Sydney FC 2 Wellington Phoenix 1
Richard Garcia celebrates scoring the opener for Sydney FC. Photo: Getty Images
A 10-man Sydney FC used its get-out-of-jail-free card on Saturday night, scoring a stunning injury-time win over a desperately unlucky Wellington Phoenix.
In a frantic finish, Costa Rica international Kenny Cunningham equalised early in injury time for the gallant visitors with a flick in from a cross to the far post.
Sky Blue hearts sank with those of the 14,503-strong crowd, who had been on a high since Richard Garcia's boom strike in the first half gave them a 1-0 half-time lead.
Ranko Despotovic of Sydney and Andrew Durante of the Phoenix compete for the ball. Photo: Getty Images
But, with Sydney chasing three wins on the trot for the first time since 2009, Serbian striker Ranko Despotovic announced his arrival in Australia with the winner, a first-time effort from a Seb Ryall cross with one of the last touches of the match.
It was a memorable win, but it didn't hide Sydney FC's disciplinary lapses that forced the home side to do it the hard way after Pedj Bojic was marched in the 73rd minute for his second yellow card. Of the Sky Blues' three consecutive wins, two have been earned with 10 men left on the field.
It should have been easier. After a tepid start, the Sky Blues warmed to the task with Garcia's strike cannoning in off goalkeeper Glenn Moss' crossbar on 35 minutes.
Alessandro Del Piero was his usual busy self. Photo: Getty Images
They'd entered the game hot favourites, having lost just once in their previous 10 matches at home, and having thrashed Wellington 7-1 in the sides' last encounter. Seven of the Phoenix's line-up had played internationals in the past week, including Cunningham and Carlos Hernandez for Costa Rica against the Socceroos and Moss, Andrew Durante, Jeremy Brockie and Louis Fenton who travelled to Mexico, along with Ben Sigmund, who made the trip but didn't play.
Yet, Phoenix should have gone ahead with Brockie's guilt-edged one-on-one chance that the striker belted deep into The Cove instead of the back of the net. Their possession play in the first 10 minutes led to Bojic's first yellow, for a foul on Reece Caira.
But the Sky Blues began to settle. Not long after Manny Muscat was booked for a deliberate handball and Alessandro Del Piero put the set-piece shot just over the crossbar, the Italian hit the post and the rebound was cleared by Muscat as the vultures tried to pounce.
A minute later, Garcia came in from the right wing and unloaded with his right foot from the edge of the area into Moss' top corner.
Ali Abbas' skimmer went just wide and Del Piero's chest down and shot on the turn – saved by Moss in the dying moments of the half – were as close as Sydney came to adding to their lead. But Hernandez's strike from distance and their tally of six corners to one were reminders that Sydney's job was far from done.
They came out with their sleeves up. Bojic and Nick Carle forced two top-quality saves from Moss in the 49th and 51st minutes, respectively. Carle was cautioned and Ernie Merrick brought on Paul Ifill for Jason Hicks nearing the hour to try to turn the momentum.
Farina introduced Despotovic, before Merrick made his second change, with Albert Riera bolstering midfield in place of defender Caira.
When Bojic was marched, the effect was immediate, with Vince Lia somehow putting a power header from point-blank range over the crossbar.
On 80 minutes, Farina brought on foundation player Terry McFlynn for Del Piero.
Cunningham's chop on Emerton gained him a yellow card, but the Phoenix came on the charge. Hernandez's strike was deflected away, before Cunningham's strike was saved by Vedran Janjetovic and his "goal" a minute later was ruled offside. But it just increased the drama that was to come.
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