Wellington Phoenix forward Kosta Barbarouses scored his 100th Isuzu UTE A-League goal to seal his side’s come-from-behind 2-1 win over Macarthur Bulls on Monday night.
The ‘Nix travelled to Campbelltown Sports Stadium amid a poor run of form and after a dominant first-half showing from Macarthur, in which Jake Hollman scored the game’s opening goal, the visitors looked set to suffer their sixth defeat in eight games.
But after a shaky start to the game in Campbelltown, teenage Phoenix goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald produced a number of impressive saves to keep his side in the contest and lay the platform for a second-half comeback.
The equalising goal came from Kazuki Nagasawa, who scored for the first time in the Isuzu UTE A-League on Monday night.
The match-winning goal, however, was Barbarouses’ 100th in the league; the veteran striker converted a 71st-minute penalty to become the first New Zealander in the league’s history to reach the century mark, joining Jamie Maclaren, Besart Berisha and Bruno Fornaroli as the fourth player in the exclusive Isuzu UTE A-League club.
Hollman opened the scoring after 15 minutes of play and it was far too easy for the Bulls midfielder, who cruised to the edge of the box to meet Jed Drew’s cutback cross and snuck his shot under the arm of Phoenix keeper Alby Kelly-Heald to find the back of the net.
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On starting debut, 18-year-old Phoenix forward Luke Supyk came close to an equaliser when he was picked out inside the box by Paulo Retre. Supyk shot first time from a tight angle but Matthew Jurman’s sliding block ensured Macarthur keeper Filip Kurto was not put to the test.
Late in the half, the Bulls ramped up the pressure in search of a second goal and, in goal for the second-consecutive game, young gloveman Kelly-Heald produced a string of big saves in quick succession to deny Bernardo, Daniel De Silva and Oliver Jones.
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Chasing his 100th Isuzu UTE A-League goal, Phoenix forward Barbarouses had the last big opportunity of the first half but couldn’t beat Kurto as the Bulls kept their sheet clean to half-time, having taken 11 shots to Wellington’s three.
The Phoenix were much improved after the break and although the Macarthur chances continued to flow, Giancarlo Italiano’s side began to prove more of a threat down the other end.
Finn Roa Conchie gave the Bulls a big warning with a great chance saved by Kurto but, in the 65th minute, Kazuki Nagasawa brought the Phoenix back on level terms with his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal, set up by Hideki Ishige’s inventive backheeled assist.
Suddenly, having withstood wave after wave of Macarthur attacks, Wellington were back on level terms and holding all the momentum, and just six minutes after levelling the score, the ‘Nix took the lead in stunning scenes at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Barbarouses was the goalscorer from the spot after a penalty awarded to the visitors due to Kurto’s challenge on the Pheonix veteran inside the 18-yard box; Barbarouses begun the night with 99 Isuzu UTE A-League goals to his name, and took that tally to 100 with a calm finish from the spot.
The 34-year-old is just the fifth player to have reached triple figures in A-Leagues history, alongside Jamie Maclaren, Besart Berisha and Bruno Fornaroli in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Michelle Heyman in the Ninja A-League Women.
“Barbarouses scores! The A-Leagues’ newest centurion puts the Wellington Phoenix in front!” Said Paramount+ commentator Teo Pellizzeri.
“History for the future, and a priceless lead for the now.
“Kosta Barbarouses joins an elite club of the greatest servants that the Isuzu UTE A-League has had to offer… now, he finds the back of the net for the 100th time.”
Post-game, Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano was asked to summarise Barbarouses’ importance to the club and the significance of his 100th league goal.
“He’s fantastic, he’s been great,” Italiano said.
“I built my team around him last season – this season is no different. I think there’s a lot more focus with him defensively, teams are doubling up on him so he’s finding it harder to find those chances. It’s more about getting those supporting players beneath him to provide him more.
“Again, a good guy, and deserves everything, and congratulations to him for scoring 100 goals.”
Wellington’s 2-1 come-from-behind win was made all the more remarkable by the statistics at full-time; Macarthur had taken 30 shots to Wellington’s nine but after an early blunder for Macarthur’s opener, Kelly-Heald simply could not be beaten.
The 19-year-old, in just his second league appearance after dislodging off-season signing Josh Oluwayemi in Giancarlo Italiano’s starting XI, made eight saves in a performance made all the more impressive by the teenager’s ability to perform at such a level after his early mistake.