Western Sydney Wanderers and Wellington Phoenix played out a dramatic 2-2 draw at CommBank Stadium in a match full of twists, near-misses, and heart-stopping moments.
Ryan Fraser and Phillip Cancar put the Wanderers in complete control in the first half, racing to a 2-0 lead. But a rapid-fire response from Wellington, two set-piece goals in three minutes from Bill Tuiloma and Ifeanyi Eze, left the Wanderers frustrated, snatching a point where victory seemed certain.
It was the kind of game that leaves fans reflecting on what might have been. Kosta Barbarouses’ glaring miss just before the Wellington comeback will linger in the minds of everyone in Red & Black, a reminder of how fine the margins are in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Fraser opened the scoring in trademark fashion in the 17th minute. Picking up a ball from Dylan Scicluna on the left, the Scotsman cut inside past Matthew Sheridan and curled a stunning finish past Alby Kelly-Heald to give the Wanderers the early lead. From there, the home side dominated, with Angus Thurgate running tirelessly and unlocking pockets of space that Wellington struggled to contain.
The second goal came just before half-time, and while the timing was no surprise, the scorer certainly was. Phillip Cancar struck from over 30 metres, a thunderous effort that slipped past Kelly-Heald despite being well off his line, sending the Wanderers into the break with a commanding advantage.
The second half, however, saw the momentum shift. A controversial VAR moment in the 60th minute, when Jacob Farrell’s challenge on Matt Sheridan was reviewed for a potential Wellington penalty, ended with just a drop ball, the game’s intensity only ramping up from there.
Barbarouses had the chance to put the Wanderers 3-0 up in the 65th minute but somehow steered the ball over from close range.
The miss proved costly. Just three minutes later, Wellington struck twice: Tuiloma headed home from a Carlo Armiento corner in the 68th, and Eze capitalised on a rebounded Thomas save to level the scores in the 71st. VAR checked for offside, but the goal stood, sending the stadium into stunned silence.
Wellington finished the stronger side, but the Wanderers showed grit and determination to hold on for a share of the points.
While the result won’t satisfy either team, it was a reminder of the intensity and drama the league can produce.
The Wanderers return to action next Sunday, 22 February, at Polytec Stadium against Central Coast Mariners, ready to bounce back in front of their fans. Wellington, meanwhile, prepares for the next edition of the New Zealand Derby against Auckland at Sky Stadium.
