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Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Jack Duncan s reactive save to deny Wellington Phoenix defender Luke DeVere a powerful headed goal has been awarded the pick of the saves in Matchweek 5.
Duncan made seven stops on the day but this one was the pick of the bunch, coming in just the 12th minute as the Jets held onto a slender one-goal advantage.
DeVere did everything right with his header from a Ulises Dávila corner as he rose highest to cannon the ball toward goal with some force.
But Duncan was quick to his right, not only to get a glove on the shot, but to push it with enough strength to help the ball around the post and out for another corner.
Tightening up defensively is an improvement sought by the Wellington Phoenix as they plot their first win of the new A-League football season
Tightening up defensively is an improvement sought by the Wellington Phoenix as they plot their first win of the new A-League football season 27 January 2021
The club has one point from their first three games and next face top-of-the-table Central Coast.
Defender Luke DeVere says the goals they conceded in Sunday s 2-1 loss to Newcastle had a similar feel.
Melbourne Victory s win over Perth Glory leaves the Phoenix at the bottom of the table.
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Wellington Phoenix midfielder Alex Rufer is shown a red card by referee Stephen Lucas.
Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay has lamented “a very soft red card” that arguably cost his side a win over Macarthur FC in the A-League on Saturday night. Alex Rufer was sent off in the 63rd minute after video assistant referee Kris Griffiths-Jones intervened and prompted the man in the middle, Stephen Lucas, to asses whether the midfielder had lashed out at Denis Genreau after making a tackle. It appeared to be an extremely harsh call, as there didn’t seem to be any intent, nor any recklessness, on Rufer’s part – his eyes were closed and it looked to be merely a tangle of feet – but he was sent on his way and the Bulls equalised through Markel Susaeta soon after.
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.