Jerome Polenz scored in the first quarter hour as Western Sydney Wanderers looked set to cruise through its first home game of its title defense. But a Jeremy Brockie goal on the hour pulled visiting Wellington Phoenix even and left the score at 1-1 at Pirtek Stadium. In a weekend where three of the other four games were also draws, perhaps it was only appropriate that the Phoenix found a way back for shared points, but two points dropped at home against Wellington begs some questions of the premiership holding Wanderers.
Wellington Phoenix pick up first point in 1-1 Western Sydney Wanderers draw
Jeremy Brockie’s second half equalizer got the Phoenix up off the mat and earned a nice away point.
Mark Metcalfe
Aaron Mooy left the game in the 10th minute after taking a hard aerial challenge from Manny Muscat, but Western Sydney quickly recovered with Polenz hammering a shot from outside the box after Wellington failed to adequately clear a corner. Glen Moss was blocked and could not prevent the ball from squirming over the line as 16,000 Wanderers fans erupted. Just before half-time, it looked like the home side would blow the game open as Tomi Juric played Youssouf Hersi onto goal with a perfect through ball, but Moss came off his line to make an important save.
In the 59th minute, Ante Covic was called upon to make a key double save but he was helpless a minute later when Brockie finished off a fine sequence from substitute Paul Ifill, who turned 34 on Sunday. The brilliant turn around Adam D’Apuzzo on the right sideline led to a swift cross and an impressive finish from Brockie.
The final half-hour was exciting as Wellington’s Carlos Hernandez required a leaping save from Covic before Brendon Santalab hit the post with a blistering shot for the home side. But in the end, neither side could find what would have been a dramatic winner and the points were shared.
Wellington will host the struggling Newcastle Jets at McLean Park in Napier on Sunday October 27 in Round 3 while the Wanderers travel across town for the first Sydney Derby of the new season on October 26.
Video highlights via Fox Sports Australia:
Scoring:
WSW Polenz 15’
WPX Brockie (Ifill) 60’
Line-ups:
Western Sydney Wanderers: Covic; D’Apuzzo, Topor-Stanley, Beauchamp, Polenz; Poljak, Mooy (La Rocca 10’); Hersi (Haliti 82’), Bridge, Ono (Santalab 64’); Juric
Unused subs: Tyson, Cole
Wellington Phoenix: Moss; Durante, Sigmund, Bertos, Caira; Hernandez, Lia, Muscat; Cunningham (Ifill 46’); Brockie (Reira 87’), Huysegems (Hicks 31’)
Unused subs: Spoonley, Boxall
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