Bozhidar Kraev. Photo: Photosport
Wellington Phoenix have cemented fifth place in the men's A-League with a 2-1 home win over the Newcastle Jets.
The hosts posted a 2-0 halftime lead thanks to goals to Callan Elliot and Oskar Zawada before held on in what was their first match in Wellington for six weeks.
Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay was relieved his side closed out the game.
"We played at home and it was very important that we picked up three points," Talay told journalists.
"This part of the season and where we're at it's very important we pick up the points and that's what we did."
The Jets pulled a goal back early in the second half through Japanese midfielder Manabu Saito and the visitors threatened more regularly after halftime. However, Wellington defended resolutely to hold on for the win.
Talay reverted to a back five for the final half an hour to defend the one-goal lead.
"We didn't want to shut up shop, but in transition moments we were getting caught out at times.
"I didn't want to shut shop that early, but I think we needed it. We needed an extra player in that last line to stop those moments.
"At the end of the day I can say it worked because we won the game."
The Phoenix move level on points with the Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers and are four points clear of seventh-placed Newcastle.
Talay now wants his side to push for a top four position and a home playoff, starting with next weekend's game at Eden Park against fellow-finals hopefuls Sydney FC.
"We're a good squad, I think we're a top four squad and we can try to push for the top two.
"We need to get the results for that to happen, but we're pushing as high as we can go and we'd love to have a home final.
"Even in my first season when we finished third we didn't get the opportunity to play a final here so I think it would be fantastic to get that opportunity this season."
Ufuk Talay made two changes to the XI which started last week's draw with Central Coast, with fullbacks Lucas Mauragis and Elliot returning in place of the injured Sam Sutton and Josh Laws.
Tim Payne shifted in to centre back to partner Scott Wootton. Kosta Barbarouses returned via the bench after three weeks out with a hamstring injury.
The game burst to life late in the first half.
Yan Sasse rattled Duncan's left-hand post in the 37th minute after David Ball and Zawada broke from halfway and unfortunately for the Phoenix, Bozhidar Kraev couldn't properly connect with the rebound.
The Bulgarian delivered a great low cross a couple of minutes later, but Zawada wasn't at the back post to meet it.
The hosts eventually took the lead in the 41st minute when Duncan spilled a Sasse free-kick and Elliot smashed in the rebound from inside the six yard box for his maiden A-League goal.
Wellington had their second 10 minutes later, in the sixth minute of time added on, when Zawada converted from the penalty spot for his 11th goal of the season.
It came after Jets midfielder Angus Thurgate was deemed to have committed a handball in the box, following intervention from the video assistant referee.
- RNZ
