Wellington Phoenix is in the box seat to make its first ever A-League grand final

Wellington Phoenix is in a strong position to reach its first ever A-League grand final, with the Nix escaping with a tight fought draw with Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.

Wellington is one step closer to its first A-League grand final appearance after holding off 20 shots from Melbourne Victory to head home to New Zealand on level terms.

The Nixs will go in as favourites in the second leg of the semi-final as Victory will now have the difficult task of needing to win away from home, following Sunday night’s 0-0 draw at AAMI Park.

Phoenix keeper Alexander Paulsen had a nervous moment in the dying stages when he let a cutback trickle off his right glove but his defenders were there to make the clearance in the 88th minute.

It was one of a few chances both sides had for the game in front of 16,313 fans.

Victory defender Roderick Miranda said patience would be the key following a tough night for his forwards which couldn’t crack through a solid Phoenix defence.

“They showed during the entire season they are a difficult team to defeat,” he said on Paramount+ post-game.

“They are really comfortable defending deep so we need to have a lot of patience.

“I think we had that in the first half, in the second half I think the players felt a little bit anxious, it’s normal, it’s a semi-final, the fans were pushing for us.

Goalkeeper Alex Paulsen was great on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

“But 0-0, everything is still open for the second leg, we still have another game to prove ourselves.”

The Nix didn’t record a shot on target in the 50th meeting between the sides with the visitors registering six shots and 43 per cent possession.

Meanwhile, Victory, who have beaten Phoenix in 24 of 26 meetings in Victoria, put up five shots on target but all went directly towards keeper Paulsen for easy saves.

The sides will meet again next Saturday with the aggregate score at 0-0 in a huge second-leg semi-final encounter in Wellington.

Tony Popovic mad four substitutions throughout the match. Picutre: Getty Images

SUPER SUBS QUIET

Victory coach Tony Popovic swung four changes, starting Daniel Arzani, Ben Folami and Jake Brimmer on the bench as he said some of his players “found it hard to recover” following last week’s 120-minute win over Melbourne City.

But after the trio came on in the 60th minute, Victory couldn’t press forward and find a winner.

Zinédine Machach was out of the side on suspension which also affected Victory’s regular set up this campaign.

It was a tight tussle on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

TIGHT FIRST HALF

Victory dominated shots (9-3) to halftime but six of them were outside the box as the Phoenix proved to have the best of the chances in the opening 45 minutes.

The Nix didn’t record any shots on target but a Nicholas Pennington cut back in the fourth minute was the closest the first half got to a goal.

Victory right back Jason Geria was there to clear the dangerous ball as his team put three shots on target but all went directly towards Paulsen.

Brono Fornaroli’s attempt in the 23rd minute was the first shot on target and one of the home side’s better opportunities in the opening half.

Nix’s Pennington had a great chance from close range at the back post in the 31st minute but was caught offside.

Can Victory upset the Phoenix next week? Picture: Getty Images

NO ADVANTAGE CALL

Victory’s Jason Geria was charging from right back and was out in space ready to receive a ball and take on three Phoenix defenders with a teammate potentially there in the box for him to cut it to in the 41st minute.

But a ball couldn’t get out to the wide-open Geria as referee Adam Kersey blew his whistle to hand a yellow to Nix attacker David Ball for a pull on Roly Bonevacia.

The ball had trickled out to Jordi Valadon after the foul however and Victory could have been off.

Commentator Robbie Thompson was furious with the decision.

“That’s a horrible decision really to stop the Victory advantage there,” Thompson said on Paramount +.

“This is a pure definition for paying the advantage.”

Originally published as Wellington Phoenix is in the box seat to make its first ever A-League grand final