2-2 draw for Victory and Phoenix

Wellington Phoenix hosted Melbourne Victory on a sunny afternoon, and it was largely an even match. 6421 saw the Phoenix draw 2-2 at home in a what was a good match to watch for the neutral fan.

Archie Thompson provided some good early movement off the ball, something the Victory will be thankful to have once again in the starting line-up.

On 6 minutes, Tim Brown had the first chance of the match, only needing to slot home after successfully rounding the keeper. His powerful shot hit the side netting.

The second chance for Phoenix came in the 14th, Brown with a well aimed pass left to right finding Ifill, who was only able to find the 'keepers hands, despite a decent effort. Thompson

Tim Brown was again in the action, whose strike opened the scoring on 18 minutes. After some excellent one-touch football from the Phoenix, Brown put a decisive shot past Michael Petkovic.

Archie Thompson found his 50th A-League goal on 20 minutes, leveling the scores by linking well with Carlos Hernandez on the right of the box. Thompson coolly hit home for Melbourne to make the score 1-1.

The second part of the first half went in favour of Melbourne. Both sides had several chances, but it was the Victory who broke the deadlock before halftime. Robbie Kruse tapped in to complete a well crafted goal in the 40th. Hernandez chipped a ball wide to Celeski, who passed across the face of goal for Kruse.

The opening of the second half provided Victory with continued pressure. For Phoenix, Leo Bertos was substituted on 55 minutes for a fresh Nick Ward, with Greenacre coming on 4 minutes later for Daniel. Whilst Wellington looked more likely, neither substitution immediately impacted the scoreline.

Robbie Kruse was seemingly shoved in the face by a fast moving Manny Muscat, which was missed by the referee, and may be subject to the Match Review Panel.

A yellow card to Angulo on 74 minutes for a deliberate hand ball led to a Nick Ward free-kick in a dangerous area. The set piece came to nothing, however, and the play quickly headed down the other end of the pitch once more.

In the final 15 minutes it was Wellington who piled on the pressure, with several shots on goal, and large amounts of possession.

Thompson and Kruse were taken off in quick succession (81st and 83rd), replaced by Pondeljak and Dugandvic.

A moment of brilliance from Paul Ifill in the 84th brought the scoreline back to even. An individual run down the right finished off with a good strike had the Phoenic fighting in the dying stages of the match. But it was to stay 2-2, an apt result for both teams.

Wellington Phoenix: M Paston, M Muscat, T Brown, L Bertos, P Ifill, Daniel, J Musa, T Hearfield, J North, V Lia, A Durante (c)

Subs: D Vukovic, N Ward, C Greenacre, M Rojas

Melbourne Victory: M Petcovic, K Muscat (c), L Broxham, G Brebner, A Thompson, M Angulo, R Vargas, B Celeski, C Hernandez, R Kruse, A Leijer

Subs: S Mattei, M Dugandzic, D Ferreira, T Pondeljak