The game was a good one but the 1-1 result was not overly favorable for either club. As Gold Coast United showed the night before if you are good enough you are old enough, and Melbourne Heart seem to be following suit, fielding a youthful team in their match against the Wellington Phoenix.
In a sense it was the boys against the men when Heart took on Phoenix at AAMI Park last night. The boys showed that when they inevitably play finals football they’ll be battle equipped to match it with the men at the top provided they can put away more chances then what they displayed tonight. Failure to do so will cost them in this game and will continue to cost Heart going forward.
The Heart are a genuine Finals Series threat though and their 1-1 draw against the Phoenix showed why. Heart are adaptable, they aren’t afraid to play the opposition at their own game. They are currently injury free and they have have a quality performer in Fred who has done it all before, as have Colosimo and Thompson. Heart also have a genuine star in the ranks in Maté Dugandzic, voted Man of the Match last night.
The missed three points means that a home final is probably out of reach for Heart but that will not worry coach John van’t Schip.
“We don’t have to be afraid of anybody, no matter where we play”.
Wellington on the other hand can also feel that they have what it takes to take it to Brisbane and the Mariners come April. The older heads and the more physical bodies of Sigmund, Lia, and Muscat are flying a bit under the radar here in Australia but not so across the ditch. It’s something that Herbert dismisses.
“I think we fly under some peoples radar but not everyone’s”.
A key to Wellington’s championship aspirations, Paul Ifill borders on unstoppable and even when he is curtailed like he was somewhat by Curtis Good and Aziz Behich he only needs that inch of space and second of time to hurt an opposition where it counts.
Ricky Herbert wasn’t happy with the performance labeling it poor, an appraisal backed up by Ifill.
“Second half we dug in, pulled our socks up and we deserved a point in the end”.
Heart now play Sydney at AAMI Park next Saturday night in their ‘must win’ game whilst Wellington come back to AAMI Park to take on Melbourne Victory.
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