Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Sport

Football: Wellington Phoenix produce best performance of A-League season to thump Melbourne Victory

24 Mar, 2021 10:00 AM3 minutes to read
The Phoenix celebrate Ulises Davila's goal against the Victory. Photo / Getty

The Phoenix celebrate Ulises Davila's goal against the Victory. Photo / Getty

Jason Pine
By
Jason Pine

Jason Pine is host of Weekend Sport 12md-3pm Saturday & Sunday on Newstalk ZB

VIEW PROFILE

Wellington Phoenix 4
Melbourne Victory 1

The Wellington Phoenix have produced their best performance of the A-League season, thumping the Melbourne Victory 4-1 in Wollongong to leap back into playoff contention.

The return of former skipper Steven Taylor was key but Wellington's various attacking threats were on full display with Tomer Hemed, David Ball, Ulises Davila and Clayton Lewis all on the scoresheet.

After a bright Victory start, Wellington opened the scoring in the eleventh minute at the end of a flowing passing move. Reno Piscopo – whose stocks rise every week – controlled a high ball with aplomb in his own half before threading a long pass to the feet of Ball in the attacking third. His offload to Davila on the edge of the box was as precise as the Mexican's sideways pass to Hemed who gleefully fired the ball into the roof of the net to notch his third goal in as many games.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Tomer Hemed of the Phoenix celebrates scoring against Melbourne Victory. Photo / Getty
Tomer Hemed of the Phoenix celebrates scoring against Melbourne Victory. Photo / Getty

The Phoenix's second after 36 minutes wasn't without controversy. A cross to the far post was headed back across goal by Taylor and in the resulting goalmouth scramble the ball seemed to strike the arm of a prone Alex Rufer. Play continued, with Ball eventually finding the net and despite Victory's protests and a VAR check the goal was allowed to stand.

Lewis almost extended the lead shortly afterwards, thundering a left-footed piledriver against the crossbar, with Hemed missing the chance for a tap-in from the resulting movement. James McGarry also came close to his maiden A-League goal early in the second period, his left-footed strike touched onto the post by Melbourne goalkeeper Matt Acton.

On the hour, Davila made it three after some dynamic build-up play from McGarry, curling home a 20-yard shot with his less-preferred right foot. As a ragged, ramshackle Victory outfit tired, Lewis netted his first A-League goal to extend the margin, planting a precise shot past Acton at the end of a fast-break.

The contest wasn't without its nervous moments for Phoenix fans, but Oliver Sail – now firmly entrenched as the side's number one goalkeeper – twice denied Victory an opener, first from Elvis Kamsoba after half an hour and then spectacularly from Ben Folami in first-half injury time. Kamsoba eventually scored a consolation for Victory with 15 minutes to go, lifting the ball over Sail before collapsing to the turf with cramp.

Taylor's inclusion was the only change to Ufuk Talay's starting side and his influence in the defensive unit was constantly evident in his 50th game for the club.

The win lifts the Phoenix to eighth on the A-League ladder, just three points outside the top six. They next host fifth-placed Macarthur FC on Sunday.

Wellington Phoenix 4 (Hemed 11, Ball 36, Davila 62, Lewis 68)
Melbourne Victory 1 (Kamsoba 76)

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Premium
Sport|RugbyUpdated

'Glowing feedback': The new recruit who could push All Blacks to next level

19 Aug 06:00 PM
Sport|CricketUpdated

Live: Black Caps v West Indies, second ODI

19 Aug 06:00 PM
Premium
New Zealand

John Roughan: Foster fiasco shows it's the rugby leadership that needs a shake-up

19 Aug 05:00 PM
Premium
Rugby

Is women's rugby about to come out of the shadows?

19 Aug 05:00 PM
Sport

Another week, another humiliation: Warriors smashed in painful defeat

19 Aug 10:10 AM

Most Popular

Wiggles in NZ: Wiggles star reveals life changing hospital encounter
Entertainment

Wiggles in NZ: Wiggles star reveals life changing hospital encounter

19 Aug 06:03 PM
Shamubeel Eaqub on 'stupid' inflation debate and how he'd fix poverty
Business

Shamubeel Eaqub on 'stupid' inflation debate and how he'd fix poverty

19 Aug 06:03 PM
Premium
Steve Braunias: The secret diary of Gaurav Sharma
New Zealand|Politics

Steve Braunias: The secret diary of Gaurav Sharma

19 Aug 06:02 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP