A late Western Sydney Wanderers goal has denied the Wellington Phoenix their first home win of 2025.
Forward Nicolas Milanovic has scored in the 89th minute to secure the Wanderers a 2-2 draw with an understrength but impressive Phoenix at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
The Nix had led 1-0 and 2-1 thanks to goals from Corban Piper and Chico Geraldes only to be pegged back by equalisers from former fan favourite Bozhidar Kraev and then Milanovic.
Head coach Giancarlo Italiano cut a frustrated figure post-match.
“I’m disappointed,” Italiano told media. “I thought we should have held out.
“I think the boys merited, especially in the second half, a win.
“There was good energy first 15/20 minutes. Even towards the end there, we had a couple of good chances but couldn’t capitalise.
“But credit to them, they’re a good team, they throw numbers forward very quickly, very dangerously.
“I thought we alleviated that threat the first half. Second half we were a little bit more spent physically, especially the last 10.”
Italiano made four changes to the XI which started the 1-1 draw with Sydney FC before the international break with Piper, Hideki Ishige, Kazuki Nagasawa and Luke Brooke-Smith replacing suspended captain Alex Rufer and the injured trio of Scott Wootton, Paulo Retre and Isaac Hughes. Tim Payne led the Phoenix in Rufer’s absence.
Payne also deputised at centre back, alongside Matt Sheridan, with Piper and Sam Sutton the two fullbacks.
“I was very happy with our makeshift backline. Having Shez and Payney as my two centre backs, and I thought Corbs defended well for large parts as well.
“I was happy that we built on the week before.
“You could see there were glimpses against Sydney of Chico, Kosta, Rufs coming back. My worry was today that we had a lot of players that had different loading, but very happy with the effort.”
It was a cagey start to the match with few attacking opportunities for either side.
Milanovic created the first chance out of nothing in the ninth minute when he turned and volleyed to draw a good reflex save from Josh Oluwayemi.
The Phoenix scored from the next shot on target in the 21st minute with Piper giving Wellington the lead when he met a left-wing corner from Hideki Ishige with a thumping header.
Western Sydney had a good period after going behind with Bozhidar Kraev shooting over the bar after finding some space outside the penalty area before Zach Sapsford had a shot deflect wide of goal.
Chico Geraldes also had a blasted a shot over Wanderers’ goal from distance before Kraev drew the visitors’ level in the 36th minute.
He slotted home into an unguarded net after a well-placed cutback from Milanovic, who drew Oluwayemi out of his goal at the near post.
The Nix threatened to level almost immediately with Western Sydney ‘keeper Lawrence Thomas doing well to keep out a dangerous left-wing corner from Ishige.
Back down the other end of the pitch Oluwayemi also did well to keep out a powerful effort from Socceroo Brandon Borrello to ensure it remained level at halftime.
Wellington made a strong start to the second with Geraldes producing a spectacular volley from long-range that drew a good save from Thomas.
The Phoenix earned a free-kick soon after and Wanderers did well to scramble clear the initial danger before blocking Brooke-Smith’s follow up.
Ishige drew another save from Thomas shortly before the hour mark and the Nix managed to deny Western Sydney clear goalscoring opportunities.
Geraldes put Wellington back in front in the 69th minute with a well-taken goal. The final pass came from Kosta Barbarouses moving him clear at the top as the A-League’s all-time assist leader with 46.
Western Sydney had a good spell after going behind with Milanovic a constant threat.
He produced a stinging long-range shot that Oluwayemi managed to push around his near post and then shot wide of goal after being slipped in behind by Kraev.
Milanovic made no mistake in the 89th minute when he cut into the box and smashed a shot into the back of the net.
Both sides had chances in time added on.
Oluwayemi made a good save to deny Wanderers substitute Marcus Antonsson before Piper shot over the bar from six yards out after a left-wing cross from Barbarouses narrowly missed the head of Nathan Walker, who was one of two Nix players to come off the bench in the second half.
The final whistle blew soon after with the two sides unable to be separated.
The Wellington Phoenix are back across the Tasman next week to play Newcastle Jets.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 12. Francisco GERALDES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (5. Fin ROA CONCHIE 67th), 27. Matthew SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH (41. Nathan WALKER 67th).
Unused substitutes: 35. Dublin BOON (gk), 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 21. Marco ROJAS, 39. Jayden SMITH, 46. Lachlan CANDY.
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Lawrence THOMAS (gk) (c), 2. Gabriel CLEUR, 4. Alexander BONETIG, 7. Zach SAPSFORD (9. Marcus ANTONSSON 62nd), 14. Nicolas MILANOVIC, 18. Oscar PRIESTMAN (13. Dean PELEKANOS 75th), 19. Jack CLISBY (3. Alex GERSBACH 46th), 22. Anthony PANTAZOPOULOS, 23. Bozhidar KRAEV (17. Jarrod CARLUCCIO 90+4), 25. Joshua BRILLANTE (64. Juan MATA 75th), 26. Brandon BORRELLO.
Unused substitutes: 30. Jordan HOLMES (gk), 28. Josh LAWS.
Goals:
3. Corban PIPER (Wellington Phoenix) – 21st
23. Bozhidar KRAEV (Western Sydney Wanderers) – 36th
12. Francisco GERALDES (Wellington Phoenix) – 69th
14. Nicolas MILANOVIC (Western Sydney Wanderers) – 89th
Cards:
12. Francisco GERALDES (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 44th
26. Brandon BORRELLO (Western Sydney Wanderers) – yellow – 84th
