Wellington Phoenix virtually ensured a third successive A-League playoff campaign and almost certainly a home final, thanks to the late heroics of striker Paul Ifill.
Ifill’s stunning 20-metre right-foot strike in the 80th minute grabbed his side a 1-1 draw against Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Importantly, the New Zealand club now need only a point from their last two fixtures to ensure their first final is at home.
The Phoenix remain third, five points clear of the fifth-placed Heart, after they fought back strongly from a first-half battering.
A halftime bake from coach Ricki Herbert helped the Phoenix shake off an opening 45 minutes in which they were outplayed to grind their way back into the game and take a share of the points.
“(The team talk) probably hit a few notes at halftime, and they responded. I’m not surprised they responded, because that’s the group,” Herbert said.
“Our first-half performance was pretty poor, but the second half was very, very good and that’s the level we need to be at to be competitive in the finals series.”
Heart striker Eli Babalj netted the opener on 32 minutes with a header from midfielder Mate Dugandzic’s beautifully weighted and floated free-kick from the right.
The Heart had been well on top for a blistering opening 45 minutes that included an all-in melee, from which three players were booked.
Phoenix defender Manny Muscat could also find himself under match review panel scrutiny.
An undercurrent of midfield niggle blew up in the 40th minute when Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante clattered into Heart’s Jonatan Germano.
Players from both sides got involved in a scuffle, with Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund and Heart’s Dugandzic given yellow cards.
But Muscat appeared to grab at Dugandzic’s face at the height of the melee in an incident sure to be scrutinised for the level of contact and any intent.
Phoenix’s defence was outstanding to stop the Heart early, with goalkeeper Mark Paston and Durante excellent.
A 12th minute handball shout against Wellington’s Tony Lochhead was turned down by referee Peter Green, while he also turned down Ifill’s appeal for what looked a clear penalty in the 39th minute when challenged from behind by Fred.
The Heart’s hopes of grabbing a home final took a big blow with the draw, though they remain on course to make the top six.
But Heart coach John van ‘t Schip lamented his team’s lack of finishing polish and took a shot at the selfishness of some of his players in front of goal.
“We should have scored a few more in normal play – we were too selfish, or our last pass was not good enough and I think we lost ourselves two points today,” he said.
“We still have (making the finals) in our hands but it is a must-win next week.”
