Soccer: Phoenix are pure gold at the Tin

Phoenix goal keeper Liam Reddy makes his first save during the penalty shootout yesterday. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Wellington Phoenix A-League season lives after two outstanding saves from goalkeeper Liam Reddy in a tense penalty shootout against Perth Glory at Westpac Stadium last night.

After a dogfight 1-1 draw - the second play-off impasse in less than 24 hours - the tie between the fourth and fifth placed teams was decided from the spot.

Despite being outplayed in extra time, the Phoenix held their nerve when it counted to win the lop-sided decider 4-2 with two superb Reddy saves the difference.

Reddy, 28, called in when regular goalkeeper, and World Cup hero, Mark Paston was sidelined with a broken leg, and standby Reece Crowther struggled to fully answer the challenge, out-thought the Glory to deny Naum Sekuloski and substitute Scott Bulloch with superbly-anticipated saves.

In getting his gloved-hand first to the right and then to his left to push the ball around the post, Reddy sent 24,000-plus delrious Fever fans wild.

The Phoenix now have two weeks to regroup and prepare for a visit from the Newcastle Jets who also needed a penalty shootout to see off favourites Gold Coast United in another tense, 0-0, affair at Skilled Park.

The winner of that of that winner-take-all clash will travel to play the loser of the Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory major semifinal for the right to play that winner for a place in the Grand Final.

From the outset yesterday it was apparent Perth had come to play. Within a minute danger-man Danny McBreen was clattered in a clumsy Jon McKain challenge.

Four minutes later McKain was told by referee Srebre Delovski to back off. He did not listen and in the 33rd minute was booked and five minutes into extra time yellow-carded again, sent off and will miss the must-win clash with the Jets.

It was a ding-dong affair from start to finish.

Shrugging off the effects of the trip from Perth, the visitors gave as good, sometimes better, than they got.

Phoenix attacking midfielder Tim Brown was quickly left bloodied following a head clash but soon returned bandaged and ready to continue the battle.

There were half chances at both ends but few that seriously tested goalkeepers Reddy and Tando Velaphi until the 38th minute when the home side unlocked the Glory defence.

From a throw-in, the Phoenix attacked. With Vince Lia, Chris Greenacre, Troy Hearfield involved initially, the ball was then played by playmaker Paul Ifill to Manny Muscat who found Greenacre who carved through the square Glory defence and slipped the ball home.

In the remaining minutes of the first half Greenacre and Ifill had half chances but failed to convert.

The Glory were more assertive after the break and were rewarded in the 67th minute. An errant Vince Lia handball gave Perth an attacking free kick. Jacob Burns picked out unmarked Scott Neville who nodded home his second goal of the season for 1-1.

Both coaches went to their benches in search of a winner but the remaining 24 minutes and then 30 minutes of extra time failed to produce a winner. It came down to the dreaded shootout.

Steven McGarry gave the Glory a 1-0 lead but misses by Sekuloski and Bulloch, countered by emphatic strikes from Ifill, captain Andrew Durante, Brown and substitute Adrian Caceres sealed the deal.

"Unbelievable," said Durante. "We have to enjoy this and soak it all up."

Coach Ricki Herbert, savouring his amazing unbeaten run at the "Tin" said simply:

"We stood strong, we stood cool. I'm really proud. If people don't take this seriously, they need to take a hard look at themselves."

The Jets booked their trip across the Tasman for their March 6 showdown with the Phoenix when former New Zealand Knights midfielder Zenon Caravella muffed his spot kick to hand Newcastle their 6-5 triumph.


What next:

Minor semifinal
* March 7: Phoenix v Newcastle Jets, Westpac Stadium 4pm
* March 7: Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory (second leg), Sydney Football Stadium 7pm (NZ time)
* March 13: Major semifinal, loser Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory at home v winner of Phoenix v Newcastle Jets.
* March 20: Final: Winner of major semifinal v winner of Sydney FC v Victory.