Tony Popovic are you watching? Nicolas Milanovic sent another reminder of his quality with an 89th-minute equaliser as Western Sydney Wanderers salvaged a 2-2 draw against Wellington Phoenix in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Wellington appeared on track to snap a seven-game winless streak thanks to Francisco ‘Chico’ Geraldes’ first A-Leagues goal with 20 minutes remaining on Saturday.
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However, Wanderers star Milanovic came to the rescue late for third-placed Western Sydney at Sky Stadium, where the Subway Socceroos hopeful bagged his career-best 10th goal of the season to extend the club’s unbeaten run to seven matches.
Milanovic is now just one goal behind Western United’s Noah Botic in the race for the Golden Boot.
The Phoenix and Western Sydney had traded goals in the opening period – Corbin Piper’s 21st-minute header broke the deadlock before former Phoenix star Bozhidar Kraev restored parity on his return to Wellington.
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Wellington are 11th in the standings and 12 points adrift of the top six, while Western Sydney are third in the table – three points behind Western United and nine adrift of league-leading Auckland FC, though they could end the weekend as low as fifth.
Wellington’s All Whites heroes Tim Payne and Kosta Barbarouses were in the Phoenix line-up after helping New Zealand reach their first FIFA Men’s World Cup since 2010, while Western Sydney also had international stars Brandon Borrello and Bozhidar Kraev in the starting XI.
It was an entertaining first half at Sky Stadium, where the Phoenix struck first in front of their home crowd.
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After Wellington goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi produced a fine close-range save to thwart Nicolas Milanovic in the ninth minute, Piper rose highest to head home the opening goal inside 21 minutes – Hideki Ishige’s inch-perfect corner found Piper, who found the back of the net as Wanderers shot-stopper Lawrence Thomas was caught out by the sun.
The home side’s lead lasted 15 minutes; Back in Wellington following two successful seasons with the Phoenix, Bulgaria international Kraev equalised against his former team after capping a fine team move and it was a muted celebration from the Wanderers attacker.
Geraldes’ long-range attempt six minutes into the second half had Thomas scrambling but the Wanderers goalkeeper used two hands to keep the half-volley out of the back of the net.
Geraldes did get his goal 20 minutes from the end – Barbarouses fed the Portuguese import, who rolled his shot beyond Thomas in a memorable moment.
Pushing forward in search of an equaliser, Kraev created an opening for Milanovic and while his Wanderers team-mate got to the ball, he was unable to steer his shot on target before colliding with Oluwayemi.
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Milanovic got another chance during the closing stages and the 23-year-old did not need a second invitation as he emphatically beat Oluwayemi.
