Updated
Robbie Fowler’s Brisbane Roar salvaged a last-gasp draw against reigning premiers Perth Glory in the west.
Earlier, A-League newcomers Western United enjoyed a winning debut with a 1-0 win over the Phoenix in Wellington.
Follow all the stats, scores and commentary in our live ScoreCentre.
Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar
Western United make winning debut against Phoenix
Western United have wasted no time leaving their mark on the A-League, beating the Phoenix 1-0 on their competitive debut in Wellington.
Besart Berisha took the first-ever touch by a United player and scored the club’s first goal, netting a first-half volley to get the expansion club up and running.
Mark Rudan’s side will face tougher opponents this season — the Phoenix were listless and non-threatening for much of Sunday’s clash.
But on this evidence, Western’s expensively assembled and hyper-experienced outfit will make good on their promise to challenge for the finals in their first campaign.
Alessandro Diamanti pulled the strings in midfield, Connor Pain was bright out wide and Dario Jertec was a fine foil in the middle.
United looked well-drilled from the off, even as Andrew Durante — marshalling the three-man defence at age 37 — was jeered relentlessly by fans of his former club.
Nix fans also delivered an unwelcoming return for Mark Rudan, booking him throughout.
One fan brought a particularly scathing “One Thief, Three Traitors” banner; a reference to Rudan and the players which defected from the Nix to the expansion side.
It was another player that might have been in Wellington colours that hurt them the most.
Berisha’s 34th-minute goal, his 117th A-League strike, was all the crueller for the Phoenix given the ex-Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar title-winner turned them down to sign with Western.
He was left unmarked to volley home Josh Risdon’s cutback. The result may foreshadow a season of struggle for Ufuk Talay’s side.
As predicted, without a proven goalscorer in his side to replace Roy Krishna and David Williams, Wellington struggled to create chances.
Matches against last season’s grand finalists come next, before away days against Melbourne’s other two teams in a challenging first month for Talay and his team.
A-League ladder
AAP
Topics:
vic,
First posted
