Wellington Phoenix created a number of good chances but were denied the three points by Eugene Galekovic’s fine performance in a 0-0 draw with Adelaide United at Westpac Stadium on Sunday night.
In difficult conditions on their return to the recently re-turfed ground, the home side created a number of good openings, including an excellent opportunity for Kosta Barbarouses in the second period, but a strong performance from Reds goalkeeper Galekovic managed to keep Wellington at bay for the 90 minutes.
Phoenix were well on top from the outset and almost went in front on 10 minutes when Barbarouses picked out Roy Krishna’s well-timed run, but the Fijian striker’s header couldn’t beat Eugene Galekovic in the Adelaide goal.
The home side had another good chance to break the deadlock midway through the first half when Barbarouses struck a shot from outside the box that deflected and somehow Galekovic managed to tip behind for a corner.
Adelaide did create one good opportunity before the half hour, but Andrew Durante was quick to close down Nikola Milesunic who blasted his shot over.
Wellington back the second half brightly as well and should have gone in front on 50 minutes when Barbarouses brilliantly combined with Hamish Watson on the edge of the area, only for Galekovic to deny the Phoenix number 9 from close range.
On the hour mark, Watson was in the thick of the action again as he cut inside and drilled a shot from near the corner of the area that almost got the better of the Adelaide goalkeeper in the slippery conditions.
The visitors’ shotstopper was again forced into a difficult save moments later as a Finkler corner kick swung viciously towards goal before Galekovic palmed the danger away.
Phoenix pushed hard for a winner in the latter stages of the contest and in stoppage time Finkler delivered a free kick that Galekovic could only parry, yet Adam Parkhouse was unable to get a clean strike on goal and Wellington were denied the three points.
While Interim Head Coaches Chris Greenacre were satisfied with the overall performance that felt the team should have taken all three points.
“I think it’s clear to everybody that we just didn’t our opportunities. I think we had eight shots on target, 12 in total and when you create that many chances you have to take them and you have to be ruthless,” Greenacre said.
“Overall we take another point, but I think it’s probably three points lost.”
“We wanted three points tonight and like Chris [Greenacre] said we’re disappointed to drop points,” Buckingham said.
“We felt we played well enough to get something from the game and we’ll take a point and a clean sheet, but we felt we should have at least put one of those [chances] in the back of the net.”
