A pair of stoppage-time goals have ensured Wellington Phoenix will sit top of the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder on Christmas after defeating Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 at Sky Stadium.
In a game which saw the Wanderers create the more dangerous opportunities it was the home side who produced a stunning late show to seal all three points in Wellington, where Kosta Barbarouses broke the deadlock in the 91st minute.
With the Wanderers then throwing everything forward in an attempt to find an equaliser, the ‘Nix hit the visitors on the counter-attack – Barbarouses playing Ben Old through on goal before the midfielder fired his shot low across Lawrence Thomas and into the far corner.
Chances were at a premium in what was a cagey start to the game as the competition’s two best defences probed for any early openings in the Round 9 contest.
The first save made by either keeper came in the 29th minute as the Wanderers forced the home side into a turnover on the edge of their own box but Aidan Simmons’ deflected strike was comfortably saved by Wellington shot-stopper Alex Paulsen.
But if that save from the ‘Nix goalkeeper was routine his next, to deny Nicolas Milanovic, was outstanding as the away side came closest to breaking the deadlock.
A long ball over the top allowed Dylan Pierias to sprint clear of the Wellington defence before he cut the ball back for the arriving Milanovic but his first time shot was brilliantly saved at the near post by Paulsen, while Pierias’ follow up was then blocked by a sliding Finn Surman to keep the contest goalless.
Straight up the other end, Wellington then thought they’d taken a first-half lead through Barbarouses but his close-range effort was chalked off for deliberate handball after referee Casey Reibelt deemed he’d used his elbow to steer home Old’s diving header.
Before the half was out the pendulum then swung back the other way as Simmons picked out an unmarked Marcus Antonsson arriving late in the box but the Swede could only stab his effort wide of the far post.
The Wanderers again came closest to opening the scoring in the 56th minute as Pierias whipped a dangerous ball across the face of goal but thankfully for the Phoenix defence Milanovic was centimetres away from connecting with a diving header.
Substitute Alexander Badolato then fizzed an effort into the side-netting before firing straight at keeper Paulsen from a similar position in the 81st minute.
Bozhidar Kraev then had the ball in the back of the net in the 85th minute but the Bulgarian had strayed well offside before stabbing home Lukas Kelly-Head’s cross past Wanderers keeper Thomas.
The away side were then inches away from taking a late lead but the lively Badolato saw his dipping shot brilliantly tipped onto the woodwork by Paulsen to deny the Wanderers a deserved lead.
And what a save it would prove to be.
Spotting the run of Barbarouses in behind the Wanderers’ defence, Alex Rufer played an inch-perfect pass into the feet of his teammate who subsequently rounded goalkeeper Thomas before lifting the ball into an empty net to send Sky Stadium into raptures.
The ‘Nix then put the icing on the cake, catching their opponents out on the counter with Barbarouses playing Old in on goal and Wellington’s number eight duly drilled the ball past Thomas to seal a brilliant win.
The talking point
It was a tactical battle akin to a game of chess or two skilled boxers, patiently waiting for the perfect moment before delivering the knockout blow.
For most of the match it appeared as though these two sides would cancel each other out. In fact Phoenix boss Giancarlo Italiano revealed at full time he ‘hated watching this game’ due to the intense tactical battle it had become.
However it was a key Wellington trait that ultimately paid off – much to the frustration of Marko Rudan and his coaching staff.
Led by their captain Marcelo, the Wanderers’ defensive unit had held firm up until the 90th minute and were seemingly in control when it came to the threats offered up by their hosts but it was a diagonal run in-behind from Barbarouses which ultimately did the damage, something that was particularly irritating for Rudan and Co given they knew that was a move Wellington’s forwards were trying to pull off.
A move so simplistic yet so devastating and Giancarlo Italiano walks away the victor from a complex tactical battle.
The Star
Kosta Barbarouses.
With star striker Oskar Zawada out injured for the next month there were questions as to who would be the player to provide the goals in the Pole’s absence, but Barbarouses has certainly delivered.
After bagging two in the ‘Nix recent 3-0 win over Macarthur FC, the 33-year-old A-Leagues legend continued his fine form. Not only did he show superb composure to round Wanderers ‘keeper Lawrence Thomas before then lifting the ball into an empty net, his assist for Ben Old’s 94th minute settler utilised all his years of experience in the game.
Still possessing remarkable pace, Barbarouses streaked forward late in stoppage time, sprinting clear of the Wanderers midfield before delivering a perfect pass at the perfect moment for Ben Old to then fire home their second.
What it means
For the home side this result means the ‘Nix remain the team to catch after nine rounds of Isuzu UTE A-League football and they’ll sit on top of the tree at Christmas time.
Giancarlo Italiano’s side might not have the most prolific attack in the league but their defence, led by their outstanding goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, is proving hard to beat and they’ll be hoping that continues to be the case when they face Sydney FC and former boss Ufuk Talay on December 29.
As for the Wanderers, Marko Rudan may well feel as though this was a game his side could have won and they certainly created more than a few goal-scoring opportunities.
Defeat though leaves the Wanderers sat five points behind the league leaders with a Western-Sydney Derby against Macarthur FC to come on New Years Day.
