Phoenix 2
Jets 0
KEY POINTS:
The Wellington Phoenix recorded rare back-to-back victories but made hard work of doing it as they downed nine-man Newcastle Jets 2-0 at Westpac Stadium yesterday.
With Joel Griffiths sent off after 29 minutes for lashing out at Karl Dodd, and Mark Milligan following him to the showers 20 minutes later, the visitors, who already had coach Gary Van Egmond banished to the stand in serving a two-match sideline suspension, were always up against it.
But their cause was helped by a stuttering Phoenix side who rarely looked likely to score despite the imbalance in player numbers.
It was not until the last 12 minutes that the Phoenix turned a wealth of possession into something productive with goals from Shane Smeltz - his eighth of the season, grabbing him a share of the golden boot lead - and substitute Troy Hearfield, with his first for the season.
At other times, the Phoenix were forced to shoot from long range, with too many of those attempts fired directly at goalkeeper Ante Covic.
The visitors had the chance to close the gap as the game headed into stoppage time, when Tarek Elrich was felled in a clumsy Karl Dodd challenge and referee Matthew Breeze pointed to the spot.
Elrich stepped forward but hardly tested Mark Paston as he dived to smother.
Dodd was fortunate to survive as he had already been booked - his fifth yellow card of the season and an automatic one-match ban - and could easily have had a second for the late infringement.
The Phoenix must quickly regroup to face Melbourne Victory at home on Friday night.
