It was the breath-taking goal that wasn’t in Wellington. Jason Cummings had silenced the Wellington crowd with his jaw-dropping overhead kick before half-time on Sunday afternoon, however, it was deemed to be offside.
Just like that, the Isuzu UTE A-League Goal of the Season contender was chalked off after a lengthy VAR review at Sky Stadium. But Cummings and the Mariners weren’t done there in the pulsating 2-2 draw.
After Ben Waine’s sensational lob over Danny Vukovic gave the Phoenix the lead in the second half, Socceroo Cummings produced another moment of magic and this time it stood – chipping Oli Sail in exquisite fashion to give Central Coast a 64th-minute advantage following Silvera Samuel’s equaliser.
Cummings and the Mariners were denied maximum points, though, as an unfortunate own goal from Paul Ayongo gifted the Phoenix a share of the spoils.
Asked about the disallowed goal, Cummings told Sky Sport NZ post-game: “Should’ve just given it, shouldn’t he? It will still go in the highlight reel for me mate.
“I knew I was offside to be fair but I thought it hit their defender but when I seen it back, it hit our player last so that’s it.
“That’s football sometimes. It just gave me more motivation to score another goal.”
It continued Cummings’ fine form as the Scotland-born Australia international tries to cement his place in Graham Arnold’s squad for next month’s FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar.
Cummings, who bagged 10 A-League Men goals last season, capped his Socceroos debut with a goal last month.
“I feel really good. I had a good pre-season. Started the season today well and with the Socceroos to get a call,” he said.
“Confidence is high. I always go into every game to score as many goals as I can.”
Cummings, however, was not all smiles after the Mariners conceded late in Wellington.
The Mariners were playing their first match of the season after last week’s F3 Derby against Newcastle Jets was washed out.
Cummings added: “Two points lost for us. Disappointing to concede that late on. We need to see these games out.
“It was a rubbish goal really to give away at the end. A lack of communication from us.
“The boys were good. We down well to come back into the game but we were disappointed in the changing room.”
MATCH REPORT – BEN MCKAY, AAP
Wellington Phoenix scored a late equaliser to deny Socceroo Jason Cummings and Central Coast a winning start to their A-League Men’s campaign following Sunday’s pulsating 2-2 draw.
The sides shared the points at Sky Stadium, where all four goals were scored in a thrilling second half – including Cummings’ stunner.
After a goalless opening period, Ben Waine put Wellington ahead on 57 minutes before quick-fire responses from Sam Silvera and Cummings turned the tables within seven minutes.
As added time neared, the Mariners failed to deal with a Nicholas Pennington corner in the 88th minute, with Paul Ayongo’s deflection startling his own ‘keeper Danny Vukovic for a late equaliser.
Cummings was the star performer, again putting his name in lights in New Zealand.
Three weeks after scoring a debut Socceroos goal at Eden Park, the 27-year-old put in a livewire showing against Wellington.
He silenced the crowd with a first-half overhead kick, which bounced off the post and past Oli Sail into the goal.
However, after three-and-a-half excruciating minutes waiting for a VAR decision, referee Johnathan Barreiro ruled Cummings’ effort out for offside.
The overruled goal was the best moment of an uninspired first half.
The Mariners started physically and had Kelechi John and Paul Ayongo in the book within 20 minutes, the Ghanaian cautioned for a cynical bump on Lucas Mauragis.
Vukovic – who became the fifth man to start a match more than 20 years after his national league debut – denied Kosta Barbarouses from close range.
Half-time tweaks set both sides up to attack after the break, and the match was all the better for it.
Waine was denied an opener after thrashing past Vukovic, only to be ruled offside from Oscar Zawada’s flick-on.
The All Whites striker was not to be denied with his next effort, though, running onto a stunning through-ball by Steven Ugarkovic, and finishing with a high-quality chip.
The Mariners response was swift and stunning: Silvera racing through the heart of the Nix defence and lashing home within two minutes.
Then came Cummings, who celebrated his 64th-minute strike with his favourite Joker pose before his withdrawal with quarter-of-an-hour remaining.
Nick Montgomery’s side could not hold on, falling victim to the in-swinging late set piece for a share of the spoils.
The result means the Phoenix have started the season with two home draws, while the Mariners have their first point after an opening-round washout.
