Wellington Phoenix etched closer to finals after collecting three points in a 1-0 win over Perth Glory on Wednesday night.
The rain poured down moments after the opening whistle of the distance derby played on neutral ground at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Sydney.
Wellington’s Gael Sandoval proved an early disturbance to Glory’s backline as his attempt at goal was punched out by skipper Liam Reddy, who featured in his 400th national league game.
Jaushua Sotirio was next to provide the visitors their closest shot at goal but Reddy had hands to it before the scoreline could be altered.
The first-half ended scoreless, with an in control but frustrated Wellington unable to capitalise as coach Ufuk Talay set expectations for this fixture as a “need to win”.
The whistle to open the second also opened the scoring, as Sandoval worked off a deflection to send a strike past Reddy in the 48th minute, gifting the Phoenix a 1-0 lead.
In the process, Glory suffered two blows as Trent Ostler and Jack Clisby were subbed off with suspected injuries.
The second-half allowed both sides to present a lift in play despite a back-and-forth game which continued until the final minutes before full-time.
Perth’s tendency to look for a late goal proved no favours to the ‘home’ side as their efforts towards the later end of the game were unable to save them from their 14th loss this season.
The distance derby ended 1-0 with Wellington Phoenix adding three points and boosting their finals hopes.
Perth Glory: 0
Wellington Phoenix: 1 (Gael SANDOVAL 48’)
Perth Glory: Liam REDDY (GK)(C), Jack CLISBY (Joshua RAWLINS 56’), Antonee BURKE-GILROY (Tyler VECCHIO 71’), Mitchell OXBORROW (Callum TIMMINS 71’), Giordano COLLI, Trent OSTLER (Jayden GORMAN 35’), Darryl LACHMAN, Aidan COYNE, Jacob MUIR, Chris DONNELL, Joshua ANASMO (Pacifique NIYONGABIRE 71’).
Unused Subs: Cameron COOK (GK), Daniel STYNES
Wellington Phoenix: Oliver SAIL (GK) (C), Scott WOOTTON, James MCGARRY, Timothy PAYNE, Gael SANDOVAL, David BALL (Benjamin WAINE 62’), Reno PISCOPO (Benjamin OLD 62’), Jaushua SOTIRIO (Riley BIDOIS 90+5′), Nicholas PENNINGTON, Callan ELLIOT (Louis FENTON 78’), Finn SURMAN
Unused Subs: Alexander PAULSEN (GK), Matthew BOZINOVSKI, Jackson MANUEL
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
Assistant Referees: Andrej GIEV, Hugh FENTON-WHITE
Fourth Official: Sam KELLY
Feature Image credit: Vision Inspired Photography
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