Shane Smeltz has a shot at goal in the game against Perth Glory yesterday. Photo / Tim Hales
The Phoenix fans had plenty to shout about as their Wellington-based heroes scored their first home - and biggest - win of the A-League season in beating an out-of-sorts Perth Glory yesterday.
The win, against the bottom-placed West Australians, came at a cost, however, with inspirational midfielder Daniel
copping his fourth booking in six games and a mandatory stay-at-home for Friday's away game with Queensland Roar.
In doubling their previous best goal haul - two scored in 2-2 home draws with Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United and their 2-1 away win over Sydney - the Phoenix ended the round in the top four on eight points - behind Melbourne but ahead of Sydney on goal difference.
Played in front of 10,127 fans in cold, wet and slippery conditions, the teams produced some half-decent football after the visitors had stunned the faithful when they went ahead in the 10th minute against the run of play.
A defence-splitting long ball from Jordan Simpson opened the home side up and allowed Billy Celeski plenty of space and time to fire home through goalkeeper Glen Moss' legs. Stung, the Phoenix quickly regrouped and were back on terms within four minutes when captain Ross Aloisi, from close range, provided the final touch to a Daniel corner.
From a quick throw-in and a Daniel one-two with Vaughan Coveny,Shane Smeltz pounced to stab home for 2-1 after 40 minutes.
The turning point came eight minutes into the second spell when Glory defender Dino Djulbic was sent off for a second yellow card.
Exposed on that flank, Tony Lochhead ran deep before playing a good ball in for Coveny to guide home. Lochhead had one for himself eight minutes from time when he was on the end of a ball played in by Daniel after the visitors had failed to clear a corner.
Given the testing conditions, it was a worthy effort from the home side. Coach Ricki Herbert would have had some concern, however, over some wayward work from set plays - especially attacking freekicks - but that could not dampen the celebrations of a richly deserved victory against a team whose only compensation was in scoring their first away goal since goodness knows when.
But even that could not really lift the spirits for a team whose last Hyundai A-League win came a year and a day before yesterday's kick-off.
The Phoenix play Queensland next.
