Wellington do enough against Adelaide in Christchurch

Wellington Phoenix have done enough to overcome Adelaide United in an uneventful encounter in Christchurch.

The Phoenix went ahead just after the 20-minute mark through Jon McKain and were able to keep out their opponents to record their eighth win of the season.

Wellington Phoenix: 1 (Jon McKain ‘22)
Adelaide United: 0
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Crowd: 19,279

The opening was a scrappy affair with neither side really showing any form or calmness but the Phoenix managed to strike first through an unlikely source in the 22nd minute in defender Jon McKain who got his second goal of the season with a left-foot shot from close range after Adelaide were unable to clear a corner.

Wellington took the consolation of a goal into half-time despite a fairly lacklustre opening 45 minutes from both sides but coach Ricki Herbert would have been content to have three points halfway in his pocket.

Adelaide toiled to get themselves back into the match and had a couple of chances to equalise but the Phoenix defence held strong whilst the forwards tried in vain to net a second but their shooting was wayward.

The home side managed to do enough for the remainder of the match despite some late scares and snuffed out any of Adelaide’s chances to inflict their 12th defeat whilst jumping to fourth on the table themselves.