Wellington Phoenix were denied a penalty as they played out a 0-0 draw with two-time reigning champions Central Coast Mariners in Christchurch on Saturday.
There was a contentious moment at Apollo Projects Stadium, where hosts the Phoenix felt they should have been awarded a second-half penalty amid strong appeals.
Japanese veteran Kazuki Nagasawa – who was at the centre of a first-half penalty shout – went down under a challenge from Mariners youngster Diesel Herrington in the 64th minute and after a four-minute VAR review, no penalty was awarded, much to the dismay of Wellington.
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
With the result, Wellington and Central stayed in ninth and 10th position respectively and level on 18 points.
On the penalty incident, stand-in Phoenix skipper Scott Wootton told Sky Sport New Zealand: “I thought they were quite similar with both really.
“I think the second one definitely. He was just about to strike it with his left foot and the guy swipes his standing leg. Obviously it’s gone to VAR and they’ve decided not to give it.
“The first one was very, very similar… he was gone to take a shot but then the trip makes him fall over. I thought they were harsh not to be given.”
Sky Sport New Zealand analyst and former New Zealand international Anna Green said: “I don’t think it is a penalty but that second half, I think Nagaswa is going to be aggrieved not to have had that one and rightly so… That to me is a penalty all day.”
Ex-All Whites goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley added: “I’m going to disagree with Anna on the first half. I think if it diminishes the quality of the chance then it should be given. What we’re doing if we continue with that decision making is punishing playing on. It’s down to the referee to adjudicate on the contact.
“The second half though, I don’t know what we’re deciding. I think Tim Danaskos is allowed to make the decision in real time… no contact with the ball, Herrington gets caught out. I’d love to understand why it wasn’t given a penalty.
“There’s going to be a please explain on the doorsteps of Football Australia come Monday as to why it wasn’t given, particularly not given by VAR upon review.”
Wellington were playing in Christchurch for the first time in nine years but it was the Mariners that dictated proceedings early.


The Phoenix’s first real chance came in the 19th minute and it was Central Coast goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen who stood up tall to deny Nathan Walker.
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
There were appeals for a ‘Nix penalty just past the half-hour mark after Nagasawa went down following a coming together with Brian Kaltak but those appeals were waved away.
Mariners star Mikael Doka threatened to break the deadlock from distance as he unleashed a ferocious long-range effort prior to half-time.
There was a heart-in-mouth moment for the Mariners in the 62nd minute when Nathan Paull attempted to head the ball back to his goalkeeper but it fell just short of Peraic-Cullen as Hideki Ishige tried to poke the ball away from the Central Coast shot-stopper, who scrambled to gather the ball on the second attempt.
STAY ACROSS ALL THE DEALS INVOLVING YOUR CLUB WITH OUR MID-SEASON TRANSFER CENTRE
In the 64th minute, there was another penalty appeal for the Phoenix with Nagasawa involved again after going down under a Herrington challenge but no spot-kick was given following a VAR review.
The Mariners handed a debut to new signing and talented teenager Abdul Faisal during the final 20 minutes after arriving from Perth Glory.
With fans on the edge of their seat willing on the Phoenix, the home side nearly broke the deadlock seven minutes from the end but the turning Ishige was thwarted by Peraic-Cullen