The Wellington Phoenix have let slip a winning performance in their opening match of the 2024-25 A-League season to finish with a 1-1 draw in Wellington.
The new-look Phoenix had a string of debutants and just four of the same starters from the club’s last starting XI in the 2023-24 Finals Series.
LATEST HEADLINES:
However it was business as usual from veteran striker Kosta Barbarouses who put the Phoenix ahead in first-half stoppage time.
Giancarlo Italiano’s side looked set to cruise to an opening-round victory but Western United grew in confidence through the second half and equalised in a period of control through midfielder Angus Thurgate in the 76th minute.
The Phoenix came into the new season under pressure to perform after the club’s best-ever A-League finish in 2023-24, when Italiano’s side finished second and reached the Semi-Finals.
Italiano’s chances of repeating the success of last season were severely impacted by important players leaving the club, headlined by stars Alex Paulsen, Oskar Zaawada, Ben Old, Bozhidar Kraev and Finn Surman.
The turnover was evident with only four players from the starting XI that faced Melbourne Victory in last season’s second-leg returning tsemi start the first game of 2024-25: Tim Payne, Scott Wootton, Alex Rufer and Barbarouses.
The starting line-up also featured four players under the age of 21; Finn Conchie (21), Isaac Hughes (20), Matt Sheridan (20) and Nathan Walker (18) all earned starting roles.
But for everything that had changed at the Phoenix in the off-season, one thing remained the same: the inevitable scoring ability of veteran striker Barbarouses who, on the stroke of half-time, put Wellington ahead of Western United in his side’s season opener.
After an hour the Nix had eight shots on goal to Western’s three – and the majority of the host’s chances had fallen to Barbarouses, who received several chances to double his tally including a half-volleyed chip that missed the target and a bicycle kick attempt over the bar.
But Western grew into the contest through the second half and as confidence rose, the visitors began to accumulate chances to equalise and, in the 76th minute, John Aloisi’s side found their equaliser through Angus Thurgate’s lethal finish into the bottom-right corner.
Alex Rufer had the chance to put Wellington back in front soon after Western’s equaliser but his rasping effort from the edge of the box missed the target