Phoenix lacking fire and attacking power
A lack of power in the final third cost the Wellington Phoenix against Adelaide United, according to their coach.
Darije Kalezic watched on as his side limped through their 1-0 loss at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night.
They had just two shots on target in the 90 minutes, although could easily have equalised if Alex Rufer’s volley in the final 10 minutes went under the crossbar instead of cannoning straight into it.
In saying that, Adelaide striker George Blackwood. had squandered a golden chance to put his side by two early in the second half, having already opened the scoring in the 32nd minute.
Kalezic was left to lament his side’s attacking display as their three-game unbeaten run came to an end.
‘‘We don’t create a lot and we were not powerful in the front third like usually we are,’’ he said after the match.
That wasn’t helped by striker Andrija Kaludjerovic picking up a foot injury in the opening minutes of the match. He battled on in obvious discomfort until the 58th minute when he was replaced by Sapreet Singh. That meant midfielder Matjia Ljujic moved into the No 9 role, further throwing out the team’s rhythm in the final third.
‘‘[After the injury] Andrija struggled to deliver a job and to run and do everything. He says every time when he lands on his heel he gets a sharp pain. Actually, I should have changed him in an earlier stage than I did.
‘‘Matija is an option. He played in his previous club also as a striker, but that’s not my favourite choice.’’
Blackwood’s goal came about through a series of defensive errors.
The Phoenix defence on halfway was poor as they let two headed passes split them wide open. Durante stepped up and allowed Blackwood in behind him, while makeshift centre back Goran Paracki was too far away from Durante to cover him, allowing Blackwood to race free towards Lewis Italiano’s goal. He then slotted his finish between the goalkeeper’s legs.
‘‘We concede the goal really unlucky. We don’t stay good in the last line. Dura goes in the dual and Goran in that time was too far away from him, but if somebody [Paracki] plays for the first or second time central defender then these things can happen,’’ Kalezic said.
Centre back Marco Rossi was suspended, while Dylan Fox was only fit enough for the bench.
The other central defender in the squad, Ryan Lowry, was thought to be on his way out of the club given he has had no gametime for the first or second team
However Kalezic revealed he has been dealing with injury issues, despite his name never appearing on the unavailable list.
The loss means the Phoenix remain last, while Adelaide move to within a point of the top four.