little trouble covering Michael Thwaite's on -target
header. Barely a minute later, an Adrian Caceres free kick
into the box found scrambling skipper Andrew Durante on the
far post, and only the woodwork kept the Phoenix from an
early lead.
The two teams looked like going into the break scoreless, but
two minutes into injury time, a clumsy tackle from Gold Coast
defender Bas van den Brink on Tim Brown saw referee Matthew
Breeze point to the spot and Ifill made no mistake.
The second half saw more of the same, the Durante and
McKain-marshalled Phoenix defence working overtime to stifle
any Gold Coast incursions, as Shane Smeltz's four-week
goal-scoring drought continued. Increasingly reduced to
long-range speculators, United's best chance with 13 minutes
remaining, as a screamer from captain Jason Culina stretched
Reddy to the limit.
Dadi, on for Manny Muscat after 66 minutes, came close to
extending the Phoenix's lead with eight minutes remaining
when he climbed high to head a Chris Greenacre cross a
fraction high. Ultimately, it was the Phoenix's defence which
held firm, laying a solid base for the crucial win.
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Paul Ifill) Gold Coast United 0.
Halftime: 1-0.
