!
For 40 minutes against the Western Sydney Wanderers, the Wellington Phoenix gave a glimpse of what they will be capable of in the front third this season.
But 50 minutes later Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick had been given a reminder of the defensive improvements he needs to make to his squad before the A-League starts in two months time.
A 2-0 lead turned into a 3-2 FFA Cup loss on the back of defensive errors and a screamer from Wanderers midfielder Mitch Nichols.
Most of the first half was heartening for the Phoenix in cold, slippery conditions that made their "home" FFA Cup tie at Campbelltown Stadium, on the outskirts of Sydney, on Tuesday night feel as though it was being played in Wellington (the Phoenix are not permitted to play FFA Cup games in Wellington).
Western Sydney Wanderers survived an FFA Cup opening round scare after clinching an impressive comeback against Wellington Phoenix to progress to the round of 16.
The Wanderers were staring down the barrell of yet another early first-round exit after conceding two goals in the opening half-hour before scoring three goals without reply to send the Phoenix crashing out of the competition.
The match began with all the hallmarks of a preseason fixture for the Wanderers and despite emerging 3-2 winners on a cold, wet winter's night in Campbelltown, what may have been more pleasing was the unveiling of two attacking gems.
The departures of Romeo Castelen, Mark Bridge, Dario Vidosic and Federico Piovoccari left the Wanderers depleted in the forward line but a brilliant performance from Lachlan Scott on debut provided much needed confidence in their present attacking stocks leading into the new season.
More recruits have been promised but the teenager showed reinforcements may not be as desperate as first thought after netting a brace against the A-League side to ignite the Wanderers comeback.
Alongside Scott was another unlikely attacking weapon in Steven Lustica. Coach Tony Popovic appears to be redefining another player after deploying the industrious central midfielder as left winger where he was a constant threat, providing two assists.
The hosts were stunned after nine minutes when Wellington Phoenix took a fortuitous lead through striker Hamish Watson whose deflected shot left Wanderers' goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne stranded.
The Phoenix grew in confidence and looked close to adding a second when their marquees combined. New arrival Gui Finkler unlocked the Wanderers' defence with a superb chip over the top of their backline to find fellow marquee Kosta Barbarouses. However, the former Melbourne Victory pairing were foiled by a last-gasp challenge from Redmayne and defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley.
Roly Bonevacia came close to doubling Wellington's lead with a fierce volley only to be denied by a goal-line clearance by Wanderers' Scott Neville. Starting the match fitter and more prepared than Western Sydney, the Phoenix soon had their second by the half-hour mark when Barbarouses showed why he was the club's prime transfer target for this season. A superb sweeping ball from Matthew Ridenton picked out the winger and after beating Neville, Barbarouses completed the move by chipping the ball past Redmayne into the net.
The Wanderers' frustration was compounded minutes later when Steven Lustica's shot appeared to be handled in the box, only for referee Stephen Lucas to wave play-on. They clawed their way back into the contest just before the break when debutant Lachlan Scott was first to pounce on Lustica's cross to tap the ball in from close range.
The 19-year-old enters the A-League season with plenty of promise having found the back of the net 15 times already for the Wanderers youth team playing in the National Premier League 2 and waited just three minutes after the restart to double his senior tally. A quick exchange with Nichols and Lustica carved through the Phoenix backline giving the striker a chance score a simple finish from close range.
Scott came close to a hat-trick after the hour when he unleashed a fierce drive from distance but hitting the scorchers was a task best left to Nichols. The industrious midfielder clinched the comeback with a powerful right foot drive into the roof of the net, leaving Wellington coach Ernie Merrick pondering how such a comfortable lead fell apart so quickly.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário