WELLINGTON Phoenix’s generation next has combined to snatch a last-gasp 3-2 win over Western United, igniting their A-League finals hopes.<\/p>\n
On just his second A-League start, Sam Sutton crossed for roommate Ben Waine’s injury-time winner in Wollongong on Sunday, giving the Nix their fifth win of the season.<\/p>\n
As the game gathered pace in the second half, Western veteran Besart Berisha was heard in an effects microphone asking 19-year-old Sutton “who are you?”<\/p>\n
“I think Besart will know who he is now,” Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay said.<\/p>\n
Wellington jumped one spot to ninth with the win and are seven points off sixth place in the finals race.<\/p>\n
Talay appeared more excited by the potential for his youngsters to grow from that match-winning moment.<\/p>\n
“That will be massive for both of them,” he said. “They’ve both played a very good game. They’ve both worked hard for the team. Waineo got in some good areas and I’m so pleased for him to score and Sutts to set it up.”<\/p>\n
Both sides played finals last season but came into the match in dire need of three points if they hoped to reach the playoffs again.<\/p>\n
Berisha and Ulises Davila traded first-half penalties to send the sides into the break at 1-1.<\/p>\n
The contest came to light in the second half, when Jaushua Sotirio nicked a goal by deflecting Davila’s strike, and Iker Guarrotxena equalised with a close-range header.<\/p>\n
The teams looked destined to share the points after Wellington missed a spree of late chances.<\/p>\n
As the clock ticked into injury time, the two academy products combined for the winner, with Sam Sutton crossing for Waine to head past United ‘keeper Ryan Scott.<\/p>\n
The loss leaves United stuck in eighth, but with games in hand on almost every side above them.<\/p>\n
Western United coach Mark Rudan worked with the pair during his 2018-19 season at Nix, and was highly charitable considering the hammer blow they struck his team.<\/p>\n
“I’ll allow Ufy to talk more about how happy he would have been… but to see players you’ve worked with continue their professional careers, it’s always pleasing,” he said.<\/p>\n
Rudan said Lachlan Wales was shaken after the match following a nasty head clash with Joshua Laws that led to his withdrawal.<\/p>\n
Wales was originally allowed to play on after medical assessment, winning the penalty for Berisha’s opener, before eventually being substituted.<\/p>\n
“We’ve got a doctor back home in Melbourne as well who saw it and saw something more,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We felt it was the best thing for the player to come off. Player welfare is the most important thing, irrespective of a football game or the results.”<\/p>\n
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