The Wellington Phoenix have ended their winless run in emphatic fashion.
The Phoenix have beaten Perth Glory 2-0 in the first leg of the Match For Good at Hnry Stadium in Wellington, thanks to a Corban Piper header and a late own goal.
The Nix could have scored more and were untroubled at the other end of the pitch with Wellington goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi not having to make a save of note.
It’s Chris Greenacre’s first win since taking over as head coach and the men’s first since January.
“We’re delighted with the win,” Greenacre told media post-match. “I felt we defended very, very well. We were very solid.
“The guys yet again have dug in for each other and the team. I asked them to put some pride back in the badge and I think they’ve done that today.
“We got a bit of luck with the second goal, the way it went in, [but] we haven’t had much luck this season.”
The result lifts the Phoenix to ninth, three points adrift of the top six and level with eighth placed Brisbane Roar, who they visit next Saturday.
“I’ve said from word go, while ever it’s mathematically possible we’re looking to get in there (top six).
“Those three points have put us in a good point but we’ve got a really tough game against Brisbane.
“The humid conditions will be difficult to play in but we’ll go there prepared.”
Chris Greenacre made three changes to the XI which started last week’s draw at Adelaide United with captain Alex Rufer returning from suspension and joining fullbacks Tim Payne and Dan Edwards in the side in place of Manjrekar James, Carlo Armiento and Matt Sheridan, who were named amongst the substitutes.
The Phoenix had a good opportunity just four minutes into the match when Ifeanyi Eze won a seemingly lost cause and the ball found it’s way to Kazuki Nagasawa in the Perth penalty area. But Nagasawa sliced his first time effort wide of the left hand post.
The Japanese midfielder tried to turn provide a dozen minutes later when he dinked a ball across the six yard box but a Wellington teammate wasn’t able to get on the end of it.
Bill Tuiloma headed over the bar from a right wing corner midway through the first half as the Nix tried to make the most of their ascendency.
The Phoenix had a couple of free-flowing attacks soon after but weren’t able to produce the finishing touch.
Eze thought he’d won a penalty half an hour into the match when his shot flicked one of Scott Wootton’s arms in the Glory penalty area. Wellington’s penalty claims were waved away by the referee, who was backed up by the Video Assistant Referee
Eze had another go, this time from distance, three minutes from halftime but his effort sailed over the bar.
Piper headed on target seven minutes into the second half, but his effort was comfortably held by Perth ‘keeper Matt Sutton.
Sutton couldn’t do anything three minutes later to keep out another header from Piper, who thumped home Ramy Najjarine’s left wing corner. It was the Nix’s third successive corner and the pressure eventually told.
The Phoenix continued to look the more threatening of the two sides after taking the lead. Eze stung Sutton’s gloves in the 64th minute and a couple of minutes later the Glory keeper made a sharp save to keep out an effort from Najjarine after Rufer’s initial shot had been blocked.
Paulo Retre saw a cross-come-shot drift narrowly wide of the left hand post soon after and substitute Lukas Kelly-Heald headed off target at the back post.
Sutton also kept out a shot from Sheridan, who made his 50th A-League appearance after replacing Payne midway through the second half.
Sheridan turned provider in the 84th minute when his right wing cross came off Nicholas Pennington’s shoulder and looped into the back of the net.
Luke Brooke-Smith had an opportunity to add a third goal in stoppage time when fellow substitute Sander Kartum slipped him into the box, but the young All White was denied by Sutton, who prevented the Glory from suffering a heavy defeat.
The Wellington Phoenix will quickly turn their attentions to Brisbane Roar in Brisbane next Saturday in their final match before the international break.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 6. Tim PAYNE (27. Matt SHERIDAN 65th), 7. Ifeanyi EZE (16. Sander KARTUM 89th), 8. Paulo RETRE, 12. Dan EDWARDS (18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD 65th), 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH 89th), 28. Bill TUILOMA (4. Manjrekar JAMES 78th).
Unused substitutes: 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 11. Carlo ARMIENTO.
Perth Glory: 29. Matt SUTTON (gk), 2. Charbel SHAMOON, 3. Sam SUTTON, 4. Scott WOOTTON (c), 7. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 8. Callum TIMMINS (39 Giovanni DEABREU 46th), 9. Jaiden KUCHARSKI (17. Arion SULEMANI 60th), 18. Luca TEVERE, 27. Will FRENEY (20. Trent OSTLER 70th (19. Josh RISDON 85th)) 45. Brian KALTAK, 67. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (23. Anthony DIDULICA 70th).
Unused substitutes: 40. Ryan WARNER (gk), 24. Andriano LEBIB.
Goals:
3. Corban PIPER (Wellington Phoenix) – 55th
7. Nicholas PENNINGTON (Perth Glory) – 84th og
Cards:
9. Jaiden KUCHARSKI (Perth Glory) – yellow – 60th
