Wellington Phoenix have broken their seven-game winless streak with a 2-0 victory over Perth Glory at HNRY Stadium.
The first half passed without a single shot on target, but Wellington broke the deadlock when Corban Piper nodded home yet another set-piece for the Phoenix. Former Nix midfielder Nicholas Pennington’s own goal sealed a much-needed victory for the hosts.
The long-awaited win for Wellington lifts them off the bottom of the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder and into ninth, two points off the top six. Perth have slipped down to 11th, just one point above Western Sydney.
Wellington took just five minutes to manufacture a golden opportunity when Ifeanyi Eze rushed William Freney inside the Perth area. The ball fell to Corban Piper and he squared it to Kazuki Nagasawa who failed to hit the target with the goal gaping.
The hosts were dominant in the opening half-hour and had a strong shout for a penalty waived away after Eze’s shot struck the outstretched arm of Scott Wootton.
Eze came close to sparking life into a quiet first half when he received the ball in a pocket of space and unleashed a shot from distance that flew just over the bar. The first half ended with neither team managing a shot on target.
10 minutes into the second half Wellington earned three corners in quick succession and from the third, Ramy Najjarine’s in-swinger was nodded home by Piper to give the hosts the lead. Piper’s goal is the 12th that the Phoenix have scored from a set-piece this season – the highest tally in the league.
Wellington pressed on in search of a second and after a scramble in the area Alex Rufer’s backheel found Najjarine, but his shot was well watched through the crowd and smothered by Matthew Sutton.
Wellington doubled their advantage with five minutes to play when Matthew Sheridan floated a ball into the area and after Eze rose highest it was Nicholas Pennington who saw the ball spin off his shoulder and into the net for an own goal against his former side.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
Alex Rufer
Scott Wootton
