Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was both relieved and disappointed following his side’s 1-1 draw with Adelaide United at Westpac Stadium on Sunday night.
He felt his side deserved more from the match, especially given that they played the majority of the second half with ten men following the dismissal of skipper Tim Brown for two bookable offences.
“If you’d offered me the result before the game, I don’t know whether I would have taken it, but overall I’m happy with the result. We’ve got a point, and we’re in with a chance to make the finals next week,” Herbert said.
Phoenix winger Leo Bertos agreed with his coach’s sentiments, feeling that his side dominated enough of the game to nab all three points.
“It was a bit frustrating, as we just couldn’t quite find that goal from the chances we created,” he said.
Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar admitted that he was content with a point, despite his team having a numerical advantage for the majority of the second period.
“I thought we were great for the first 20 minutes, but we lost concentration and made a few mistakes and the Phoenix got themselves back in the game,” he said.
Vidmar also lamented his side’s hectic fixture schedule and the effect that it had created on his squad.
“It’s our fifth game in 15 days, and we have a squad that’s totally depleted with injuries … but ultimately, you have to cope with that,” Vidmar said.
The next round of fixtures is do-or-die time for both sides. The Phoenix are aiming to be the first New Zealand team to make the top four of an Australian competition, with a win against the Melbourne Victory next week and a favourable result in the Central Coast match against Adelaide being their only chance of progress.
Adelaide is questing for the tag of premiers, with a win snagging them the title as well as automatic qualification to the Asian Champions League.
Both teams will need to throw caution to the wind and will find each other as unlikely allies, given that the fortunes of both sides hinge on the results of the other. Bertos summed up the feeling of the Phoenix players, and the attitude they’ll take to the match:
“There’s still a game to go and it’s do-or-die time, but hopefully we’ll be talking next week about being in the finals.”
