The Wellington Phoenix have made it three games unbeaten after drawing 0-0 with the Central Coast Mariners in their return to Christchurch.
In a game of few chances, nobody was able to find a moment of magic to break the deadlock and both sides settled for a point at Apollo Projects Stadium.
The Phoenix twice thought they had earned a penalty, but both times were denied by the on-field referee and then VAR.
Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano felt as though a draw was a fair outcome.
“I think so. I don’t think we merited to win based on the quality of our chances,” he told media post-match.
“The intent was to go forward, and we had enough opportunity to capitalise, but the final delivery wasn’t in the right spot, maybe passes not sticking the way they should.
“Maybe we were rushing, we had plenty of space to capitalise. But again, I can’t fault the intent of the players or the focus today.
“It’s just more about that care factor in that final third that hurt us.”
He enjoyed his first match in Christchurch, especially a boisterous crowd of 14,000.
“The crowd was very good today, very vocal.
“Sometimes when we play these regional games it takes a bit of time for the crowd to warm up, but I thought they were very loud from the start.
“It was very good for our boys to get them through the 90.”
The clean sheet is the second in three matches for an improving Phoenix defence.
“That’s what we built the whole season on last year. We’ve changed the structure a little bit for this season with the types of players we have available now.
“We work very hard on it. The defending has also brought us some good chances in the final third.
“Again, the confidence is coming, it’s just about more recognition of the last pass, that final moment that we need to be a little smarter with.”
And he had special praise for Christchurch native Matthew Sheridan, who recovered from a concussion to return to the lineup this week.
“Sheridan did very well, he had a concussion the other week and has come back and given me a good 90.
“I was just hoping I could get a good half out of him, so I’m really proud of his effort.”
Giancarlo Italiano made two changes to the side that beat Macarthur the previous weekend, with Nathan Walker and Matt Sheridan, who was returning from concussion, replacing Luke Supyk and the injured Lukas Kelly-Heald.
The first quarter of an hour was cagey, with both sides taking their time to settle into the game.
Mikael Doka had the first effort on goal five minutes in, but his shot lacked the power to test Alby Kelly-Heald.
The first big chance fell to Doka again, who blazed high after Storm Roux had brought the ball down brilliantly and cut it back.
Hideki Ishige then won possession high up the field, manufacturing a chance for Nathan Walker who could only fire straight at Dylan Peraic-Cullen in the Mariners net.
Wellington continued to grow into the game, upping the intensity of their press and looking to counter quickly.
When Brian Kaltak and Kazuki Nagasawa came together in the 32nd minute, the Phoenix were adamant they deserved a penalty, but their appeals were turned down.
The Mariners were restricted to threatening from range. Doka came closest when his ambitious shot dipped just wide of the left-hand post.
It remained scoreless at halftime, with neither team having been able to fashion consistent openings.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Wellington looking to exploit space on the counter attack.
Nagasawa had a snapshot when the ball fell to him after a free kick, but his shot was well blocked.
When Arthur De Lima found space at the edge of the box just before the hour mark, it took an expertly timed sliding challenge from Sheridan to hook the ball away from danger.
A defensive miscommunication almost allowed Ishige to steal in behind, but Peraic-Cullen was able to recover in time to smother his attempted flick.
The home side had another strong penalty shout when Nagasawa appeared to be cleaned out by the already-booked Diesel Herrington, but their claim was turned down again.
The Mariners could still only manage shots from distance, Doka firing over again when well-positioned.
Italiano turned to the bench in the 70th minute, introducing Fin Roa Conchie in place of Nagasawa.
Wellington continued to knock on the door as the match entered the last fifteen minutes, piling pressure on the Central Coast goal without managing to carve out a clear opportunity.
The left flank looked the most threatening for the Nix, Nathan Walker finding space repeatedly, but he couldn’t quite produce the final ball.
Ishige came closer than anyone late on, pouncing on a loose ball in the box and forcing Peraic-Cullen into a smart reflex save.
He was then replaced by Luke Supyk, who almost made an immediate impact. Only smart goalkeeping prevented him from latching onto Paulo Retre’s through ball.
While the Nix were disappointed not to take all three points, full-time saw them go three games unbeaten for the first time this season.
The Wellington Phoenix have a bye next weekend before returning to action for their annual Waitangi Day fixture against Brisbane Roar.
Wellington Phoenix: 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON (c), 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE (23. Luke SUPYK 85th), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 19. Sam SUTTON, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (5. Fin ROA CONCHIE 70th), 27. Matthew SHERIDAN, 41. Nathan WALKER.
Unused substitutes: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 36. Xuan LOKE, 39. Jayden SMITH, 46. Lachlan CANDY.
Central Coast Mariners: 40. Dylan PERAIC-CULLEN (gk), 3. Brian KALTAK (c), 7. Christian THEOHAROUS (21. Abdelelah FAISAL 70th), 9. Alou KUOL (99. Ryan Edmondson 60th), 10. Mikael DOKA, 15, Storm ROUX, 16. Harrison STEELE, 24. Diesel HERRINGTON (27. Sasha KUZEVSKI 70th), 33. Nathan PAULL, 35. Arthur DE LIMA (11. Vitor FEIJÃO 80th), 36. Haine EAMES.
Unused substitutes: 1. Adam PAVLESIC (gk), 43. Michael PARAGALLI, 44. Lucas SCICLUNA.
Cards:
8. Paulo RETRE (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 23rd
24. Diesel HERRINGTON (Central Coast Mariners) – yellow – 50th
27. Matt SHERIDAN (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 69th
33. Nathan PAULL (Central Coast Mariners) – yellow – 73rd
16. Harrison STEELE (Central Coast Mariners) – yellow – 90+1
