A scintillating second-half display saw Wellington Phoenix defeat Central Coast Mariners 2-0 at Hnry Stadium on Sunday afternoon to move top of the A-League men ladder.
The result saw Chris Greenacre’s side carve out their own piece of club history, with the win over the Mariners making it two wins from two to start an A-League Men season for the very first time.
In typical Wellington fashion the wind was whipping around Hnry Stadium on Sunday afternoon and it only added to the chaos on the pitch inside the opening 45 minutes.
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The Mariners came within an inch of breaking the deadlock in the 19th minute as Oli Lavale raced through on goal and dinked the ball beyond the advancing Henry Gray but defender Bill Tuiloma somehow got back and hooked the effort off the line in the nick of time.
Wellington thought they’d scored the opener as Rafael Duran broke the offside trap and squared for Corban Piper to convert beyond Andrew Redmayne. However replays subsequently revealed Mexican Duran was an inch offside and the goal was therefore chalked off.
Both sides traded chances before the half was out but while the deadlock remained in tact at half-time, it was duly broken in the 55th minute.
After American Bryce Duke saw a header well saved by Redmayne Wellington then worked the ball back into the danger zone, with Duran perfectly positioned to head Matthew Sheridan’s cross into the back of the net to open his account for the club.
Two minutes later and the Phoenix had their second.
Midway inside the Mariners half, Duke played Duran in on goal and while the Mexican’s shot was saved by Redmayne the ball fell kindly to the arriving Kazuki Nagasawa, who squared for Piper to slot home from close range to make it 2-0.
The home side had further chances to extend their lead but Greenacre’s side cruised to their second win of the season infront of a jubilant crowd at Hnry Stadium.
