Soccer: Phoenix denied late winner

Just how costly the decision was won't be fully known until the end of the season but the Wellington Phoenix will hope it's not decisive.

With just five minutes to go in their A-League match against Adelaide on Friday night, Paul Ifill's goal was disallowed after his strike partner Chris Greenacre was deemed to be offside and interfering with play.

It was dubious at best and the Wellington players were distraught when the game ended 1-1.

"The decision cost us the game," Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert said yesterday before flying out with the All Whites for Thursday morning's (NZT) friendly with Jordan. "I think it was very clear and we have been dealt a harsh blow.

"I think it was our best performance in three years as a team. That goal would have rounded out a convincing victory and a well-deserved one. I questioned the decision after the game but there's nothing we can do to change it."

In truth, the decision should never have been so costly. The Phoenix should have killed the game off much earlier after carving out a number of good chances.

Most of them fell to midfielder Tim Brown, whose most glaring miss was a glancing header from six yards inside the first 45 seconds. It is not a match he's likely to look back on with much fondness.

The front three of Ifill, Greenacre and Leo Bertos were again dangerous, Daniel did well in his first start of the season and Brown and Vince Lia were tidy in midfield, their finishing aside.

The reshuffled defence was largely sound but they did lose concentration late in the first half, which proved costly when Adelaide defender Ian Fyfe flicked in from a corner.

Ifill is already showing himself to be a quality signing. His goal in the 35th minute was both clinical and technically brilliant as he buried a bouncing ball from just inside the box.

He is also showing the sort of creativity sadly missing from Wellington in previous seasons.

The Phoenix, though, need to consistently pick up wins if they are to make the top six playoffs. They now have five points from five games to sit seventh in the 10-team league.

They are coming towards the end of a difficult run of games, however, which has so far netted two points from a possible nine.

They drew with Brisbane and Adelaide 1-1, teams they have never beaten, and were defeated by Sydney 0-2.

Next weekend, they tackle defending champions Melbourne but have the added difficulty of six of their players, and Herbert, being involved with the national side.

Those players will arrive in Melbourne from Jordan on Friday ahead of the match two days later.

"It's not really a tough week," Herbert says. "I'm sure Blackburn virtually shuts down during an international week with all of their players away. We still have 15 players at the club and we will bring an expanded squad to Melbourne just in case."

Already the A-League table has a congested look to it. Halfway through this weekend's fifth round, just five points separated first from ninth.

It's still too early to take too much notice of the table but Herbert believes it will be tight come the end of the season. That's why Friday night's result could be so important.

"It's a difficult league," he says. "In most leagues around the world, you have the top teams, a group in the middle and then a handful at the bottom battling to avoid relegation. This competition isn't like that.

"I wouldn't say we are an inconsistent team but if you're not on your game every week, you will get beaten.

"The six teams that reduce that [inconsistency] will make the finals and we are very much in there."