LIVE COMMENTARY (Be sure to refresh your browser)
Wellington Phoenix - 2 1 - Perth Glory
FULLTIME - Click here for a full wrap.
83 mins - Talay rings the subs. Phoenix just holding on at the moment.
80 mins - Fornaroli fires a shot on target, ball able to deflect it clear for a corner. Marinovic punches away rather unconvincingly, but enough for the Phoenix to regroup.
72 mins - Fornaroli with another half chance from a cross, gets a stray boot to it and sprays it wide.
66 mins - Fornaroli with a great chance to equalise, fires directly to Marinovic. Momentum swinging back in Perth's favour.
62nd min - GOAL GLORY - From the corner, Dane Ingham whips in a curler from three yards outside the box that beats the outstretched Marinovic on the righthand post. Absolute beauty from the All Whites international.
59th min - Brilliant run from McCowatt, peels off 40 yards before linking with Ball, who almost finds the top right corner of the net.
57th min - Davila with a delicious back heel, corner forced. Phoenix are playing with buckets of confidence now and the momentum is well and truly on their side.
47 mins - GOAL PHOENIX - Penalty Phoenix! Ball with a clever jaunt into the box, clearly fouled by Tratt, who had no complaints. Substitute Davila steps up to the spot and goes low and left to extend the Phoenix lead.
47 mins - Piscopo with a handy delivery, pinballs around the box and is eventually cleared.
46 mins - Back into the action. Phoenix quickly on to the attack. Free kick won near the corner of the box.
HALFTIME
44 mins - Phoenix burst back on the counter, Cacace crosses to McCowatt with acres of space but he can't get a clean strike on the ball.
42 mins - Corner Perth. Devere clears off his head. Perth dominating possession since the goal.
40 mins - Perth pressing up for an equaliser, couple of useful forays but the Wgtn defence is up to the task.
36 mins - Fornaroli cuts on to his right foot and blasts a shot on goal, Marinovic parries it away to safety and the Phoenix clear. First shot on target for Perth.
31 mins - GOAL PHOENIX - McCowatt wins the turnover, great pass over the top to Hooper, who uses his body well fend to off the defender and finish calmly under the Glory keeper.
29 mins - McCowatt makes a strong run into the box, forces a corner. Offside Phoenix, danger averted.
25 mins - Piscopo has a shot on goal blocked from the edge of the box.
23 mins - Match opening up a bit now, helter skelter period of play.
19 mins - Devere makes a crucial stop in the Phoenix box, best chance for either side so far.
17 mins - Cacace with nifty salvo into the box. Phoenix continue to press. Perth defence holds.
14 mins - Piscopo intercepts, dribbles to the byline and forces a corner. Headed away to safety by Perth.
13 mins - Very measured start from both teams, feeling each other out.
9 mins - McCowatt with an excellent burst from the backfield, probably should've given the ball up sooner. Ball runs out of room and the shot fizzles to the keeper.
7 mins - Perth have won both of their encounters with the Phoenix this season, home and away.
5 mins - McCowatt earns a free kick near the edge of the Perth box. Piscopo crosses to the far post but it's too deep for his target Taylor. Goal kick.
3 mins - Brief spell of possession for the Phoenix until Piscopo loses the ball. Perth dictating proceedings early.
1 min - Perth get us started, feeling out the Phoenix midfield defence.
We're underway...
9:32pm - Both teams out on to the pitch, we'll be into it momentarily. Check out your Phoenix line-up below.
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Betting odds:
Phoenix- $2.80 Draw - $2.40 Perth Glory - $2.40
Pre-match banter
Talay calls for VAR to return
By Ben Francis
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has divided opinions among football fans, but Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay wishes it has been in play during his side's 3-1 defeat to Sydney FC on Friday night.
The first A-League game back since the COVID-19 break was marred by controversy as three questionable decisions went against the Phoenix at Jubilee Stadium.
Prior to the resumption, A-League officials said VAR would not be used for the remainder of the season, but that might change if more game-changing calls are missed.
Two handball decisions went against Ufuk Talay's side which could have led to penalty kicks, while Gary Hooper was wrongly denied a potential game-winner after he was flagged for being offside.
Hooper's offside call appeared to be the killer blow as a quick-fire double from substitute Trent Buhagiar secured victory for Sydney.
"Sometimes it happens in the games they make calls that don't go your way, and sometimes I believe the wrong decisions influence the game," says Phoenix coach Talay.
"I believe tonight there were some decisions that influenced the result at the end of the day.
"It's based on opinions, a lot of people were not in favour of the VAR and all of a sudden they're in favour of VAR to be there. But I was quite pleased with the VAR, with the way it worked, and I believe it should be there."
Earlier in the match, the Phoenix took the lead when Reno Piscopo converted a 66th-minute penalty, before it was cancelled out when Adam Le Fondre converted a penalty of his own.
Talay opted to bring stars Ulises Dávila and Hooper off the bench in the match in order to keep his squad fresh with five games in 22 days on the horizon.
Despite the loss, Talay is trying to focus on the positives as his side are back in action on Wednesday night when they face Perth Glory at Bankwest Stadium.
"We'll slowly build up Uli but also Hoops at the same time and try to give them game time so they can regain their fitness," he says.
"We have five games, we need to build momentum but at the same time we're trying to give guys some minutes so they're at the right fitness at the right end of the season.
"I'm happy with how we played, I think we were the better side and the scoreline isn't a true reflection of how well we played."
