KEY POINTS:
Phoenix 0
Newcastle Jets 1
Ricki Herbert's message to his Wellington Phoenix players when they turn up for training this week will be simple.
He'll waste no time in pointing out the key to winning soccer matches is scoring goals.
If his much-touted attack force had converted even a
couple of the handful of clear-cut chances they created at Westpac Stadium last night, the Phoenix would have been celebrating their first Hyundai A-League win.
Instead, they were left to lament a 1-0 loss to the Newcastle Jets - and at least another week left propping up the points table.
In getting through the opening minutes without conceding a goal - and at the same time giving themselves a half chance of striking first - the Phoenix showed they had learned some lessons well.
But their failure to turn first-half domination into something more positive and take the game away from the visitors came back to haunt them.
All it took was one, deflected Matt Thompson free-kick in the 78th minute. That ended the home team's dreams of, temporarily at least, surging into second place on the league ladder.
Instead, Thompson had a double reason to celebrate.
His goal, which beat hapless Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss as it took a wicked deflection and skidded off the greasy surface, was the league's 500th scored in its two-and-a-bit seasons.
It came as Thompson joined Phoenix captain Ross Aloisi in following Adelaide duo Michael Valkanis and Travis Dodd in being the first to play 50 A-League games. The Adelaide pair beat them to that milestone when they played in Friday's 1-1 home draw with Melbourne Victory.
It was disappointment all round for the Wellington side. The introduction of Brazilian midfielder Felipe for his first start brought new hope. He and fellow countryman Daniel threatened to taunt and outplay the visitors.
For a time they did, but when it came to converting the chances into goals, they came up short.
Still, they sparked something for the 11,500-strong crowd and combined well with Richard Johnson and Michael Ferrante as the home side took early control.
The Australian duo carved out some promising moves but again when it came to the final touch the questions were left begging with Ferrante guilty of squandering one such opportunity.
Jeremy Christie did well enough in the troublesome right back role while on the left Tony Lochhead again provided width and penetration. Sadly, without reward.
The reshuffled centreback pairing of Steve O'Dor and Karl Dodd also looked accomplished, restricting the Jets to only a few clear chances. The game swung away from the Phoenix in the second half as they were forced to retreat - but without any real feeling they would come away without something to show for their endeavours.
Until Thompson blasted low and hard from just outside the penalty area, Moss had rarely been troubled. He did not deserve to have his defences beaten in that way. Had his strikeforce done their job in converting their early, and then late, half-chances he could have come away head held high and joining in the celebration of a first victory.
That will have to wait another day - perhaps this Friday, when they travel to play Sydney FC.
