Wellington Phoenix v North Queensland Fury 20 – Sept – 2009
http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=29429
Phoenix concede late
A late strike by Chris Grossman has seen North Queensland Fury grab a share of the spoils with a 1-1 draw in its Round 7 Hyundai A-League clash against the Wellington Phoenix.
The midfielder struck deep into stoppage time at a sun-soaked Westpac Stadium just when the Phoenix looked on course for its second win of the season.
The Phoenix led for most of the game thanks to a sixth minute effort from Leo Bertos but in truth the home side only has itself to blame after wasting several clear cut chances as it did in last weekends 1-1 draw away at Melbourne.
Paul Ifill was again the pick of the Phoenix and although the big forward did not get on the score sheet his high work-rate meant he was a constant thorn in the side of the North Queenslanders.
He set up Bertos goal, delivered some great ball into the box which went unrewarded and show deft touches as he regularly beat the defence but he was forced from the field with a hamstring strain with well over half-an-hour remaining.
It was Ifill who beat two defenders to set up Bertos opener. Having jinked his way past the defence he lobbed the ball into the box where it bounced off Andrew Durantes shoulder into Bertos path and the midfielder stabbed it home.
The Phoenix could have been 3-0 up inside the first 20 minutes but for the goalkeeping of Paul Henderson.
The Fury stopper produced a fine save to deny Tim Brown after a great ball in from the left from Tony Lochhead.
Then a couple of minutes later he got his hand to a cross from the right from Ifill which then bobbled off Daniels legs and inches past the post.
The Fury was not without its chances though as James Robinson saw an effort hit the side netting,
A cross by the midfielder which Daniel McBreen got his head to then forced Mark Paston to make a smart save.
The Phoenix keeper was called into action again late in the first half, getting a hand to Robbie Fowlers free-kick from just outside the box.
The Fury marquee man had a quiet first half but with his side behind in the possession stakes and the Phoenix spending more time in the oppositions half it was no surprise.
Daniel missed another glorious chance 10 minutes into the second half after a great break out by Lochhead and Ifill from deep inside their own half.
A superb ball by Ifill put the big defender in space and his cross into the box from the left saw Henderson weakly punch it away but Daniel couldnt control it and Scott Wilson, who came on for Karl Dodd, late in the first spell, got his foot in to clear close to the line. It was Ifills last involvement in the game and he was replaced by Troy Hearfield.
Chris Greenacre then forced a save from Henderson after dispossessing John Tambouras on the edge of the box before Fowler found the back of the net in the 78th minute after Grossman dragged the ball across the face of goal for the former Liverpool man to tap home but he was ruled offside.
The Fury continued to press hard for the equaliser and it was a free-kick into the box from Fowler that ricochet around the box before falling at Grossmans feet and he made no mistake.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was bitterly disappointed his sides failure to take its chances had again cost them points.
Its kind of what weve been like for the last three weeks and weve done enough again, especially first half, to win three games.”
But we havent put them away and weve got punished at the death. Its probably the hardest one to swallow, the one today.
Fury coach Ian Ferguson felt some sympathy for his opposite number.
I feel Rickis pain. This has happened to us on a couple of occasions where weve lost late goals and points have been whipped away from us.”
But its our joy and Im delighted with the boys in the second half. I thought they played really well and controlled the second half for long spells.”
We were lucky to go in 1-0 down at half-time and we rode our luck a bit but Im delighted with the result.”
Im really pleased for the boys. We dug in deep and we battled well for 90 plus minutes which is great.
Wellington Phoenix 1
Bertos 6′
North Queensland Fury 1
Grossman 94′
Sunday, 20 September 2009
by Emma Stoney at Westpac Stadium, Sportal
Duration : 0:9:59
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