Football: Wellington Phoenix go down to Sydney FC in A-League opener
2 Jan, 2021 08:10 AM
3 minutes to read
Sydney FC 2
Wellington Phoenix 1
Two eye-catching long-range strikes have seen Sydney FC beat the Wellington Phoenix 2-1 in their A-League season-opener at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.
Hosting the defending champions at their temporary home, Wellington went away empty-handed after goal-of-the-season contenders from teenaged debutant Calem Nieuwenhof and 197-game veteran Luke Brattan.
New signing Mirza Muratovic scored on debut for the Phoenix, but despite a period of concerted pressure following the introduction of marquee striker Tomer Hemed and captain Ulises Davila with 30 minutes left, Wellington were unable to find an equaliser. Wellington had the ball in the net in injury time, but Davila's shot had deflected off Hemed who was in an offside position.