Wellington Phoenix have managed to grab three points in the final minute of their clash with Adelaide United this afternoon. Adelaide took the lead just before the quarter-hour mark through Sergio van Dijk but Wellington leveled thanks to Tim Brown, with his fifth of the season, before Ben Sigmund headed home in injury time to allow the New Zealanders to take full points away from the Reds who had skipper Travis Dodd sent off with seven minutes remaining.
A-League Week 17Wellington Phoenix: 2 (Tim Brown 46', Ben Sigmund 90+4') Adelaide United: 1 (Sergio van Dijk 14')
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch Crowd: 14,108 Referee: Peter O'Leary Yellow cards:WP - Andrew Durante 23', Chris Greenacre 86', Nick Ward 87' AU - Marcos Flores 38', Robert Cornthwaite 44' Red card:AU - Travis Dodd 83'
GOAL The Reds struck first when Sergio van Dijk got to a Cassio free-kick first and his header looped over Phoenix keeper Mark Paston to give the visitors the lead.
GOAL Wellington hit back immediately after the break when Nick Ward played a lovely through ball to Ben Sigmund and the New Zealand international advanced towards the byline before cutting back for Tim Brown who slammed it home from close range to equalize.
Adelaide were set back when captain Travis Dodd was sent off in the 83rd minute but referee Peter O'Leary would want to be checking the replay as there was no apparent reason as to why he was shown a red at such a crucial stage of the game.
GOAL And it proved costly for Rini Coolen's men as Wellington grabbed a late winner through Sigmund in the 93rd minute when he leapt and nodded home a Marcos Rojas corner at the near post to give his side a vital victory.
Starting Line-Ups
WP Mark Paston (gk), Ben Sigmund, Jade North, Andrew Durante, Troy Hearfield (Greenacre 81'), Vince Lia, Manny Muscat, Tim Brown, Nick Ward (Macallister 88'), Paul Ifill, Daniel (Rojas 61')
Subs - Danny Vukovic (gk), Marcos Rojas (61'), Chris Greenacre (81'), Dylan Macallister (88')
AUEugene Galekovic (gk), Fabian Barbiero, Iain Fyfe, Robert Cornthwaite, Cassio, Paul Reid (Mullen 8'6'), Adam Hughes, Marcos Flores (Watson 79'), Travis Dodd, Sergio van Dijk, Iain Ramsay (Pantelis 79')
Subs - Mark Birighitti (gk), Lucas Pantelis (79'), Cameron Watson (79'), Daniel Mullen (86')
