Uninspired Phoenix suffers disapointing defeat against Wanderers

An uninspired Wellington Phoenix could not create much danger to Western Sydney Wanderers at Bankwest Stadium and suffered a disapointing 1-0 defeat thanks a to a goal from Kwame Yeboah. Phoenix is now under risks to not finish second in the ladder after being stuned by a Wanderers side that were in a despair need of a win.

Despite a very good start of the game, Phoenix could not continue their undefeated run; finally, Gary Hooper and Ulises Davila started together, but both of them were in a bad night and could help much Phoenix – both players were subbed in the second half. David Ball worked hard the entire match, but his only good moment in the match was when he hit the post early in the game at 4th minute of play. Phoenix created some danger in the first part of the initial period of the game, but when Louis Fenton saw a deserved yellow card after hitting WSW’s attacker Nicolai Müller in the chin the game suddenly change: the German player needed to be attented in the field for around five minutes – being unconscious in the ground for a period -, but nothing much serious happened to the player that subbed by the striker Kwame Yeboah.

Western Sydney Wanderers took control of the game and neutralize Phoenix midfield that was always missing creativity from the likes of Davila and Devlin. Despite the home side pressure, Phoenix managed to keep the game in a 0-0 to the break. In the second half the story of the game was the same: Wanderers being dangerous with especially their strikers Simon Cox and Mitchell Duke and Phoenix commiting a number of silly mistakes.

In the 65th minute of the player, the defender Luke DeVere saw a second yellow card after fouling Kwame Yeboah at the edge of the box putting Nix in a very hard situation. Liam McGing was placed in the defense forcing the coach Ufuk Talay to sack Gary Hooper – Jaushua Sotirio was also introduced of a unrecognisable Ulises Davila.

It did not take long for the home side to be one goal ahead in the scoresheet: Tate Russell centered the ball to the box that found a free Kwame Yeboah to head it home past Stefan Marinovic to give Wanderers the lead.

The Nix improved in the match sending bodies forward to pursue an equalizer: Alex Rufer and Ben Waine were introduced in order to strenghten the attack of the New Zealand-based club, but it was Reno Piscopo, introduced in place of Callum McCowatt that had the best opportunities for Phoenix; first with a brilliant individual play he passed two defenders put could not connect in the middle of the box with David Ball and in two opportunities with wasted free-kick attempts.

In the last minutes, Phoenix had four opportunities to put the ball in the box – all went wasted, even with the goalkeeper Marinovic joining the attack in a despair attempt to find an equalizer.

Phoenix took to long to realise they could not lose this match: Melbourne City, that is still to play in the round, already retained the second spot in the ladder with Phoenix defeat and turned the challenge of Ufuk Talay and his player much more difficult if they want to grant a semifinal direct entry in the A-League playoff. Phoenix will have a very important match next Wednesday against Brisbane Roar, where they will not count on the suspended Luke DeVere, but finally Tim Payne will be allowed to return to action after facing disciplinary sanctions from the club.