A first-half goal from top scorer Max Mata secured Wellington Phoenix U-20 a 1-0 victory over Southern United in the Stirling Sports Premiership on Friday night in Dunedin.
Mata opened the scoring in the 25th minute for the visitors, as he calmly converted Logan Rogerson’s cross.
Phoenix U-20 kept the hosts at bay for the remainder of the match to seal the three points and make it two wins from two after last week’s triumph over Auckland City.
Phoenix dominated possession throughout the first half and came close to taking the lead within the first ten minutes, with a clever through ball finding its way to Mata, but the shot was dragged wide.
The home side responded with a spell of possession that troubled Oliver Sail, but the goalkeeper denied the hosts.
There was nothing Sail’s oppositie number could do at the other end however as Mata gave Phoenix U-20 the lead midway through the first half.
Southern came close just after the break with Danny Ledwith whipping in a perfectly timed cross for Tennessee Kinghorn, who narrowly missed the equaliser.
Kinghorn threatened again in 55th minute as his head went just over the bar.
Phoenix U-20 almost put the game to bed when Alex Rufer drove a low free kick under the wall, but Liam Little avoided the danger by shutting it down early.
Late in the contest, a goalmouth tussle nearly rescued a point for the home side, after Kinghorn’s shot was blocked and the ball landed on the line before being cleared.
Wellington hung on in the final minutes to secure a second straight win that moves Phoenix U-20 up to third in the Stirling Sports Premiership.Â
