The Wellington Phoenix were denied a much needed win as they played out a 2-all draw with Western Sydney in their A-League football clash in Wollongong.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The result lifts the Phoenix one point clear of last placed Melbourne Victory.
With key players Luke DeVere, Tomer Hemed, and Jaushua Sotirio all out due to injury and David Ball suspended for this match, the Phoenix line-up would see Oliver Sail, Liam McGing, Louis Fenton and Ben Waine all making their first starts of the season - and regular starters Cameron Devlin and Joshua Laws on the bench, along with new signing Charles Lokoli-Ngoy.
The Phoenix scored early in the first half with Mirza Muratovic slotting home a follow-up shot to put Wellington up 1-0 at the nine minute mark.
They would hold that lead going into halftime.
The second half went tit for tat before the Wanderers equalised in the 71st minute and barely five minutes later they stuck again to take a 2-1 lead.
It would be the Phoenix's turn to equalise shortly after, thanks to a header from close range from Louis Fenton; assisted by a headed pass from Alex Rufer following a set piece situation. It would be Fenton's first goal of the season and the eighth of his A-League career.
Following the match, Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay said, "Going 1-0 up [in the first half] I thought tactically we set up quite well for what we wanted to do, and considering we had a lot of players out I think the other players stepped in and did a fantastic job.
"For Liam [McGing], Fenton and Ben Waine to get through 90 minutes was good; the players that came in, they stepped up and did what they needed to do and Tim Payne also did a fantastic job playing as a central defender.
"Oli [Sail] had a great game for us, I thought in his first game out there this season he communicated well, made some good saves and punched a few balls - he's done a great job."
The Phoenix will now travel to Victoria for the first time this season, to face the Melbourne Victory on Wednesday 24 February; the second match in a grueling stretch of three matches in seven days.
