Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United met again after their draw on opening day and this latest game didn’t disappoint.
Tricky conditions didn’t help the game. Despite the light drizzle clearing on kick off, it left a greasy and slippery pitch in its wake.
Wellington Phoenix started strong, controlling most of the possession in the first 45. It took Polish forward Oskar Zawada two minutes to open the scoring when he got onto the end of a through ball which he calmly chipped the frozen keeper Joe Gauci in the Adelaide United goal.
When Wellington had the ball, Adelaide were more than happy to sit off and allow the host to play with possession.
It rewarded the visitors with a free-kick just outside the box from which Craig Goodwin guided the ball into the back of the net 10 minutes after conceding.
The second half was much the same. With the half-time rain clearing for the start of the half, it allowed the Phoenix to once again control most of the ball.
Adelaide United didn’t start well, winger Ben Halloran was handed a second yellow followed by a red card after his challenge on Phoenix midfielder Clayton Lewis.
Just 10 minutes later, the Nix added a third goal. Steven Ugarkovic putting his corner deep where it met Yan Sasse whose shot from just in the box took a deflection and beat the already committed Gauci.
Both sides had their fair chances throughout the match, it included a penalty where Kraev was denied a brace when Gauci saved the Bulgarian’s attempt.
Wellington travel to Perth next Saturday to face the Glory in the long distance derby, while Adelaide United return home to play Newcastle Jets on Tuesday.
Wellington Phoenix 3 (Oskar Zawada 2’, Bozhidar Kraev 37’, Yan Sasse 61’)
Adelaide United 1 (Craig Goodwin 12’)
Sky Stadium
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro
Assistant Referees: Issac Trevis and Joanna Charaktis
Fourth Official: Anna-Marie Keighley
Wellington Phoenix: Oliver SAIL (GK), Scott WOOTON, Steven UGARKOVIC (Nicholas PENNINGTON 90′), Timothy PAYNE, Oskar ZAWADA (Benjamin WAINE 81’), David BALL (Kosta BARBAROUSES 73’), Bozhidar KRAEV, Lucas MAURAGIS, Callan ELLIOT, Clayton LEWIS (Alex RUFER 90′), Yan SASSE (Benjamin OLD 80’)
Unused subs: Alexander PAULSEN (GK), Joshua LAWS
Adelaide United: Joe GAUCI (GK), Louis D’ARRIGO, Ryan KITTO, Hiroshi IBUSUKI (George BLACKWOOD 81’), Craig GOODWIN, Lachlan BARR, Javi LÓPEZ, Benjamin HALLORAN, JUANDE, Alexander POPOVIĆ, Ethan ALAGICH (Nestory IRANKUNDA 63’)
Unused subs: James DELIANOV (GK), Nicholas ANSELL, Joshua CAVALLO, Panashe MADANHA, Jonny YULL
Featured image credit: Photomac
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