Chris Greenacre has guided the Wellington Phoenix to back-to-back wins for the first time this season to keep their Isuzu UTE A-League finals hopes alive.
The Phoenix have come from behind to beat the Brisbane Roar 2-1 at Suncorp Stadium, thanks to an 86th minute match winner from leading scorer Ifeanyi Eze.
It follows their 2-0 win over Perth Glory last Saturday and lifts the Nix to eighth on the ladder, just one point outside the top six.
“It’s a massive win in terms of the state of the table,” Greenacre told media post-match. “To get back-to-back wins is big for us, especially given how our season has gone.
“I was really proud of my team and the way that we defended, particularly late on. You saw Issac Hughes at the end putting his body on the line.
“In terms of the game it could have gone either way. We’ve hit the bar, our ‘keeper’s made two or three saves, they’ve had chances and we’ve had chances…but we’re delighted to take the win.”
It’s Eze’s ninth goal of the season but first since Greenacre took over as head coach.
“He’s been great. He runs himself into the ground for the team first and foremost.
“Late on the game he showed some really good composure in front of goal to beat a top goalkeeper by the way.
“He showed composure, having been so tired and worked himself into the ground, and that’s full credit to him.
“So I’m really delighted for him and hopefully he can keep scoring ‘til the end of the season.”
Chris Greenacre named the same starting XI and bench from last Saturday’s win over Perth.
The Phoenix had an opportunity to take the lead inside 60 seconds after Roar goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis coughed up possession outside his penalty area. But the Nix weren’t able to capitalise on the chance before Brisbane recovered.
Ifeanyi Eze came close to opening the scoring just a minute later. He struck the side netting at the end of a flowing Wellington counterattack.
The match settled down after the initial excitement before the Phoenix found themselves a goal down in the 14th minute when the Roar scored straight from a corner.
The Nix responded well and dominated the rest of the half. Brisbane fullback James McGarry produced a remarkable defensive header midway through the first half to clear a Dan Edwards cross meant for Corban Piper.
Josh Oluwayemi made a good save to keep out a header from Samuel Klein shortly before the half hour mark, but all the goalmouth action was down the other end of the pitch for the next 10 minutes.
Bouzanis made a sharp stop to deny Kazuki Nagasawa in the 32nd minute before Alex Rufer rattled the crossbar with an incredible volley from the edge of the box. Bill Tuiloma then headed a corner over the bar.
The pressure of successive corners eventually told on the Roar in the 36th minute when Rufer chipped a pass to the back post where Isaac Hughes headed back across goal and Piper smashed home the header.
Ramy Najjarine had a couple of shots blocked before halftime as the Brisbane ensured honours remained even at the break.
The Roar started the second half the better of the two sides but other than an acrobatic effort from Justin Vidic, that was well kept out by Oluwayemi, Brisbane had nothing to show for it.
Greenacre was forced to make his first substitution shortly after the hour mark with Bill Tuiloma limping off and replaced by Manjrekar James.
James produced an important block midway through the second half to keep out a shot from Klein.
Oluwayemi also got a big right hand to a powerful effort from Vidic at his near post a few minutes later.
The Phoenix started threatening the Roar’s goal again in the final quarter of an hour.
Bouzanis got his fingertips to a shot from Nagasawa, who attempted to curl his effort into the bottom right corner.
Brisbane’s ‘keeper made a more regulation save a couple of minutes later to deny Piper, who also found some space on the edge of the penalty area.
Eze put the Phoenix in front four minutes from fulltime as they broke quickly from a Roar corner. Luke Brooke-Smith, on in place of Piper just moments earlier, picked up the loose ball in transition, drove forward and then played a perfectly weighted ball in behind for Eze, who slotted past Bouzanis with a first-time strike.
The Nix defended bravely for the remainder of the 90 plus five minutes of time added on and the referee waved away a couple of loud penalty appeals from Brisbane.
Carlo Armiento entered the match as a concussion substitute in stoppage time after Hughes suffered a nasty head clash with a Roar player.
The Wellington Phoenix will return home tomorrow and will have extra time to prepare for their next match against Melbourne Victory in Melbourne on Easter Sunday, with the A-League pausing for international football next weekend.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER (29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH 85th), 6. Tim PAYNE (27. Matt SHERIDAN 77th), 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 8. Paulo RETRE, 12. Dan EDWARDS (18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD 85th), 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES (11. Carlo ARMIENTO 90+3), 20. Ramy NAJJARINE (16. Sander KARTUM 77th), 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 28. Bill TUILOMA (4. Manjrekar JAMES 62nd).
Unused substitutes: 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk).
Brisbane Roar: 1. Dean BOUZANIS (gk), 2. Youstin SALAS, 3. Dimitri VALKANIS, 5. Marius LODE, 8. Samuel KLEIN, 10. Georgios VRAKAS (16. Matthew DENCH 73rd), 13. Henry HORE (44. Jordan LAUTON 85th), 17. Justin VIDIC (39. Niall THORN 73rd), 19. Michael RUHS (30. Quinn MACNICOL 80th), 23. James MCGARRY, 26. Jay O’SHEA (c).
Unused substitutes: 11. Macklin FREKE (gk), 6. Austin LUDWIK, 7. Jacob BRAZETE.
Goals:
23. James MCGARRY (Brisbane Roar) – 14th
3. Corban PIPER (Wellington Phoenix) – 36th
7. Ifeanyi EZE (Wellington Phoenix) – 86th
Cards:
8. Samuel KLEIN (Brisbane Roar) – yellow – 25th
3. Dimitri VALKANIS (Brisbane Roar) – yellow – 53rd
17. Justin VIDIC (Brisbane Roar) – yellow – 55th
10. Georgios VRAKAS (Brisbane Roar) – yellow – 68th
29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 89th
14. Alex RUFER (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 90+1
