Western Sydney Wanderers and Wellington Phoenix have had to share the honours in a drama filled 2-2 draw at Commbank Stadium.
Ryan Fraser and Phillip Cancar put the Wanderers 2-0 up and cruising in the first half, before Bill Tuiloma and Ifeanyi Eze pulled the Nix level in three second half minutes from two set pieces.
Western Sydney will be left to wonder how they could have avoided winning a game they had so much control of before half time, and will particularly rue a glaring Kosta Barbarouses miss just before the Wellington goals.
The point will please neither team particularly, with the Wanderers unable to climb off the base of the Isuzu UTE A-League table and Wellington not pressing their claim for a finals berth.
Fraser opened the scoring in the 17th minute in what is quickly becoming trademark fashion for the Scotsman.
He received the ball wide on the left from a Dylan Scicluna ball, cut inside past Matthew Sheridan and curled a quality finish just inside the far post that left Nix custodian Alby Kelly-Heald no chance.
The Wanderers dominated the rest of the first half, with Angus Thurgate’s energy and creativity proving difficult for Wellington to rein in.
And while the second goal came as little surprise, the identity of its scorer did, with Phillip Cancar scoring for just the third time in Isuzu UTE A-League career in the 43rd minute.
It’s a goal that Kelly-Heald won’t want to see again; while Cancar’s shot from over 30 metres out coming at him with plenty of pace, he saw it a long way out but could only fumble into the net.
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The most controversial moment of the match occurred at the hour mark, with referee Adam Kersey calling a half to play to check on a potential penalty for Wellington.
Jacob Farrell made contact with Matt Sheridan just inside the Wanderers’ area as the Wellington man won the ball and looked to shoot, but after a lengthy VAR consultation the decision was ultimately no foul and just a drop ball.
Kosta Barbarouses should have put the Wanderers 3-0 up in the 65th minute, stabbing the ball over the bar from close range with the goal at his mercy.
The miss proved costly almost immediately, with Wellington scoring the equalising salvo in just three minutes.
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There was no doubt about the first Wellington goal in the 68th minute, with Tuiloma managing to force his way in front of Anthony Pantazopoulos in the six yard box to clip home a whipped Carlo Armiento corner.
A combination of a set piece and Tuiloma proved the Wanderers’ undoing again just three minutes later, with Kazuki Nagasawa’s curled free kick from the left giving the Kiwi international the chance to use his height and bulk to crash a header at Thomas.
The Wanderers keeper did well to keep it out, but could only claw it to Eze who forced the ball over the line via Thomas’s back.
The VAR was involved again, checking to see if Eze was offside when the ball ultimately came to him, but the goal stood.
The Phoenix finished much stronger after the equaliser, but neither side could ultimately seal the three points.
The Wanderers are back in action next Sunday the 22nd of February when they take on Central Coast Mariners at polytec Stadium, while the Nix’s next assignment is the sixth edition of the New Zealand Derby against Auckland at Sky Stadium.
ALEX TOBIN MEDAL VOTES:
3. Ryan Fraser
2. Alex Rufer
1. Dylan Scilcuna
