NZ Sports: Wellington Phoenix lose to Roar 4-3

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The Wellington Phoenix have finished a frustrating A-league football season with a 4-3 loss to the Brisbane Roar, despite being up 3-1 at half-time.

With only pride on the line Phoenix offered moments of class for their faithful travelling fans, but were overrun by a home side desperate to secure a home finals berth.

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Photo: Photosport

Goals from Roy Krishna, Gui Finkler and Michael McGlinchey had Phoenix in control 3-1 at half-time but second-half strikes from Brandon Borello, Jamie Maclaren and Brett Holman – adding to his first-half strike – gave the Roar victory in front of a home crowd.

Holman’s first effort saw him take the ball up just inside the Wellington half and race to 25 yards out from goal before crashing an effort home reminiscent of his 2010 World Cup strike against Serbia.

Goals from Finkler and McGlinchey meant the visitors held a comfortable lead but the Roar dominated proceedings after the break.

Borello got one back for the Roar when he turned inside on the right-hand side of the penalty area and curled a low left-footed effort into the far corner past the despairing arm of Lewis Italiano.

Two minutes later Roar were on level terms when Tommy Oar pulled a ball back for Maclaren to rifle into the roof of the net for his 19th goal of the season.

At the midpoint of the second half, Holman probably topped his earlier effort when Borello squared to him on the right edge of the box and he rocketed home a low strike.

The Roar could have extended their lead when Maclaren was felled in the box by Vince Lia, but the striker failed to take an outright lead in the top-scorer race when his centrally-hit effort was comfortably saved by Italiano.

-RNZ

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