The Wellington Phoenix have got the better of Melbourne Victory in their much-anticipated semi-final rematch to move to the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder.
The Phoenix have beaten the competition frontrunners 1-0 in their Unite Round match at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, going some way to avenging the extra-time defeat to the Victory in Wellington in May.
Kosta Barbarouses scored the match-winner in the 82nd minute, shaking off the knee injury which limited his involvement in the All Whites’ FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano was very happy with the result given the hot conditions and the dry and sticky pitch.
“I’m delighted with the three points,” Italiano told media post-match. “Technically I’m not sure it’s an away game. I don’t really know the context but fantastic to beat the team that was top of the table.
“The boys dug in deep. They were very, very committed, well-structured [and] the belief is there.”
The Phoenix were cheered on by a large contingent from the Little Corner of Yellow and Yellow Fever supporters groups, and they outnumbered the travelling Victory fans.
“I always say we have the best fans and I don’t say that because I’m trying to big note the club or do fans’ service.
“The game is about the fans. Like you saw today there were heaps of them, and they were loud. We had heaps at the derby before.
“We’re starting to build momentum again…and hopefully we’ll bring more of those loyal fans back.
“It’s good for football. I’d love to see those games with 30 thousand last night for every game. It’d be great.”
Giancarlo Italiano made two changes to the XI which started their 3-0 win over Central Coast Mariners before the international break, with Nathan Walker and Oskar van Hattum replacing injured fullbacks Sam Sutton and Tim Payne.
The Victory had three shots inside the opening 10 minutes, but their first two were blocked and the third was headed well over the bar from a corner.
Jack Duncan was the first of the goalkeepers to be called in action in the 13th minute when Phoenix midfielder Paulo Retre unleashed a powerful volley from outside the box which fizzed narrowly wide of Duncan’s right-hand post.
Josh Oluwayemi made his first save 10 minutes later, comfortably holding on to a shot from Victory forward Zinedine Machach which was down low to Oluwayemi’s right.
Daniel Arzani attempted to curl in an effort soon after but it deflected off Alex Rufer and safely wide of the far post.
The first drinks break followed and there were few further highlights until the 38th minute when Oluwayemi made a reflex save with his foot and Matt Sheridan made a goal-line clearance to deny Victory’s follow-up.
Moments later the Nix broke quickly down field and Kosta Barbarouses found van Hattum with the outside of his boot, but the wingback was unable to keep his shot down and it remained scoreless at halftime.
Oskar van Hattum was replaced at the half by Corban Piper with the Phoenix shifting to a back four, with Piper coming on at right back and Sheridan switching to left back to allow Walker to move further forward.
The changes had the desired effect with the Nix having a greater share of possession early in the second half.
Rufer volleyed over the bar in the 53rd minute following a flowing Wellington attack and Walker had a shot deflect wide of the far post moments later.
Italiano made a double change during the drinks break midway through the second half, bringing on forwards Marco Rojas and Stefan Colakovski in place of a tiring Walker and Japanese midfielder Kazuki Nagasawa.
Rojas went on a couple of mazy runs after coming off the bench and he created the match-winner in the 82nd minute when he burst forward and drew in a couple of defenders before finding Barbarouses, who expertly picked out the right corner with a first time shot with his left foot.
A handful of minutes later the Victory came within inches of equalising when Bruno Fornaroli unleashed a powerful free-kick soon after coming off the bench. But Josh Oluwayemi was able to parry his shot on to his left-hand post and safely away for a corner kick.
Oluwayemi’s goal was otherwise unthreatened as the Phoenix saw out the remainder of the 90 and time added on to claim all three points and at least temporarily move to the top of the competition ladder.
The Wellington Phoenix have a bye next weekend before heading north to face Auckland FC in the second New Zealand derby on Saturday, December 7.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 4. Scott WOOTTON, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE (12. Mo AL-TAAY 90th), 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM (3. Corban PIPER 46th), 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI 68th), 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 41. Nathan WALKER (21. Marco ROJAS 68th).
Unused substitutes: 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 36. Xuan LOKE, 41. Jayden SMITH.
Melbourne Victory: 25. Jack DUNCAN (gk), 2. Jason GERIA, 5. Brendan HAMILL, 6. Ryan TEAGUE, 7. Daniel ARZANI (27. Reno PISCOPO 76th), 8. Zinedine MACHACH, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS (19. Jing REEC 68th), 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES (10. Bruno FORNAROLI 85th), 14. Jordi VALDON (18. Fabian MONGE 85th), 21. Roderick MIRANDA (c), 28. Kasey BOS.
Unused substitutes: 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI (gk), 3. Adama TRAORE, 22. Joshua RAWLINS.
Goals:
7. Kosta BARBAROUSES (Wellington Phoenix) – 82nd
Cards:
28. Kasey BOS (Melbourne Victory) – yellow – 30th
14. Alex RUFER (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 62nd
