Red cards plague bid by Phoenix

The South West Phoenix conceded five-second half goals and were handed three red cards in a tough 6-3 loss to reigning champions the Western Knights at WML Stadium on Saturday.

With imports Gabriele Mascazzini and Nicola Gazzola coming into the side, the Phoenix looked as if they could challenge one of the competition’s best teams.

But some controversial calls and loss of concentration at crucial times cost the home side, as they conceded six goals in a game for the first time this season.

Jayden Prosser scored two goals for the home side in a great performance, while Jack Eades found the back of the net, to make sure the Phoenix were not blown away by their opposition.

Phoenix coach Tony Novello said the weather had a big impact on the game.

“In the first half we were up against the wind, but we managed to get two-nil up,” he said. But the course of the game changed when Mascazzini received a controversial red card, putting the Phoenix down to 10-men.

Despite all this the Phoenix when into half-time with a 2-1 lead and added to that soon after the break thanks to Eades’ goal.

The Phoenix missed an easy chance to take a 4-1 lead, with a shot from Prosser being saved on the line by a Knights’ defender.

After the Knights scored their second goal, captain Michael Farmer received the team’s second red card of the game, leaving the home side down to just nine men.

Besides being two men down, the Phoenix defended staunchly for 20 minutes, before the Knights got the equaliser, which was followed by a third red card to the Phoenix.

From here the Knights went on a scoring spree, scoring three more goals before the final whistle.

This weekend the Phoenix travel to the Croatian Sporting Complex to battle Gwelup Croatia Soccer Club from 3pm.

Meanwhile, the Firebirds grabbed their biggest win of the season, with Eleanor Coventry scoring seven goals in her side’s 12-0 victory over Gosnells City on Sunday. Courtney Butlion also contributed heavily to the win, scoring four goals, while Lucy Scott also got onto the scoresheet.