A fantastic solo strike from Sydney FC marquee player Filip Holosko in a dominant Sky Blues performance has been cruelly cancelled out by a late Wellington Phoenix penalty at Westpac Stadium.
Sydney FC 1 (Holosko 84’) drew w. Wellington Phoenix 1 (Krishna 88’ pen)
Graham Arnold’s men were denied countless times by Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss who also saved a second half penalty from Andrew Hoole.
Holosko broke the deadlock in the 84th minute with a fabulous run and left foot shot from just inside the penalty area. However Phoenix equalised five minutes later when referee Peter Green adjudged a penalty area tussle between Jacques Faty and Phoenix player Tom Doyle in favour of the home side.
Roy Krishna converted from the spot to level the scores.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “I thought it was an entertaining game. I thought we were very good tonight. We made enough chances to win three or four games, we just don’t seem to be able to find the back of the net at the moment and Glen Moss pulled off a couple of good saves, but overall I’m pretty pleased. We were the better side.
“If we build on that and continue to play like that then we are going to have a very successful second half of the season.”
Goals
84’ HOLOSKO GOAL – Sydney FC marquee Filip Holosko receives the ball and runs towards the Wellington Phoenix back four unleashing a powerful curling left foot shot into the far corner while on the run.
88’ KRISHNA PENALTY – Jacques Faty is adjudged to have pulled Tom Doyle to the ground in the box at a free kick. Roy Krishna converts from the spot.
Key Moments
10’ PENALTY APPEAL – Holosko drives into the box on the right hand side and crosses. The ball appears to come off Durante’s arm but penalty appeals are waved away by Peter Green.
11’ HOLOSKO SHOT – The ball falls to Holosko on the edge of the box and he strikes a wonderful shot from distance which swerves and Moss is at full stretch to push around the post.
14’ SIMON CHANCE – A mistake in the Phoenix backline allows Simon clear on goal. His first touch takes him past Moss but he goes down under pressure from the keeper and Wellington manage to clear.
23’ JANJETOVIC SAVE – McGlinchey crosses from the left to Sarpong who hits a first time shot low into the corner which Janjetovic is down quick to save with his right hand.
25’ BONEVACIA CHANCE – Krishna crosses from the left and Bonevacia shapes to shoot but mis-kicks when faced with a clear shot on goal.
28’ RYALL CHANCE – The full back latches onto a throw on the right to get within a shooting position in the box but the angle is tight and he shoots across goal and wide.
34’ MUSCAT KILLS CHANCE – Ryall gets clear on the right hand side and has Hoole at the far post with an open goal but his cross to the winger is touched behind by Muscat at the last second and the referee bizarrely gives a goal kick.
43’ OFF THE BAR O’NEILL – Brandon O’Neill floats the ball over the Phoenix wall beating Moss in goal but the ball crashes off the bar and is cleared.
47’ MISSED PENALTY – Hoole is felled by Muscat in the box and steps up to take the spot kick himself but it’s brilliantly saved by Moss diving to his right.
70’ JANJETOVIC SAVE – Krishna gets into a good position on the left hand side, inside the box and hits a left foot shot towards the near post which Janjetovic saves.
80’ FATY HEADER SAVED – O’Neill free kick is sent into the box where Jacques Faty meets it from seven yards out but Moss dives to save.
Team News
Sydney FC 1 (Holosko 84’) drew w. Wellington Phoenix 1 (Krishna 88’ pen)
Head Coach Graham Arnold was forced into changes with striker Shane Smeltz rested with groin tightness. Jacques Faty took the captain’s armband replacing Alex Gersbach with Matt Simon being installed up front. Andrew Hoole came in for Christopher Naumoff on the left hand side.
Attendance: 10,027
Ground: Westpac Stadium
Referee: Peter Green
Sydney FC: 1. Vedran JANJETOVIC, 2. Seb RYALL, 5. Matt JURMAN, 7. Andrew HOOLE (11. Christopher NAUMOFF 73’ ), 10. Milos NINKOVIC (8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC 87’), 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 18. Matt SIMON (24. George BLACKWOOD 84’) , 19. Jacques FATY (captain), 21. Filip HOLOSKO, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 27. Mickael TAVARES.
Subs not used: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI, 25. Aaron CALVER.
Yellow cards: Ninkovic 37’, Hoole 52’, Simon 80’, Holosko 87’,
Red cards: None.
Wellington Phoenix: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Manny MUSCAT, 4.Roly BONEVACIA (12.Blake POWELL 83’), 7.Jeffrey SARPONG, 8.Alex RODRIGUEZ, 10.Michael MCGLINCHEY (17.Vince LIA 92’), 13.Albert RIERA, 16.Louis FENTON (5. Troy DANASKOS 67’), 19.Tom DOYLE, 21.Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c).
Subs not used: 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 11. Kwabena APPIAH-KUBI.
Yellow cards: Riera 41’, Fenton 55’, Sarpong 73’, Durante 79’, Doyle 86’.
Red cards: None.
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