Wellington Phoenix survive two red cards, two penalties to beat Sydney FC 1-0 in chaotic clash

Sky Sport

9-man Wellington Phoenix survive nervous finish to beat Sydney FC.

Allianz Stadium, Sydney: Wellington Phoenix 1 (Oskar Zawada 10’) Sydney FC 0. HT: 1-0

Wellington Phoenix have escaped with one of the craziest wins in history of the A-League Men.

They overcame two red cards and two highly controversial stoppage time penalties to beat Sydney FC 1-0 in a drama-filled clash – their first time they have tasted victory over the Sky Blues since coach Ufuk Talay took charge.

Oli Sail pulled off the save of his career, diving low to his left to deny Adam Le Fondre from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time after Tim Payne was judged by referee Shaun Evans to have handled the ball despite replays showing it struck his back.

Incredibly, Sydney were handed another chance to snatch a late equaliser from the spot when Callan Elliot was penalised for a handball as the Phoenix tried to clear the ball away following Sail’s super save.

However, Le Fondre blew the chance to make amends, smashing his second penalty high above the crossbar after bravely stepping up again, handing the Phoenix their first away win of the season, a result that moved them back into the top six.

“Do we want to play with nine men every game? No we don’t but in this case we’ve had to deal with this situation and the boys came up trumps,” a relieved Talay said after the match.

“I thought the boys showed fantastic character to get through that [drama] and we walked away with the three points.”

Phoenix midfielders Bozhidar Kraev and Nicholas Pennington were both sent off in the final 20 minutes, turning the match on its head after Polish striker Oskar Zawada gave them the dream start with a composed finish inside the first 10 minutes.

Zawada missed seven chances against Melbourne City in their last match, but he made no mistake with his first against Sydney after beating goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne to a ball over the top from Clayton Lewis.

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Phoenix goalkeeper Oli Sail celebrates after their dramatic win over Sydney FC.

After beating Redmayne, Zawada took two touches and buried the ball past defender James Donachie at the near post.

Sydney FC had the ball in the back of the net midway through the second half via Rhyan Grant’s effort at the back post, but the right-back’s equalising goal was disallowed due to a marginal offside call.

The drama continued as the second half wore on.

Kraev was shown a second yellow for going into the back of Adrian Segecic as the Sydney midfielder shielded the ball on the sideline, having earlier been booked for stopping Diego Caballo in his tracks as he broke clear.

A brain fade from Pennington saw the Phoenix reduced to nine men.

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Nicholas Pennington and Max Burgess clash during their A-League Men encounter.

Pennington retaliated with anger after a coming together with Max Burgess and was issued a straight red after grabbing the throat of his opponent, who was only given a yellow for instigating the scuffle.

Talay accepted Kraev’s second yellow, even if he thought his player showed no intent to injure Segecic. However, he said he couldn’t comment on Pennington’s red card as he couldn’t see what happened.

The Phoenix had not beaten Sydney since December 8, 2018 and they must have thought the football gods were against them as Evans twice pointed to the spot during a bonkers period of stoppage time.

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Phoenix striker Oskar Zawada celebrates after scoring the match-winning goal.

But against all odds they hung on to give Talay, a former Sydney FC player and assistant, his first win against his former employer. This result will go down in history as one of the club’s most incredible wins.

Phoenix captain Alex Rufer got through 60 minutes in his first start since tearing his ACL last season.

Kraev and Pennington will now miss their next game, away to Brisbane Roar next Saturday.