Melbourne Victory rescue a point to leave Phoenix still winless

Melbourne Victory’s stuttering start to the A-League season has continued with a 1-1 draw at home to Wellington.

Ola Toivonen celebrates his equaliser for Melbourne Victory against Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park. Picture: AAP

Melbourne Victory’s stuttering start to the A-League season has continued with Marco Kurz’s side scrapping out a 1-1 draw against Wellington Phoenix in front of 15,014 fans at AAMI Park.

Ulises Davila’s penalty handed Wellington the lead in the fifth minute before Ola Toivonen earned a point for the home side with a sublime goal in the 66th minute.

Kurz recalled Jakob Poulsen to the starting side, with Kristijan Dobras moving to the bench. Meanwhile Phoenix recruit Gary Hooper (quad) was unavailable, with Jaushua Sotirio starting.

But Victory’s day got off to a horror start, conceding from a penalty inside five minutes.

A seemingly innocuous corner from Callum McCowatt struck Toivonen on the arm in the second minute, with referee Adam Kersey initially waving away the contact. After a VAR review, however, the penalty was awarded, with Davila neatly placing his spot-kick past Lawrence Thomas to put Phoenix ahead.

“During the pre-season we had an appointment with referees – we learned in this moment like Ola was, it isn’t a penalty,” Kurz said.

“But the referee decided to give the penalty and then we have to respect it – I cannot change it.

“I think it was not an active movement with Ola’s arm to the ball – it’s a corner, a lot of players are in front. I was a defender as well and what can you do better? I think the hand is close to the body.

“But I think we have to respect the situation but I’m not happy about (it).”

Stream every game of The 2019/20 Hyundai A-League season LIVE & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Victory largely lacked creativity and struggled to make genuine chances throughout the opening half, with Toivonen going closest when he curled a shot wide in the 22nd minute.

In an ill-tempered first half, Phoenix skipper Steven Taylor received a yellow for a forearm to the back of Toivonen’s head, while Victory’s Leigh Broxham was carded for a challenge on Davila.

Victory finally hit back in the 66th minute through a moment of individual brilliance from Swedish striker Toivonen.

Tim Payne’s shallow clearance fell to the Victory skipper, who stormed through the box and brushed off Taylor before finishing with aplomb.

It gave the home side the impetus they needed, and they controlled the game from that point on but without further reward.

Victory almost took the lead in the 78th minute when Storm Roux went on a charging run down the right flank, slipping the ball to Elvis Kamsoba. The winger cut the ball back to Toivonen, whose shot forced a good save from Stefan Marinovic.

Toivonen had another shot flash wide in the 80th minute, while at the other end Thomas denied Alex Rufer with a commanding save in the 87th minute, leaving both sides to settle for a point.

“The first-half performance for me was very good but second half we gave the ball away – we turned the ball over too easily at times when we won it but we still created opportunities in transition and on the counter to score and win the game,” Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay said. “But at the end of the day, you come to Victory and you get one point, you’re quite happy with that.”

AAP