The whole conversation leading up to Wellington Phoenix’s first game of the new A-League Men season was about one man: Ulises Davila. But it was another former Phoenix player who prevented Ufuk Talay’s team from making a win start for the third time on Sunday night at a soggy McDonald Jones stadium in Newcastle. Macarthur goalkeeper Filip Kurto, who arrived in Australia just this week after being called up to replace the outgoing Adam Federici and overcoming food poisoning to get into the starting XI, was in inspired form and made four crucial saves to get that Prevent fasting – Finishing Phoenix and securing a 1-1 draw. Cameron Spencer / Getty ImagesWellington Phoenix striker Gary Hooper opened the goal with a penalty in the first half. Returning striker Gary Hooper shot the Phoenix in front when he shot a penalty straight into the center on the 25th minute, but his powerful penalty was undone when Macarthur striker Lachlan Rose volleyed from a corner in the 61st minute balanced on the post. Read More off his line to make a bold stop against Jaushua Sotirio and cut his cheek for his efforts after being caught by his opponent’s boot. “We played very well in the first half, we dominated possession but didn’t create that much, but we were very good on the ball,” said Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay. “We expected them to come back 1-0 and I thought we weathered the storm pretty well. “It’s disappointing to concede after such a set piece but we had some opportunities to possibly win so an end-of-day draw is a fair result.” Ashley Feder / Getty ImagesWellington Phoenix midfielder Reno Piscopo holds his right ankle. Talay appointed a full-fledged team with key men Hooper and Piscopo firing the go-ahead despite their limited engagement in the preseason, but the pair achieved the desired effect by setting up and scoring the first goal. The Phoenix won the penalty kick when James Meredith Piscopo awkwardly cut the ankle as the winger tried to spin in the 18 yard space. Referee Ben Abraham initially thought the contact was made outside the box and awarded a free kick, but the decision was overturned by the video assistant referee. Hooper slammed his penalty straight into the middle to open his season record with a bang. The Englishman had come excruciatingly close to a goal in the first five minutes after a dangerous cross from left-back James McGarry, but Kurto parried a great save from close range. Macarthur fired in the second half and their dominance was rewarded when Rose caught the phoenix napping by hanging his man in a corner and shooting a well-coordinated volley into the far corner. Piscopo injured his ankle on penalties and had to be removed from the field in the second half. But despite losing its main creator, the phoenix created enough chances to land a winner. They almost scored a second goal, but Tomislav Uskok cleared the ball off the line with 10 to go. The stalemate extended the Phoenix Club’s record streak, which began last season, to 12 games. Wellington Phoenix 1 (Gary Hooper Pin-25 ‘) Macarthur 1 (Lachlan Rose 61’) HT: 1-0
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