Adelaide United left it late to clinch a 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix and stay top of Australia's A-League.
Wellington opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark, Roly Bonavacia netting his first goal for the club. After Pablo Sanchez missed a chance to put league leaders Adelaide 1-0 up at the other end of the pitch, the Phoenix attacked on the counter with Roy Krishna slipping in Bonevacia for the goal.
Adelaide would not roll over, however, and the favourites dominated the game after going 1-0 down. With the half nearing its conclusion, Nigel Boogaard headed home from an inviting corner to level the scores at a goal apiece.
The heavens opened up during the break and meant the pitch was wet and slow for the second half, though the home team continued to press, Fabio Ferreira and Jimmy Jeggo both creating chances to score the winner.
Sergio Cirio looked to have wasted the last chance of the game when he somehow managed to miss from yards out after the ball dropped at his feet following an Adelaide corner, though the Spaniard would not make the same mistake twice when he fired home with seconds of added time to give the hosts the lead.
The result keeps unbeaten Adelaide top of the A-League with four wins from six.
Phil Archbold
