The Wellington Phoenix have snapped their winless run in the Isuzu UTE A-League on the back of a dominant first half performance.
The Phoenix have held on to beat the Newcastle Jets 2-1 at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, after goals from Kosta Barbarouses and Kazuki Nagasawa gave the Nix a deserved 2-0 lead at halftime.
A controversial own goal midway through the second half allowed the Jets back into the game but Wellington withstood a barrage from the hosts to claim all three points for the first time since January.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano was relieved to have secured the team’s sixth victory of the season.
“Sometimes when you’re in those positions you forget how to win,” Italiano told media post-match.
“We’ve had a bit of a struggle this season and last week we probably should have picked up the three points, but I was happy to hold on.
“We were playing the score more than we were playing the game. They were throwing numbers forward and we could have capitalised. We had an opportunity to finish the game.
“Credit to the boys they defended really well. They made some desperate blocks.”
Italiano was keen to see a replay of the own goal and whether Josh Oluwayemi was fouled, but was pleased with how his goalkeeper responded to the setback.
“It was very contentious and I think that swung the momentum completely Jets’ way.
“Goalkeepers are generally well protected by referees when there’s contact.
“I can’t fault Joshy’s effort again. He was the reason why we picked up the win today.
“He pulled off an unbelievable save at the end and saved us.”
Giancarlo Italiano made three changes to the XI which started last weekend’s 2-2 home draw against Western Sydney Wanderers with captain Alex Rufer and fit-again centre backs Scott Wootton and Isaac Hughes returning in place of injured midfielder Chico Geraldes, Lukas Kelly-Heald and Luke Brooke-Smith. Paulo Retre returned amongst the substitutes.
The Phoenix had their first goalscoring opportunity inside two minutes when Tim Payne found some space down the right flank and picked out Kosta Barbarouses with a cutback. Barbarouses however was unable to test Ryan Scott in Newcastle’s goal as he shot his first-time effort wide.
Rufer had a shot blocked on the edge of the box soon after as the Nix won possession high up the pitch.
Scott was called into action three times in quick succession around a quarter of an hour into the match, making saves to deny Barbarouses, Sam Sutton and Hughes.
The Jets’ goalkeeper was really tested midway through the first half when he made a double save to first deny Wootton’s header from an Hideki Ishige free-kick and then spectacularly keep out Corban Piper’s powerful follow-up while he was still on the ground.
Wellington came within centimetres of taking the lead in the 27th minute when Newcastle striker Lachlan Rose made a goal-line clearance to deny Barbarouses before the Jets blocked Wootton’s follow-up.
The Phoenix finally got their reward in the 34th minute when Barbarouses got on the end of a flicked-on header from Kazuki Nagasawa and then squeezed his shot past Scott.
Barbarouses had a great chance to double the lead just three minutes later after Matt Sheridan played him through on goal but he blazed his shot over the bar.
Nagasawa made it 2-0 in the 41st minute when he directed home an inch-perfect cross from Payne.
Newcastle only had two goalscoring opportunities of note in the first half with both falling the way of Thomas Aquilina, who was unable to test Oluwayemi with either effort.
The second half was a completely different story with the Jets turning their possessional dominance into chances.
Halftime substitutes Charles M’Mombwa and Clayton Taylor both spurned opportunities inside the first 15 minutes of the second half before Nagasawa had a chance to make it 3-0 but he sprayed his shot wide.
A contentious refereeing decision in the 65th minute allowed Newcastle a way back into the match. Oluwayemi appeared to be fouled before he spilled a corner into his own net, but the referee waved away his appeal and the goal stood. The Video Assistant Referee interestingly also saw no reason to intervene.
The Jets could have equalised soon after, but Oluwayemi made three saves in quick succession before the Nix three themselves at multiple follow-up shots.
Oluwayemi also kept out a stinging effort from Callum Timmins in the 76th minute.
Wellington defended resolutely for the final 15 minutes of normal time, limiting Newcastle’s opportunities.
Jets substitute Wellissol had a chance to win it with the final touch of the game in the seventh minute of stoppage time but Oluwayemi again was up to the task, holding on to Wellissol’s point blank header between his legs!.
The Wellington Phoenix head home tomorrow before quickly turning their attentions to Saturday’s semi-final rematch against Melbourne Victory at Sky Stadium.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 9. Hideki ISHIGE (18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD 62nd), 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 19. Sam SUTTON, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH 62nd), 27. Matthew SHERIDAN (8. Paulo RETRE 73rd).
Unused substitutes: 35. Dublin BOON (gk), 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 41. Nathan WALKER, 46. Lachlan CANDY.
Newcastle Jets: 1. Ryan SCOTT (gk), 4. Phillip ČANČAR (13. Clayton TAYLOR 46th), 7. Eli ADAMS, 9. Lachlan ROSE, 15. Aleksandar ŠUŠNJAR 17. Kosta GROZOS (c), 18. Kota MIZUNUMA (10. WELLISSOL 90+1), 19. Callum TIMMINS, 23. Daniel WILMERING, 37. Lachlan BAYLISS (20. Charles M’MOMBWA 46th), 39. Thomas AQUILINA.
Unused substitutes: 49. Jordan BAYLIS (gk), 6. Matthew SCARCELLA, 14. Dane INGHAM, 33. Mark NATTA.
Goals:
7. Kosta BARBAROUSES (Wellington Phoenix) – 34th
25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (Wellington Phoenix) – 41st
1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk) (Wellington Phoenix) – 65th og
Cards:
14. Alex RUFER (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 54th
18. Kota MIZUNUMA (Newcastle Jets) – yellow – 84th
6. Tim PAYNE (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 90+6
