Kosta Barbarouses has brought up his 100th A-League goal. Photo: Photosport
Kosta Barbarouses scored his 100th A-League goal as an under-strength Wellington Phoenix scored their first win of the year, beating Macarthur FC 2-1 at Campbelltown in Sydney.
At the other end of the spectrum, their other goal on Monday night was Kazuki Nagasawa's first in the A-League after he capitalised on a nifty flick from Hideki Ishige.
The much-needed win keeps the Phoenix in touch with the first six on the ladder. They are in ninth place with 17 points, just four adrift of sixth-placed Macarthur.
Macarthur led 1-0 at halftime before Nagasawa levelled things up in the 65th minute, and Barbarouses scored the vital goal from the penalty spot six minutes later.
Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano said he was "very, very proud" of Barbarouses.
"Last year I built around him. This season I tried to do the same with just a different dynamic and partnership. I think we've found it a little bit harder to create.
"Also, teams are putting a bit more of a focus on Kosta. They're double teaming him or man-marking him… so he's finding it harder to make those chances.
"For me the most important thing is getting the ball to him so he can capitalise, and I think we'll get there."
Struggling to find enough fit players for the match, Italiano gave young striker Luke Supyk his first A-League start, coming in for defender Matt Sheridan who was concussed in the scoreless draw against Sydney FC last Wednesday.
Italiano was relieved to come away with the first win of the year.
"Happy's not the word, I'm more satisfied," he said. "We've had a really rough six to seven weeks.
"We dug in. At halftime I just reassured them there was enough opportunity to capitalise in some areas and gave the old famous 'if we get one, we can get two'.
"I thought we could have hurt them a little bit earlier, but when confidence is at a minimum we'll take that."
Alby Kelly-Heald made some vital saves, savouring his first win as an A-League goalkeeper.
The Phoenix play defending A-League champions Central Coast Mariners in Christchurch on Saturday.
Result
Wellington Phoenix 2 (Kazuki Nagasawa 65th min, Kosta Barbarouses 71st min, pen), Macarthur FC 1 (Jake Hollman 16th min).
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