Phoenix eliminate Perth on penalties, now hosts Jets

In their first-ever appearance in the A-League finals play-off, the Wellington Phoenix advanced into a further round to host the Newcastle Jets who themselves also won a penalty elimination over Gold Coast United at Robina last night.

The Phoenix advanced thanks to a 4-2 round which saw Perth Glory two attempts saved by the 'Nix custodian Liam Reddy.

2010-11 Hyundi A-League [play-off 3]:

Wellington Phoenix Chris Greenacre 37' Crowd: 24,268. Ref: Mr Srebre Delovski. HT: 1-0

2-0

Perth Glory Scott Neville 67' Played at Westpac Stadium, Wellington

The Wellington Phoenix began to tire towards the end of normal play especially in the onslaught by the physical visitors and an injury to Paul Ifill, which then added to their woes when key defender Jon McKain was red carded following two earlier cautions. That incident then reduced the home side to ten players after extra times, and then culminated in a penalty shoot-out.

A 37th minute poached goal from Chris Greenacre was enough to allow the home side into half-time with the lead, despite Perth threatened with a couple of clear chances which goalkeeper Liam Reddy was at his best.

However, after a Jacob Burns cross 66th minutes into the game gave Scott Neville a free header for an equaliser. This came with two changes to the Perth side.

There was a record crowd of 24,268 at the Westpac Stadium today, following Ceceras came on for Bertos.

Wellington Phoenix: Reddy; Hearfield, McKain, Durante, Lochhead (75' Dadi); Lia, K Muscat, T Brown; Bertos (70' Ceceras), Ifill, Greenacre (106' Sigmund).

Perth Glory: Velapi; Todd, J Coyne, Neville, J Burns (113' Pellegrino), McBreen, Shroj (57' Bulloch), Neville, Howarth (Sterjovski 57'), McGarry, Sekulovski