Wellington Phoenix have stayed alive in the race for the Premier’s Plate in sensational fashion, coming from two goals down to stun the Mariners at Westpac Stadium on Friday evening.
Kenny Cunnigham was the hero for the home side netting a brace off the bench, including a 95th minute winner, to seal an unlikely win that lifts the Phoenix to just a point behind league leaders Melbourne Victory.
It was the proverbial “game of two halves” in the opening match of the penultimate round of the season, with the Mariners going ahead through Nick Fitzgerald and Eddie Bosnar in the opening stanza and creating several more opportunities against a lackluster Wellington outfit.
The Phoenix had not scored in their three previous matches but never game up on the contest, a nice finish from Roly Bonevacia pulling one back and Kenny Cunningham drawing his side level to set up a grandstand finish.
It was end to end in the closing stages but all the ascendency was with Ernie Merrick’s men and they made it count with Cunningham curling a cool finish past Liam Reddy to give his side all three points.
Full match report to follow.
