Macarthur FC have Filip Kurto to thank for a 2-1 win over Wellington in the New Zealand capital, a result which lifted the visitors into the A-League Men (ALM) top six.
Teenage substitute Dean Bosnjak nabbed the winner 15 minutes from fulltime for the visitors after the Phoenix’s Kosta Barbarouses cancelled out Valere Germain’s early opener.
But it was former 'Nix goalkeeper Kurto who proved the difference with a world class save in each half against his former club amid extremely windy conditions at Wellington Regional Stadium.
The Phoenix were boosted pre-match with a long-awaited first start for major off-season recruit Marco Rojas who came in for Matt Sheridan as coach Giancarlo Italiano omitted a defender in favour of a more attacking line-up.
Remarkably it was Rojas’s first starting appearance for the Phoenix since 2013.
Attacking midfielder Danny De Silva similarly lined up for his first start for the Bulls with defender Tomi Uskok also included.
Macarthur were gifted a perfect start with Phoenix defender Isaac Hughes committing a handball in the penalty area under little pressure.
Josh Oluwayemi got down low to save the resultant spot kick only for Germain to convert the rebound.
Kurto denied Wellington what seemed a likely equaliser with a stunning block from Tim Payne’s fiercely hit volley just past the half-hour mark.
The Phoenix were undoubtedly building momentum and Hideki Ishige soon crashed a shot against the outside of Kurto’s near post from an acute angle.
The home side were finally rewarded for their endeavour two minutes before the interval as Rojas and Barbarouses combined for the latter to expertly crash home from inside the penalty area.
It was a fourth goal in as many outings for Barbarouses and lifted the attacker to equal top in this season’s ALM goalscorers’ list.
De Silva forced Oluwayemi into a sharp low save and Jed Drew angled a shot across the face of the goalline as the visitors began the second half with renewed promise.
Wellington seemed certain to claim the lead midway through the second half only for Kurto to make a remarkable smothering save from Barbarouses at point-blank range.
A winner from either side seemed like and it was Bosnjak who swept home after some stylish lead-up play from Marin Jakolis.
The result catapulted Macarthur above the Phoenix who suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time in two seasons.
"We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. Something we were so good at last year was defending our box so really disappointing," said Phoenix captain Alex Rufer.
"Today was probably our best game with the ball, and if we keep performing like that the wins will come."
