A-League.com.au 1621152278,1621153173
Wellington Phoenix have a lifeline in their A-League finals hunt after Tomer Hemed rescued a late point in Sunday s 2-2 draw at Premiership frontrunners Melbourne City.
Phoenix looked set for a ninth defeat of the campaign - one that would have surely dealt a crucial blow to their top six ambitions - when Jamie Maclaren curled in a gorgeous free kick on 81 minutes to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.
Ufuk Talay s side had squandered a first half advantage after Hemed converted from the spot following Ben Garrucio s foul on Louis Fenton, with Naoki Tsubaki on hand to slide in an equaliser at the near post on 58 minutes.
Hemed celebrations result in yellow card as Phoenix draw rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In contrast, Adelaide goalkeeper Joe Gauci was called into action just once, easily scooping up a low-driven effort from livewire substitute Reno Piscopo, who registered the team’s only shot on target in the 70th minute. Although the draw stretched the Phoenix’s unbeaten run to six games, it has left them with plenty of work to do in their remaining five games in order to break into the top-six. They are three points adrift of sixth-place Brisbane Roar, who still have three games in hand, and there are two teams in between them also in contention. Making matters worse, the Phoenix could also be without captain and best player Ulises Davila for next Sunday s clash with A-League leaders Melbourne City after the Mexican import limped off with a hamstring injury in the second half.