12 Dec 2010

Phoenix lose - and may lose Paston for season too

8:46 am on 12 December 2010

The Wellington Phoenix have suffered a double blow, not only losing 2-0 at Gold Coast United in Saturday night's A-League football match, they also now face losing their goalkeeper for the rest of the season.

The Phoenix keeper Mark Paston, who's also the All Whites No.1, had to leave the field with a serious knee injury in the first half at Skilled Park.

The Phoenix also drop out of the A-League playoff places for now after the loss in a very physical clash at Skilled Park.

The sometimes spiteful match featured seven yellow cards - three to the Phoenix and four to United.

The hosts scored a goal in each half, Gold Coast midfielder Bas Van den Brink heading home in the 21st minute and also setting up James Brown's close range goal in the 67th minute.

It was a well earned Gold Coast victory in wet and difficult conditions and provides them with some breathing space in third spot while also applying heat on second-placed Adelaide United.

The Phoenix slip to seventh place after the Victory beat the Heart 3-1 in the Melbourne derby at AAMI Park.

Adelaide United beat the North Queensland Fury 2-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium in the night's other match.