On Sunday, our Men’s team travelled to Wellington to take on Phoenix. Unfortunately, our Men returned home empty handed when Phoenix won the match 3 goals to 1.
The match started promising when in the 1st minute the Mariners had the ball in the Phoenix goal. The goal was overturned with a ruling that one of our players had touched the ball with his hand (arm).
Both teams had chances and the match might have taken a turn for the worse for Phoenix when their #1 keeper was substituted off in the 9th minute due to an injury, giving youngster Eamonn McCarron a debut.
This seemed to only stir on the home side who had chances in the 17th and 30th minutes.
Christian Theoharous had a chance in the 36th minute but his shot went wide.
In the next minute the home side would score the first goal went to a Phoenix player intercepted a McCalmont pass. Nagasawa drove forward with the ball and laid a perfect pass to the goal scorer Piper.
It was now Mariners turn to make a first half substitution when McCalmont left the field with what appeared to be an abdomen issue.
McCalmont’s replacement was Miguel Di Pizio in his assist for the Mariners goal. Di Pizio received the ball out wide on left and worked his way past several Phoenix players towards the top of the Wellington penalty box. At that point Di Pizio shot with keeper pushing the ball towards an advancing Ngor who had no trouble scoring in the 6th minute of extra time.
Half-time was blown immediately after play resumed from the goal.
The second half did not start kindly for the Mariners. Two goals inside the first 7 minutes of the second half would decide the result for the match.
The second goal in the 49th minute was from a penalty awarded to the Phoenix when Will Kennedy was adjudged for a handball.
The third goal was in the 52nd minute when a cross in the Mariners penalty box found a Phoenix player out wide who scored past goalkeeper Redmayne and retreating defend Donachie.
This loss leaves Mariners Men at the foot of the table after nine matches.
The Mariners Men next play on New Years Eve at home against Brisbane Roar. Kick-off is scheduled for 7pm AEDT.