Wellington Phoenix 1 – 1 Perth Glory: Paul Ifill Saves The Day

Wellington Phoenix 1 -1 Perth Glory, Lineups/Stats

A gutsy Perth Glory side nearly ended the Wellington Phoenix’s 12 game unbeaten streak in a thrill a minute 1-1 draw in this round 14 fixture at Westpac Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

An action packed first half saw these two sides, entrenched in the middle of the A-League table, battle it out with typical gusto and aggression. The Phoenix looked undercooked following their midweek demolition of the Jets and were outplayed by a fresher and more eager Perth Glory side.

A fast-paced start to the game saw Costa Barbarouses squander the Phoenix’s best chance early as he found himself one on one with the Jets keeper Tando Velahpi. The Phoenix striker took too long on the ball in the 18 yard box and his side footed shot sailed agonizingly wide of the upright for the Kiwi side.

The first half had flashes of momentary brilliance, yet the play as a whole lacked that added dimension that comes with well organised and balanced midfields. The travelling Glory side looked the most dangerous through their counter-attacking flair inspired by Andy Todd’s running and drive through the guts of the park.

The best chance of the first half game came late, in the 43rd minute when Todd Howarth’s run down the left hand flank saw him tee up Glory skipper Jacob Burns whose brilliant swerving shot rattled into the cross bar.

At half time, it seemed that it was only a matter of time before the fixture was spread wide open.

Nevertheless, a pedestrian pace opened the second half as both team’s lethargy showed through their constant lapses in judgement and lack of communication. Perhaps, the shadow of New Zealand’s all important World Cup qualifier was looming over the Phoenix’s players as their intent and passion seemed contained.

In the 56th minute a brilliant piece of ball skill by Brazilian Daniel saw him, from 20 metres out, control a high ball with his left foot which he then used to chip his oncoming marker and then in the same sweep launch a stinging left foot volley into the waiting arms of Velahpi.

From the vantage point of the whole game, it seemed that it would only be a sublime piece of skill which would eventually decide the fate of this mistake ridden chess-board like fixture.

That instance finally came in the 68th minute when Wayne Srhoj threw the game wide open through a terrific free kick that lofted easily over the wall and then dipped and curled away from the hapless keeper and into the back of the net.

The threat against Wellington Phoenix’s 12 match unbeaten streak seemed to loom large in the minds of the players, as they found a spring in their step in the hope of protecting their impressive record.

Divine intervention eventually struck for the Phoenix as in the 81st minute Leo Bertos played in a perfect through ball into the hard running Adrian Caceres who then teed up Paul Ifill in the heart of a congested box who shot with venom past the hapless Glory keeper.

The game finally came to life and opened up thanks to the added energy applied through manager Ricky Herbert’s tactical substitutions. These reaped significant dividends in the dying stages of this match as all his changes made their mark on the game.

The final stages of the game saw both teams launch fruitful breaks into the opposing halves as each threw everything they had at securing all three points. The Phoenix threatened the most through relentless barrages down the flanks and from dead ball situations.

Nevertheless, the game finished a draw and still sees Perth Glory sit just one spot above the Wellington Phoenix in the Hyundai A-League ladder.