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Wellington Phoenix Still Winless After Jets Setback
Wellington Phoenix are still looking for their first win of the season after losing 2-1 to the Newcastle Jets on Sunday.
The Phoenix dominated for long spells at the WIN Stadium in Wollongong, registering more than twice their opponents’ shots on goal and enjoying 64% of the possession.
But they conceded twice on the counterattack and sit second from bottom in the A-League table with two defeats and one draw from their first three games.
Valentino Yuel beat Phoenix goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic in a one-on-one after being put through by strike partner Roy O’Donovan to make it 1-0.
The Jets struck again early in the second half, with O’Donovan beating the offside trap after a precise through ball from midfielder Steven Urgakovic and dispatching past Marinovic who was positioned on the edge of the area.
The Phoenix reduced the arrears through a penalty from captain Ulises Davila, but the visitors soaked up the pressure to avoid an unwanted record of starting the season with five consecutive defeats.
Ufuk Talay, the Phoenix coach, was disappointed with the result and how his team conceded the second goal.
“It was a frustrating night,” Talay said. “We had [23] shots, we created some good chances but weren’t clinical in the box and if you don’t score goals you don’t win games.
“We got hit in transition a couple of times and I think the second goal we could’ve dealt with it a lot better.
“We had three players behind the ball but didn’t track the runner and I think a poor decision from Stef made it easier for him to tap it in.”
The Phoenix face Central Coast Mariners next Sunday.
/Stewart Sports news editor
