Phoenix and Victory share spoils again
Roy Krishna is joint-top of the A-League scoring chart after netting in Wellington Phoenix's 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory in Auckland.
The Fijian striker joined Sydney FC's Adam le Fondre on 12 goals for the season as he fired Mark Rudan's side ahead.
But it wasn't enough to topple the defending champions at Eden Park, as Victory secured a point thanks to Keisuke Honda's penalty.
It was the third consecutive draw between the teams this season, and left the Phoenix equal on points with fifth-placed Melbourne City, while Kevin Muscat's side remain six points off league leaders Perth Glory.
The visitors came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half, but Wellington keeper Filip Kurto did well to deny Kenny Athiu.
The Phoenix wasted their best chance of the opening half when David Williams screwed his shot wide from a Louis Fenton cutback.
Sarpreet Singh, who had been their most creative player in the first half, played a key role in the home side's goal.
He twisted clear before firing in an angled cross that Storm Roux failed to deal with and Krishna powered past keeper Lawrence Thomas.
Minutes later he had a good chance to double the Phoenix's lead from a counter attack, but Thomas made a good save at full stretch.
Victory levelled on 68 minutes when Leigh Broxham went down in the area as Fenton and Krishna sought to block his run.
Honda, who had come on earlier in the second half, beat Kurto with his spot-kick for his fifth goal of the campaign.
Singh said after the game: "I still think we can get a lot better. We showed in patches what we're capable of and it's just about doing that for longer periods."
Wellington Phoenix are 13/5 to win their next game against Sydney FC, who are 10/11 with the draw 11/4.
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Roy Krishna is joint-top of the A-League scoring chart after netting in Wellington Phoenix's 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory in Auckland.
The Fijian striker joined Sydney FC's Adam le Fondre on 12 goals for the season as he fired Mark Rudan's side ahead.
But it wasn't enough to topple the defending champions at Eden Park, as Victory secured a point thanks to Keisuke Honda's penalty.
It was the third consecutive draw between the teams this season, and left the Phoenix equal on points with fifth-placed Melbourne City, while Kevin Muscat's side remain six points off league leaders Perth Glory.
The visitors came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half, but Wellington keeper Filip Kurto did well to deny Kenny Athiu.
The Phoenix wasted their best chance of the opening half when David Williams screwed his shot wide from a Louis Fenton cutback.
Sarpreet Singh, who had been their most creative player in the first half, played a key role in the home side's goal.
He twisted clear before firing in an angled cross that Storm Roux failed to deal with and Krishna powered past keeper Lawrence Thomas.
Minutes later he had a good chance to double the Phoenix's lead from a counter attack, but Thomas made a good save at full stretch.
Victory levelled on 68 minutes when Leigh Broxham went down in the area as Fenton and Krishna sought to block his run.
Honda, who had come on earlier in the second half, beat Kurto with his spot-kick for his fifth goal of the campaign.
Singh said after the game: "I still think we can get a lot better. We showed in patches what we're capable of and it's just about doing that for longer periods."
Wellington Phoenix are 13/5 to win their next game against Sydney FC, who are 10/11 with the draw 11/4.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com
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