Wellington Phoenix dropped points to last-placed Brisbane Roar in a 1-1 draw at Sky Stadium on Thursday afternoon – a result that prevented the ‘Nix from closing the gap on the top six.
Wellington could have climbed to within three points of sixth-placed Macarthur with a win on Waitangi Day in New Zealand, but despite taking the lead through Isaac Hughes’ first senior goal in the second half, succumbed to a Henry Hore equaliser as Brisbane claimed just their sixth point of the Isuzu UTE A-League season.
The hosts had a Hideki Ishige strike correctly ruled out for offside in the first half before a contentious penalty no-call just before the break; Ishige had gone down in the box under contact from Brisbane’s Walid Shour but referee Jack Morgan elected to uphold his original decision not to award a spot kick, despite reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor on recommendation from VAR.
Having taken just one point from the Roar draw, Wellington remain in 10th spot on the Isuzu UTE A-League table, six points adrift of the top six.
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Post-game, Phoenix matchday captain Scott Wootton was asked for his take on what he described as a “stonewall penalty” not given to the hosts in the first half.
“It’s a stonewall penalty to me. He’s (taken) the first touch, he’s beated the defender, the defender’s got a trailing leg, he’s trying to make a tackle and there is clear contact,” Wootton told Sky Sports.
“I think if that happens on the halfway line it’s 100% a foul.
“Obviously VAR has looked at it, the ref has gone to the screen and he’s deemed it not an obvious mistake but for me, it’s a stonewall penalty… but look, it’s not an excuse. We need to look at ourselves and we need to be better.”
Brisbane Roar captain was also asked for his take on the penalty no-call.
“I thought when he went (to challenge), he kind of pulled his leg away, so I think it was a fair call,” O’Shea said.
“I don’t think it was clear and obvious so I don’t think he could have changed his mind.”
Brisbane were the surprise front-runners in the first half at Sky Stadium. Ruben Zadkovich’s side supplied all the early pressure and should have gone ahead when Samuel Klein headed over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.
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Kosta Barbarouses pounced on a Brisbane defensive mistake to put Roar keeper Macklin Freke to the test but couldn’t find score what would have been his 101st Isuzu UTE A-League goal.
But then, after 16 minutes of play, the ‘Nix did find the back through Ishige as the hosts celebrated taking the lead against the run of play – but after a lengthy delay, VAR correctly concluded the Japanese forward had strayed offside before receiving the ball from Corban Piper.
Late in the first half, Wellington had a penalty claim waved away by referee Jack Morgan after Hideki Ishige went down in the box under contact from Brisbane’s Walid Shour in the box.
Morgan was ushered to the pitchside monitor by VAR to review the incident in Wellington’s attacking penalty area, but returned to the field of play to explain his decision to uphold his initial call via live VAR comms.
“There is contact – it is not a foul. No penalty,” the referee said.
The denial of a Phoenix penalty ensured Brisbane got to half-time on level terms but just beyond the hour mark, the hosts did find a breakthrough goal as 20-year-old Isaac Hughes put his side into the lead.
Hughes’ first Isuzu UTE A-League goal came from a corner whipped into the six-yard box by Ishige; the defender was given too much space to attack the delivery and headed back across goal to beat Roar keeper Freke and put Wellington on top at Sky Stadium.
Brisbane almost equalised just minutes after conceding when an outrageous first-time attempt from Jay O’Shea crashed off the post and skidded across the goal mouth.
Then, having come off the bench in the 67th minute, Roar substitute Keegan Jelacic played a key role in getting his side back on level terms, providing a sublime assist for Hore whose magic first and second touch opened space in the box for the 25-year-old to fire past Alby Kelly-Heald.
Hore’s 71st-minute equaliser set the stage for an exciting finish to the contest but neither side managed to find a winning goal as the points were shared at Sky Stadium.
