Soccer: Bertos gets his reward as Phoenix cash in

Leo Bertos of the Phoenix nips in ahead of Jets keeper Ante Covic to open the scoring last night in Wellington. Photo / Getty Images

Phoenix 3
Jets 0

After an hour as pretenders rather than genuine Hyundai A-League contenders, the Phoenix last night snatched two goals in five minutes, added a third five minutes from time and comfortably held on to beat the Newcastle Jets 3-0 at Westpac Stadium, keeping their play-off hopes very much alive.

In scoring two of those goals - the second from the penalty spot - Shane Smeltz stretched his lead in the golden boot race to three.

The first 55 or so minutes of this 18th-round encounter were ordinary - more akin to a game of draughts than a promising chess-like encounter - with neither side seriously threatening to burst the match open.

The visitors had the better of the first half but found Melbourne Victory-bound goalkeeper Glen Moss in party-pooping mood with four super reflex saves to deny Jobe Wheelhouse, Joel Griffiths and Tarek Elrich (twice).

It was disappointing fare from the home side.

Rarely did their three-pronged attack test Jets goalkeeper Ante Covic.

That referee Craig Zetter played a mere bit part in blowing for a handful of freekicks - and none in response to battering tackles - was merely testament to the benign nature of the first spell.

The Jets forced five corners - four from Moss saves - to the two from the home side. None ever threatened to break the deadlock.

But the second half was a revelation for the hosts.

A bad call from Zetter landed returning defender Ben Sigmund in his book but from that point on the Phoenix dominated.

They should have had a 60th-minute penalty but Zetter ruled in Adam Griffiths' favour in his tackle on Leo Bertos. Within two minutes, however, the Phoenix had their deserved goal.

Troy Hearfield, anonymous for much of the game, played in a useful ball. Smeltz failed to make contact but Bertos, at the far post, bunted the ball across the line with his thigh.

Five minutes later that advantage was doubled when the ball was dinked through to Smeltz who deftly lobbed it over the advancing goalkeeper Covic.

From the restart, Sean Rooney went close with a half chance for the visitors as they continued their domination of shots on goal but he fired wide.

Both coaches rang the changes in a search for something more but it was the home side who sealed the deal five minutes from time when Hearfield was impeded and Zetter pointed to the spot.

Smeltz hit home, coach Ricki Herbert pocketed three invaluable points and now looks to a trip to Sydney next weekend to play another team whose season is over.

The biggest concern for Herbert and his club is that Moss and Smeltz will not be around next season. Replacing them is surely the biggest challenge of all.