WPM FFA Cup vs Melbourne City | Wed 5th Jan | 9:30pm | My Football (YouTube)

Melbourne City 0 Moral Victory Wellington Phoenix 0

If it was offside why did Glover take the free kick from outside his box?

Well the cup run is still going! C’mon boys! 

I rewinded it, then watched on .25 speed. Sotirio was onside (assuming that it was called against him and not the guy who made the run for the header).

https://freeimage.host/i/YO8xoX
(I realise it's not the exact point of contact but a frame earlier and he's even more onside).

Positive play from us, happy so far

Win at any Cost - The National Anthem over there. It didn't even look offside at normal speed. You could tell there were players in front of him.

Not a bad half. We started and finished well but for about 20 minutes in the middle of the half we were totally asleep and were lucky not to concede a goal. 
The penalty was extremely generous, Tilio arm wrestled with Elliott and then tripped over his own feet. On the way down he touched the defender but that shouldn't have been a pen. Same for Ball's yellow. I can live with the foul. Not sure about the goal. Looked good from home but without the replay it's hard to tell. 

We need Sutton and Old to show what they can do. They are fast and skilful but aside from Old's mazy run, they have created much. Ball, Sotirio and Waine also need to be find each other more. Their approach is very disjointed. Still, it's 0-0 bel Mel City in the QF of the Cup.. Not a bad position to be in really. 

1st half done and dusted - we've been the better team so far. Pennington has looked good. Tidy, composed, and perhaps most importantly - his passing range tends to look forward rather than backwards. The shape is good and our pressing has been consistent and well applied. A hell of a lot better than what was seen in Adelaide on the weekend at least.

Just need to work on that final ball and not giving the ball away cheaply in the midfield. As much as we've been tidy in this first half, they're definitely hunting for those fast breaks on turnovers and they have the quality to take those chances.

Overall, a pleasing first half. Keep pushing lads.

Considering what we have dished up previously I am pretty happy with that first half.

Also happy with Rufer at the back.....but just know he has a mistake in him.

So far Rufer doing well at the back. Playing some nice balls forward.

Decent first half, hope the second can build on that. I don’t get how old didn’t get a free kick prior to our goal being incorrectly chalked offside? Regardless, lots of positivity and signs of a reaction from the team . Keep it up! 👍

Rufer and Lewis both playing much better than recently. The commentators said about a possible block being the cause of the goal ruled out, which might explain why the free kick was taken way up field

Cmon boys we can win this

Curious to know of anyone knows much about Grey our new reserve GK? I assume a local player on an injury cover contract? 

newzealandpower

Curious to know of anyone knows much about Grey our new reserve GK? I assume a local player on an injury cover contract? 

 16 year old Nix academy keeper, all i know is he was 7 years old when Louis Fenton debuted for the nix! 

Good solid start to the 2nd half. A part of the game we've been weak this season, conceding against CCM, Jets and Adelaide just before that hour mark. Good little period of probing possession for us. Just need a little bit more magic in that final third, or something to go our way even. Come on lads!

Nabbout on and Leckie about to…man I hope we win anyway!

Pennington playing so well.

Can sense a bit of niggle coming in from City. Things not going quite the way they may have expected.

Aussie subtitles are funny, Rufer is "Roofer". pmsl. Took a foul for the team.

Tilio is such a flop

We are starting to get carved up a bit on our right... maybe time for Fenton to come on?

Game opening up a bit now. Hopefully it falls in our favour but honestly, it's been a stalemate of a match. Both sides working hard to try and get an inch over the other. Good, gritty, scrappy cup tie.

Very happy with the heart and commitment put in by the boys so far.

Ball seems to have been limping the past few minutes since he's taken that knock earlier, hope it's not too bad.

Uffie should give the fullbacks a breather. Bring on McGarry and Fenton 

Pennington my MotM so far. Just seems to have good game awareness and the ability to see what he has in terms of personnel and options around him. He's threaded some lovely balls through tonight, as well as some lovely little touches and turns in the centre of the park while retaining possession. Good heads up, forward thinking player on our hands methinks. 

Considering we have another match (Covid permitting) on Saturday, extra time would not be ideal.

Ooh Louis!!!

Cup run still alive! C’Mon Phoenix!

Who did fenton replace?

feel like Fenton stole the win from Waine, we've looked the stronger team in parts too, Ball working his ass off, Waine too, just lacking the killer shot. MaGary and Fenton coming on has livened things up a bot. Pennington and lewis have done well as has Rufer at CB.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Who did fenton replace?

 Elliot I'm pretty sure.

Possibly the best we've played this season. This performance has renewed my faith in this squad. 

We all know it's been a shark show of a season so far, trapped playing away from home and the ups and downs we've had, along with not being able to bring in the quality reinforcements as yet.

Tonight has been gritty and niggly, but we've not taken a backward step and we've arguably been the better team out there tonight. Against a stronger side on paper at that too.

Half an hour remaining until death strikes! (Possibly...)

One thing is clear, Pennington and Lewis are our best CM combo.

Rufer has done well in defense though, better than I expected.

What a difference a few days make. Playing with so much heart

have to ask why there has only been 2 yellow card for city, 21 fouls to 8. Ref could be carding for persistent fouls.

F- McGarry! Weak give away of possession…

this is going to pens.

Come on lads, last kick of the game

Cup run still going! C’Mon Phoenix! 

Great game to watch and yes, Rufer may have found his position. He did well there. And a Blank sheet!! We lose this, I'd say a moral victory anyway.