Roy Krishna gives Wellington Phoenix last-ditch victory at Western Sydney

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:25 am

Striker Roy Krishna scored a late winner as surging Wellington equalled their A-League club record of seven games unbeaten with a 3-2 away win over Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday.

Krishna's 89th-minute close-range near-post header from a cross from substitute Max Burgess was his second of the game and seventh of the season.

The win at ANZ Stadium lifted Phoenix to fifth above Adelaide, 10 points clear of eighth-placed Western Sydney.

It was hard luck for a Wanderers side that created just as many good chances in a free-flowing game, but lost two key overseas players to injury in the first half.

German playmaker Alexander Baumjohann limped off with a hamstring injury after five minutes and Spanish striker Oriel Riera came off with a groin problem just before half-time.

Wanderers got no joy from two crucial first-half moments before the scoring started.

Roy Krishna of ATK Mohun Bagan in action against Jamshedpur FC.
Roy Krishna of ATK Mohun Bagan in action against Jamshedpur FC.
Pal Pillai/Focus Sports/ ISL

A penalty awarded when Bruce Kamau fell in the area after being challenged by Louis Fenton was looked at by the VAR, which directed referee Johnathan Barreiro to look at a replay and he subsequently overturned his original decision.

Hamill found the net from close range following a free-kick, but the VAR confirmed Barreiro's offside call.

Phoenix opened the scoring with a well constructed and executed goal to Fenton. He passed to Sarpreet Singh, who chipped the ball back to Fenton, who controlled the ball on his chest and slotted it past goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic.

Wanderers equalised in the 42nd minute when captain and centre-back Brendan Hamill headed in a well delivered inswinging corner from substitute Nick Fitzgerald.

Phoenix hit the front again in the 82nd minute when Janjetovic raced out to clear a Cillian Sheridan through ball, but Krishna beat him to it and superbly fired the ball into the unguarded goal.

Keanu Baccus looked to have saved a point for Wanderers two minutes later, when he drilled home a shot from close range after a Fitzgerald corner went all the way to the back post.