-
A Yellow Fever fan holds aloft a Wellington Phoenix scarf - Source: Photosport -
Related
Welcome to tvnz.co.nz's LIVE updates where we'll bring you every goal, corner and kick as the Wellington Phoenix take on Sydney FC in their bid to reach the A-League Grand Final for the very first time at the SFS.
11:58pm
The Phoenix' fairytale run in the 09/10 A-League season
has come to an abrupt end as they have been well and truly beaten
by the better side on the night.
And while they may not have won the war, they certaintly have won the battle in making the A-league sit up and take notice of the boys from Wellington.
Even though the Phoenix have a lot of things they need, and must work on before next season, you can't say nothing but WELL DONE - they have done New Zealand football proud.
I guess all that is left to say is good luck to Sydney as they take on Melbourne Victory in the final, and bring on next season!
Hope you enjoyed our live updates. Tra from me and tvnz.co.nz for now!
11:57pm
FULL TIME: Sydney FC 4 (Panye 21" 24" Brosque 62" Bridge
70") Wellington 2 (Andrew Durante 26" Eugen Dadi 81")
11:54pm
Three minutes of extra time added.
11:25pm
With less than three minutes of normal time remaning the
Phoenix seem to be springing into action. This seems to have come
with the bringing on of the physical Dadi and one wonders why he
wasn't brought on earlier...
11:48pm
They always say that nothing is ever sure in football
untill the final whistle is blown and this is proving to be true as
big Eugen Dadi grabs what might be a consolation goal for the
visitors - or will it!?
11:44pm GOAL! Sydney FC 4 (Panye 21" 24" Brosque 62" Bridge 70") Wellington 2 (Andrew Durante 26" Eugen Dadi 81")
11:42pm
PHOENIX SUB: Diego on for Paul Ifill
11:40pm
This is getting painful now as Sydney's Chris Payne
almost nets a hat-trick, only to be denied by the fingertips of
Liam Reddy who is no doubt impressing his soon to be new fans in
The Cove. To add insult to injury the Sydney fans are singing loud
and proud to the tune of Liverpool FC's Oh Campione.....
11:36pm
This is like taking candy from a baby now for Sydney as
the holes in the Phoenix defence are nothing short of
embarrassing.
Once again it is Alex Brosque who powers forward to unselfishly pass to an unmarked Mark Bridge who coolly slots the ball into the net as Liam Reddy is powerless to stop it.
11:35pm GOAL! Sydney FC 4 (Panye 21" 24" Brosque 62" Bridge 70") Wellington 1(Andrew Durante 26")
11:31pm
Some great link up play from Ifill, Dadi and Greenacre
moments after the big forward makes his way onto the pitch. After
all the talk in the build-up to this game, the Phoenix really do
have nothing to lose - its time to throw everything and the
kitchen sink at the Sky Blues.
11.30pm
PHOENIX SUB: Eugene Dadi on for Tim Brown
11:28pm
Well the Phoenix were not so lucky this time
as Daniel allows the dangerous Brosque an acre of space
to seemingly put this game to bed in the 62nd minute.
11:26pm GOAL! Sydney FC 3 (Panye 21" 24" Brosque 62") Wellington 1(Andrew Durante 26")
11:24pm
The Phoenix are let off the hook as on-fire Alex Brosque
takes a shot on goal, but Liam Reddy makes yet another crucial save
in what is proving to be another man of the match performace from
the Australian.
11:23pm
With just half an hour of their season remaning Herbet
brings on impact player Daniel to try and stir something up for the
visitors.
11:21pm
PHOENIX SUB: Daniel on for Troy Hearfield
11:09pm
We are back up and running at the SFS as the Phoenix come
out with a renewed sense of urgency. Defensive strength
and trying to get the ball to key strikers Ifill and
Greenacre will be key during the second half.
10:54pm
It has been exciting stuff at the Sydney Football
Stadium, but the main talking point will be the forearm goal of
Chris Panye who has helped pille the pressure on the visitors going
into the second half.
Nix skipper Andrew Durante is seen talking to officals as they walk off the pitch towards the dressing room, but his plea's seem to be falling on deaf ears.
The Phoenix still have it all to play for and will need to regroup before they head back out for the most important 45 minutes of their A-League careers.
10:53pm - Half Time
Sydney FC 2 (Chris Payne 21" 24") Wellington Phoenix 1 (Andrew
Durante 26")
10:50pm
Another chance for the Phoenix on the cusp of half
time - but Chris Greenacre is denied by Simon Colosimo who
made up for his mistake which allowed the first Phoenix goal.
10:47pm
I speak too soon as Paul Ifill gets on the end of
the ball to turn away from the Sydney defence to curl an
impressive shot towards Clint Bolton only for it to go inches
wide.
10:45pm
The Phoenix are still chasing Sydney tails as we edge
closer to half-time. Paul Ifill has been kept very quiet thus-far,
and the veteran striker is looking slightly out of his depth.
10:37pm
Well there is more drama just moments later as some
woeful Nix defending see's Chris Panye net yet another
goal, but it was, as the commentator eloquently put it a
'handball goal' as Payne puts the ball past Liam Reddy with the top
of his left arm.
A move that everyone bar the ref and the linesman caught. Disgrace!
10:36pm GOAL!
Sydney FC 2 (Chris Payne 21" 24") Wellington Phoenix 1
(Andrew Durante 26")
10:33pm
Woohoooooo!
Just a few minutes later and the game is back on level terms.
Sydney are undone by a Phoenix set piece as skipper Andrew Durante heads in a fantastic goal from a Vince Lia flick-on - his first in 85 games - to give the Phoenix some belief back. Game on!
10:32pm GOAL!!!!!!!!
Sydney FC 1 (Chris Payne 21") Wellington Phoenix 1 (Andrew Durante
26")
10:28pm
Oh dear. After being on the field for mere minutes,
Sydney sub Chris Payne has dealt a bitter blow to the Phoenix.
The youngster slammed the ball into the net after Tony Lochhead failed to deal with the attack.
But the Phoenix are not going down without a fight as Chris Greenacre gets on the end of a Vince Lia pass to take their chance.
10:26pm GOAL!
Sydney FC 1 (Chris Payne 21") Wellington Phoenix
0
10:24pm
There has been an early change for Sydney as John Aloisi
picks up a knock to be replaced by Chris Payne.
10:23pm
Close penalty call for Sydney as Alex Brosque appears to
have been brought down by Liam Reddy in the box, but the ref blows
for a goal kick.
10:22pm
Interesting match fact: Four of the five finals this
season have gone to extra time, and the Phoenix have been involved
in two of those!
10:18pm
Tense moments down the opposition goal as a Phoenix
corner is not dealt to properly by Sydney keeper Clint Bolton, but
the Phoenix fail to get on the end of the ball, and
Sydney burst forward on the counter attack. The main
problem for the Phoenix at the moment is getting the ball and
keeping it. It's going to be a very long 90 minutes of Phoenix fans
at this stage as Sydney continue their assault on goal.
10:13pm
Some crafty play from Sydney see's Alex Brosque take his
first chance on the Phoenix goal, but some good defending from an
in-form Andrew Durante, and a quick-as-lightening save from Liam
Reddy thwarts the home side.
10:11pm
After witnessing a packed Westpac Stadium during the last
few weeks, it's odd to see a half-full stadium during such a
crucial game, but that doesn't mean the crowd isn't in good
voice.
10:07pm
The Phoenix, playing in their white away strip, surge
down the right towards the Sky Blues goal, but a poor delivery from
Bertos leaves Tim Brown frustrated.
But the Phoenix manage to get themselves a free kick after returning defender Jon McKain is brought down in a cynical tackle from Sydney's Mark Bridge. The Phoenix have started brightly, but they can't afford to lack any concentration at the SFS.
10:06pm
And we have kick off in Sydney as the Phoenix get the
first touch of the game.
10:01pm
In team news Herbert has fielded a mostly
unchanged side from the one that beat the Newcastle Jets
3-1 last weekend.
Bertos. Greenacre and Ifill make up the front three, while a returning Jon McKain gets the nod ahead of Ben Sigmund.
The comentators have just mentioned that the weather is more Wellington than Sydney. Is this a sign of things to come!?
9:53pm
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert has just been interviewed ahead of
tonight's crucial clash. Despite the Phoenix not beating Sydney in
three attempts Herbert is looking fairly relaxed.
Will the recent fantastic results and the newfound belief in the Kiwis carry them through? Or will being away from home, away from the protection of the Ring of Fire be too much|? I guess we'll find out in 90 odd minutes!
