The Phoenix's win against the Mariners was their fourth in five away games. Photo / Getty Images
The Phoenix's win against the Mariners was their fourth in five away games. Photo / Getty Images
Phoenix's outstanding away form has put them back in the mix for top-four finish.
The Wellington Phoenix are becoming one of the best travelling teams in the A-League - and their impressive away form is pushing them towards a finals spot, maybe even into the top four.
Friday's stunning 4-1 victory against the Central Coast Mariners was their fourth win in five games across the Tasman, with the only reversal in that span a 2-1 loss to runaway leaders Brisbane. It also represented their first win over the Mariners in Australia since 2010; before Friday the Phoenix hadn't even scored a goal in Gosford in their last three matches there.
"It was one of our best away performances in my time at the club," said skipper Andrew Durante. "And it reflects our mindset away from home at the moment. We had a lot to prove. We had to show that last week's result [0-5 vs Melbourne Heart] was just a glitch."
The bad old days of battling for a point, scrapping to get something, away from home are gone. This team takes charge of its own destiny, and while that will still lead to disappointment on occasions as it invites risk, the Phoenix now have firepower.
The Mariners aren't the team that swept all before them last season - this defeat was their fourth on the trot - but they are still a tough proposition, especially at home and had the game under control at halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The victory takes Wellington into the top six and the congested nature of the table means they are contenders for a top-four finish, which would seal a home semifinal.
The Phoenix will need to maintain their strong away form however, as four of their last seven matches are in Australia, with visits to Adelaide, Melbourne, Newcastle and Sydney.
Friday's final margin was convincing (the four goals represented the most the Phoenix have scored in Australia) but the game was in the balance until the final half-hour. The Phoenix had struggled to penetrate in the first half, though they created some chances, mostly from Carlos Hernandez free kicks.
Ernie Merrick made subtle adjustments at halftime which changed the shape of the game; Hernandez was given more space and time, Vince Lia and Manny Muscat were able to provide a better shield in front of the back four and Reece Caira and Michael Boxall got forward down the flanks.
The Phoenix's win against the Mariners was their fourth in five away games. Photo / Getty Images
After Kenny Cunningham's goal had got the Phoenix back in the match in the 47th minute, the match turned in the 53rd minute, with one of the more bizarre penalties seen in the A-League. The home side had appealed for a penalty (not given) after a strong challenge in the area, before Caira appeared to be fouled in the next moment of play. Andrew Durante gestured at the referee for the free kick, only to see the ball scrape the outside of his outstretched palm.
"I wasn't sure what had happened until I saw the replay," said Durante. "I don't think I have seen an incident like that in my career."
Thankfully for the captain, Glen Moss pulled off an impressive save low to his right from former Socceroo Mile Sterjovski. That was the moment. At 2-1, though unconvincing, the Mariners may have hung on. Instead, two goals in the space of a minute took the game away from the champions.
The first was a Hernandez thunderbolt from the edge of the area, struck with almost no back-lift, and the second a tap-in from Stein Huysegems after admirable persistence from Cunningham panicked the Mariners defence.
Another brilliant save from Moss, again from Sterjovski, in the 77th minute extinguished any hopes of a Mariners comeback before Jeremy Brockie completed the rout in the 82nd minute.
Hernandez again was a standout, while the energy and pace of Cunningham tormented Central Coast. Durante and Ben Sigmund (his strong tackle won possession ahead of the first goal) were impressive at the back, while Muscat showed his value with a complete performance in midfield.
The Phoenix will remain in Australia this week ahead of their match against Adelaide United next Sunday.
